tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3161424655689380473.post2606745923980821514..comments2024-03-26T06:30:07.649-05:00Comments on Green Roof Growers: New Wicking Strategy for Sub-Irrigated PlantersBrucehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04901484046810490059noreply@blogger.comBlogger26125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3161424655689380473.post-64520646351642970552021-04-27T20:38:20.624-05:002021-04-27T20:38:20.624-05:00These wicks are awesome! I've read that nylon ...These wicks are awesome! I've read that nylon cord works great, and you can buy special wicking cords on Amazon now: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07HWSQB5B/ It seems like just any old polyester fabric works plenty well for just two stacked 5 gallon buckets though!<br /><br />This link is two buckets: http://www.tomatoville.com/showthread.php?t=28229Derek Ahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16339495248348279682noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3161424655689380473.post-16675589702988642932014-08-01T18:22:11.124-05:002014-08-01T18:22:11.124-05:00I found Thermolam without the iron-on adhesive at ...I found Thermolam without the iron-on adhesive at Walmart, I bought half a yard. Rather than using 5 gallon buckets, I used cheap flower pots from the 99 Cents Only store that just happened to fit PERFECT inside a buckets I got from a bakery that formerly contained 28 lbs of frosting. I am not sure how many gallons these buckets are. I drilled extra holes in the flower pots, and I made a loop of the wick material so I could have more soil to wick exposure. What do you think? <br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3161424655689380473.post-60159303337483329682011-05-23T20:41:10.199-05:002011-05-23T20:41:10.199-05:00Hi Bryant:
Sounds like you're doing very well....Hi Bryant:<br />Sounds like you're doing very well. I don't have any experience with the drainpipe method so unsure about soil problems, but with your robust harvest perhaps there's no problem.<br /><br />The way around algae growth is of course not to use a clear container. Keep us updated on your tomato, bean, and pumpkin growing.H2https://www.blogger.com/profile/05697081429612903875noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3161424655689380473.post-25698787933492774142011-05-22T01:46:05.979-05:002011-05-22T01:46:05.979-05:00Thank you for keeping up your blog and offering th...Thank you for keeping up your blog and offering this helpful information. <br /><br />I am curious if anyone has experienced or heard of soil diseases because of the water logged soil in the cups. I've been using the corrugated drainage pipe method I found on Inside Urban Green which leaves much more soil in contact with the water than other methods I've seen on the internet. I started swiss chard and spinach in December 2010 in a clear rubbermaid bin and I am very pleased with the results. Because it's transparent I have the oddity of leaves sprouting from roots several inches below the surface. I've also had some algae growing in the water. It continues to produce delicious swiss chard but I am worried about what will happen to the soaking soil. <br /><br />I live in Las Vegas in a townhome with no yard and am away from home a week at a time for work so SIPs are the only way I can have a garden. Most of my plants that are in normal pots are dead now because I can't water them daily but the SIPs are doing awesome. I've started corn and sunflowers as an attempt shade my french doors this summer. I'm also trying tomatoes, beans and pumpkins all on my patio.bryanthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02374994919252650036noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3161424655689380473.post-66049226322680240182011-05-15T06:43:02.400-05:002011-05-15T06:43:02.400-05:00Please keep us updated on that project, Jim. I...Please keep us updated on that project, Jim. I've added compost tea to the tomato reservoirs in the past, though am uncertain if it helped in any way.H2https://www.blogger.com/profile/05697081429612903875noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3161424655689380473.post-35848588607690582382011-05-15T00:58:15.151-05:002011-05-15T00:58:15.151-05:00Thanks for the info!
I've been using dry ferti...Thanks for the info!<br />I've been using dry fertilizer too, but am considering experimenting with fertilizer in the water instead since we have a year round growing season and at some point additional fertilizer is needed. Adding it is harder once the plant is large. In addition, I'm never quite sure when it is the best time to do it. I'm hoping that using fertilizer continuously in the water will work better.<br /><br />JimJimhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12570759377421543976noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3161424655689380473.post-51196640984175104152011-05-14T16:49:18.504-05:002011-05-14T16:49:18.504-05:00Hi Jim: Yep--still using the same fabric and 2 str...Hi Jim: Yep--still using the same fabric and 2 strips per bucket, even the ones with a large hole at bottom for where the wicking drink cup formerly sat.<br /><br />Couple inches wide or even less and length is determined by where the buckets sit relative to one another--just ensure the fabric lays a little bit in the bottom bucket to capture moisture at even the lowest water level.<br /><br />I use dry organic fertilizer in a ring on top for fruiting plants (tomatoes, peppers etc) and mixed into the top 5 inches of soil for greens. Hope this is helpful.H2https://www.blogger.com/profile/05697081429612903875noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3161424655689380473.post-74653007855158189592011-05-14T15:45:29.649-05:002011-05-14T15:45:29.649-05:00A few misc questions:
How wide and long are the st...A few misc questions:<br />How wide and long are the strips that you are using? Still using 2 strips per bucket? Still using Pellon Thermolam Plus - No. TP970? Are you using liquid fertilizer in the water, or dry fertilizer on top?<br /><br />Thanks.<br />JimJimhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12570759377421543976noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3161424655689380473.post-16001874663113480302011-05-06T19:34:13.925-05:002011-05-06T19:34:13.925-05:00Thanks, Jim. Probably lots of good approaches. We&...Thanks, Jim. Probably lots of good approaches. We're going to convert all our SIPs to the wick method this year.H2https://www.blogger.com/profile/05697081429612903875noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3161424655689380473.post-66831207370315721352011-05-06T18:14:48.408-05:002011-05-06T18:14:48.408-05:00Thanks for the update on fabric wicks. I've n...Thanks for the update on fabric wicks. I've noticed the some people are using rayon wicks. For those interested in less plastic, rayon has the advantage of being made from plants i.e. regenerated cellulose fiber. Some string mop heads are made of 100% rayon and are popular for wicks. Here is a link to an ACE hardware rayon mop head: http://www.acehardwareoutlet.com/(hb4hxy45s2r55t55oihaebzc)/ProductDetails.aspx?SKU=10481Jimhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12570759377421543976noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3161424655689380473.post-23411555758103745682011-04-27T07:16:09.922-05:002011-04-27T07:16:09.922-05:00Many thanks, Britt, for the update. People have to...Many thanks, Britt, for the update. People have told me a number of fabrics wick well.<br /><br />That's a lovely photo set.H2https://www.blogger.com/profile/05697081429612903875noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3161424655689380473.post-7804481985215968192011-04-27T05:09:19.653-05:002011-04-27T05:09:19.653-05:00Hello,
Living in France, I had some difficulties t...Hello,<br />Living in France, I had some difficulties to find this branded fabric! I was using cotton fabric that works as well as any fabric but gets dark, I now use basic polypropylene straps (cheapest ones) And it works great :-)<br />http://www.flickr.com/photos/plant-in/5560297225/in/set-72157625709757678Tom Britthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14312569484347244097noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3161424655689380473.post-55652526582571394642011-04-27T04:56:19.375-05:002011-04-27T04:56:19.375-05:00This comment has been removed by the author.Tom Britthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14312569484347244097noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3161424655689380473.post-46674474764960586992011-04-24T06:40:39.830-05:002011-04-24T06:40:39.830-05:00Jim:
The wicking fabric has worked just as well as...Jim:<br />The wicking fabric has worked just as well as the soil-packed drink cups. It also just seems simpler.<br /><br />This year we're retrofitting all our SIPs to this wicking method.<br /><br />I did notice that the roots of larger vegetables, like tomatoes, end up penetrating the fabric strips. To clean, I scrubbed them in bleach and dried in the sun.H2https://www.blogger.com/profile/05697081429612903875noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3161424655689380473.post-23267478821082077982011-04-24T00:33:31.563-05:002011-04-24T00:33:31.563-05:00How has this worked out as compared to using a cup...How has this worked out as compared to using a cup of soil as the wick?<br /><br />JimJimhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12570759377421543976noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3161424655689380473.post-83110203149895703352010-10-26T10:01:49.463-05:002010-10-26T10:01:49.463-05:00Nice idea, jb. Simple.Nice idea, jb. Simple.H2https://www.blogger.com/profile/05697081429612903875noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3161424655689380473.post-9367079587772420832010-10-26T09:51:55.431-05:002010-10-26T09:51:55.431-05:00I've used poly clothesline rope as a wick in s...I've used poly clothesline rope as a wick in some sub-irrigated planters that I have. It works rather well.Jburdine1956https://www.blogger.com/profile/10389858289061017929noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3161424655689380473.post-6008843712312340812010-06-14T06:55:58.132-05:002010-06-14T06:55:58.132-05:00Robj:
Beautiful. I assume those water bottles are ...Robj:<br />Beautiful. I assume those water bottles are easy to come by. I like your blog too, and can only imagine how many hours you spent building that sleek community composter.H2https://www.blogger.com/profile/05697081429612903875noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3161424655689380473.post-3126323173392805872010-06-13T19:31:39.284-05:002010-06-13T19:31:39.284-05:00Here is the post from Global Buckets I pretty much...Here is the post from <a href="http://www.globalbuckets.org/2009/02/experimental-design-water-bottle.html" rel="nofollow">Global Buckets</a> I pretty much follow this design with the exception of stringing a wick made from a t-shirt in it.Robj98168https://www.blogger.com/profile/12449968557883132353noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3161424655689380473.post-20596907052944264952010-06-12T16:14:06.802-05:002010-06-12T16:14:06.802-05:00Hi Carol:
Absolutely--I thought about this plastic...Hi Carol:<br />Absolutely--I thought about this plastic-for-plastic swap after posting. It likely is made of plastic, but with any luck a lesser version.<br /><br />Maybe I'll research...<br /><br />I like your blog!H2https://www.blogger.com/profile/05697081429612903875noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3161424655689380473.post-16842923229054837892010-06-12T14:24:14.428-05:002010-06-12T14:24:14.428-05:00Ummm, isn't it often the case the polyester is...Ummm, isn't it often the case the polyester is made out of plastic? Reading Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polyester), it appears that sometimes polyester is made out of other things.<br /><br />My first guess would be this is a swap of plastic for plastic, although perhaps a lesser volume. Good, but not perfect.carolhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08271226107902295929noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3161424655689380473.post-55802661088207488732010-06-11T06:59:59.582-05:002010-06-11T06:59:59.582-05:00Jana, am sure many fabrics would work, but this on...Jana, am sure many fabrics would work, but this one was recommended so I used it. Guessing, it seems it probably holds more moisture than a wet piece of cotton, but any similar material should work.<br /><br />robj is using t shirts, so the sky could be the limit on this. The guys at Global Buckets are doing some fun experiments. robj--what exactly do the water bottles do in your set up?H2https://www.blogger.com/profile/05697081429612903875noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3161424655689380473.post-55812337443596127592010-06-10T20:38:27.595-05:002010-06-10T20:38:27.595-05:00Just out of curiosity, why Pellon Thermolam Plus? ...Just out of curiosity, why Pellon Thermolam Plus? Would any batting material that's made of 100% polyester work? Thanks!janahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00015856495617712967noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3161424655689380473.post-52999979073566153732010-06-10T19:44:23.512-05:002010-06-10T19:44:23.512-05:00Lately I have been making watering wicks using pie...Lately I have been making watering wicks using pieces of t-shirt torn into strips.I just stuff the t-shirt in the bottom of the bucket (I have been using the water bottle version of sip's found on global buckets site) and spiral it up as I add "soil"... works great!Robj98168https://www.blogger.com/profile/12449968557883132353noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3161424655689380473.post-38729093571774665752010-06-08T22:09:45.853-05:002010-06-08T22:09:45.853-05:00Perfectly perfected perfection.Perfectly perfected perfection.Brucehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04901484046810490059noreply@blogger.com