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Is wick size important?
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Posted by colokid Z5/CO (My Page) on Mon, Feb 8, 10 at 11:43
I'm new, just a couple of years to containers and I have read many things about the wick diameter. Spent some time trying to find what I wanted. More and more, it seems that how wet is determined by the "soil" mixture. I see that globalbucket uses a full sized colander in a 5 gal bucket.
So, trying to keep it simple, does the size of the wick chamber really make that much difference? I know that the mixture is very important. |
Follow-Up Postings:
RE: Is wick size important?
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| Yes, the size of the wicking chamber is very important. So is the composition of the mix. |
RE: Is wick size important?
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- Posted by tapla z5b-6a MI (My Page) on
Mon, Feb 8, 10 at 13:44
| What is your reasoning, FB? Al |
RE: Is wick size important?
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| I have a few reasons, but didn't have time to post in detail earlier. Last year, I built around 25 SWC's in 4 different sizes. One of my 18 gallon SWC's used a smaller wicking chamber than the rest, and was less saturated with better results. One of my 5 gallon SWCs used a larger wicking chamber (32oz instead of 16oz) than the rest, and was much more saturated compared to its' otherwise identical siblings. That tomato plant struggled more than any other all season. In my wicking tests #7 and #10, the large cup wicks both faster and greater overall volume:
http://forums2.gardenweb.com/forums/load/contain/msg012146179500.html?62 I've read a few accounts of poorly built DIY SWC's that suffered from 'soil bench collapse'. This happens when the soil bench sags into the water reservoir and results in a super saturated mix. In 2 of my early 5 gallon SWCs, I made the mistake of using landscape fabric over the overflow hole. This raised the water level up to the soil bench, the soil chamber mix was like mud, and the translpants died (probably of root shock) before I realized the problem. In my mind, both of the previous scenarios are similar to having huge wicking chambers. I've read many DIY SWC instructions and accounts throughout the internet. I've also looked at several commercial varieties. I don't recall any that use really large wicking chambers. It's a bit of a 'black swan' argument, but it's supported by my previous reasons. |
RE: Is wick size important?
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| I also wanted to point out that the GlobalBuckets colander design is labeled as 'experimental'. There are no results or comments posted regarding the performance of that design. I believe that the colander design would only work for water loving plants in warm temps, and even then wouldn't be ideal. |
Here is a link that might be useful: globalbuckets
RE: Is wick size important?
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- Posted by tapla z5b-6a MI (My Page) on
Mon, Feb 8, 10 at 17:00
| If I might distill things a little .... is it fair to say that if you are sure the wick is capable of raising water to the main body of soil at a rate more rapid than evapotranspiration, it becomes all about the medium's ability to diffuse the water via capillarity and any additional enhancement of the wick's ability to move water is superfluous? Al |
RE: Is wick size important?
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| Hi Al, I believe I understand what you mean, but I don't think I would say that. To say that a anything beyond the minimum wicking requirements is superfluous indicates that a larger wick wouldn't matter. Based upon my observations, an excessively large wick is harmful. It might be true with an ideal mix that wicks enough via capillarity but doesn't hold too much water (allowing excess to drain back into the reservoir), but I haven't tried a better draining mix yet, so I can't say for certain that it would work like that. |
RE: Is wick size important?
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| In my opinion A1 nailed it. Its all about the medium's ability to diffuse the water via capillarity. Thats where I have directed my experiments anyways. I think with the right mix of say bark fines and just the right amout of peat one can have somewhat of balanced moisture/aerated swc soil. I'm pretty excited about the fir bark fines I recently found. They seem to be pretty fine but not nearly as fine as peat by any means. I think I've been inspired to do some experiments with mixes as well. Damon |
RE: Is wick size important?
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| Thanks ferretbee for the link to the GlobalBuckets site. Great stuff these teenage brothers are doing. Their 2 bucket system with the drinking cup as the wicking chamber is spot on, in my view. Their design #2 using a colander is in my view, going to wick way too much moisture up into the Potting Mix. Anyway, good to see some kids trying to make a positive contribution to society. Their YouTube instructional videos are great, especially the ones about using a single float valve to keep several SWC reservoirs filled at a constant level. BRAVO!! Raybo |
RE: Is wick size important?
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Thanks for the discussion.
When I asked the question I was afraid that it would get side tracked on other than what I wanted, but you fellows knew what I was getting at. Jury is still out for me.
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