A Basic Overview Of The Hydroponics Wick System
A hydroponics wick system is a very basic setup to allow the gardener some slack in the watering regimen. It uses a setup that draws water from a reservoir up into the plants roots using a wick. The reservoir can also be filled with a nutrient solution instead of plain water.
One simple way to set this up is to take two buckets of equal size, some soil or other planting medium, some nylon rope, or other fibrous material, and water or nutrients. There are many different ways to do this and some include complicated feeding techniques along with specific lighting regimens, but this is just a simple explanation of how to set up a basic hydroponics wick system.
The two buckets are going to be stacked on top of one another when the project is finished. The top bucket should have three or four equally spaced holes placed in the bottom. The holes should only be large enough to fit the rope through them. The rope should be cut long enough to reach the bottom of the second bucket when they are stacked all the way to the top of the first bucket.
The following step is to string the rope through the holes in the bucket to the top of the bucket and hold them in place with the grow medium. Taking great care, transplant your plant into the grow medium. Make sure you are using the proper transplanting technique specific to the plant you are growing.
The last step is to fill the other bucket with water to a point that allows for the wicks to be dipped into it when you stack the buckets but not so full that it will touch the bottom of the bucket with the holes in it. This will allow the wicks to draw water up into the first bucket and keep the soil moist but it will not be too full as to keep the roots soaked.
Be sure not to overfill the bucket with water. If you do you may overflow and have a mess on your hands or you may over soak the plant’s root. Make sure that the bottom of the bucket containing your plant does not rest in the water. Only the wicks need to be in the water.
This is a simplified version of the hydroponics wick system that can be easily modified to fit your specific situation. Some people like to use a grow medium that has no nutritional value and add nutrients to the reservoir to feed their plants. Others use a fertilized soil and plain water. Some experienced growers use a combination of fertilizers and nutrient solutions.
Space, experience, and supplies available are important parts of implementing this system. The basic idea is to use a wick to keep your plants fed and watered. Experimenting a little will give you an idea of what you need to do and what adjustments you will need to make. Be patient and keep notes of what you do so you can improve and enjoy a happy healthy garden.
