water wick method for seedlings????

20 years ago

I would like to know if this set up will work to water the more than 500 seeds I am starting this year.

First I will be using a heating blanket covered with a shower curtain for my heating mat. Next will be the boxes to hold my soil blocks/cubes (I purchased a soil blocker/cuber online). In the boxes I will put a natural cotton fiber fabric for the wick. This will have one end in a tub of water. Then my soil blocks will go on top of the fabric to wick up the water. I will also be using two shop lights with grow lights, and an oscilating fan. Then around the whole thing I will be using space blankets as reflective material.

What I need to know most is should I put the soil blocks directly on the fabric?Is this the right type of fabric? and should I keep the end of the fabric in the tub at all times?

Any suggestions or tips would be greatly appreciated.

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Comments (4)

gardengal70
20 years ago
GCG -- I don't know about your heat method. The positive thing is that I do know about is wicking material from a supplier such as Charly's Greenhouse. I am on my third year of using it. I have a setup which is a box built of 2x4's lined with pond liner. The wicking material drapes over a 4 section platform (my DH cut up a plastic shelf from one of those 4 or 5 shelf units from Home depot.) My purpose was more to be able to leave home for several days with minimal help from friends.

Anyway, if the cotton does not work, give the wicking material a try. Marie
garden_crazy_girl
Original Author
20 years ago
Thanks Marie!
Do you set the seedlings directly on top of the material?

I got the heating method from a seed starting tips site. The guy started his seeds with this method and he said it worked great. I have had a lot of trouble starting my seeds the last few years due to damping off and too little light. I have 500 seeds to start and those mats are too expensive for that many seeds. I'll give it a try anyway.
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cambse
20 years ago
Yes, put your soil blocks directly on the capillary matting. I don't know if your fabric will work but you can set up a test situation where you take it up to planting the seeds but don't plant until you see if the fabric is keeping your soil blocks evenly moist. Real capillary matting can be used for many years so it's not as expensive as you might think.
Happy gardening,
Carole
naturemitch
20 years ago
Hi garden crazy girl,

Probably not the wicking expert here, but are you going to this method due to problems with damping off and too little light?

As long as those seedlings have light a few inches above them you'll be o.k. there. I'm sure the reflective material will help...but its not gonna make or break your success with those seedlings. That fan will do wonders for the damping off issue too!

I guess my only concern with a wicking method is that the soil is constantly wet....I know that sounds weird. You shouldn't want a waterlogged soil...that isn't what you should be shooting for. For exm. I use 3.5" pots, sow my seeds, water once(v. well)and cover with saran wrap. Thats it. The seedlings come up...they get pricked out...and the pot is left to germinate some more.

Now with those seedlings, I don't want them wet all the time. With that you will get green stuff growing...even with soilless mix. The drying out between is good for them.
I haven't tried the wicking method...but it would make me cringe in our cool basement. I don't want those roots sitting in wet soil constantly...especially the small slow growing perennials.

Just some thoughts. The wicking method I don't think will do anything to control a damping off problem...to me it would only worsen the problem. Soilless mix, air circulation, and not overwatering will be your best preventatives.

Good luck
michele