Dora, I have a simular set up but use clean plastic cat food containers that my Mom saves for me instead of PVC couplers.They are 1/1/2 inches tall and raise the egg crate to just under top of tray.The cat food containers also work great as saucers for solo cups and I drill holes in them to use as pot for small trailers ( they are shallow and wider than solo cups). I like to recycle things when I can. The cups are orange,so some folks might not like to use them as pots or saucers. I currently do not wick water, but use this set up to increase humidity by putting water in trays under plants. My house does get dry in winter. I like to hand water my plants as I need to turn them because I have most of my plants on shelves near windows.
Thank you the tip regarding the No Pest stips for thrips. Great one to remember if I run into that.
T

Great tip, Dora! Thanks for sharing.

Barbara

Dora, forgive my ignorance. It has been many years since I grew violets and I am just getting back into it. Can you tell me where to purchase the "green trays"? The trays that I have seen are black and slotted on the bottom, and they are pretty flimsy.

Dixie

Dixie,

Sometimes violet supplies are hard to find at your garden centers or big box stores, a lot of growers get their supplies from mail order supply. Indoor Gardening Supply (IGS)is one. You may get on line now and look at what they have to offer. Another very good one is Cape Cod Violetry. To get their catalog you must e-mail John Cook at ccviolets@msn.com or violets@cape.com and just ask for a catalog to be e-mailed to you. They both will have everything you need.

Do the google search on permanest or perma-nest tray.

You need to find the place where you can order in quantity - 10 or 4 or whatever works. Some places they are $12 and some $6 a piece.

irina

Thanks for the info. I am wondering if anyone has ever tried to use serving trays like cafeterias use? We have a Cash n Carry here that has those for under $2 each.

A friend of mine used the cafe trays successfully - but for bottom watering, not for wicks, because they do not hold enough water to talk about.

i.

kitty litter pans will work too. I like the green permanest trays best though. tish

I like the idea of the kitty litter pans - I may have to try that.

The kitty litter pans have nice tall sides which is sometimes helpful to plants that tip over. They come in many different shapes and sizes and colors, so look around before you buy them, as you might see some that will work better for you than others. I got some green ones with very straight sides and a small rounded lip for $1. at a dollar store...they are kitten sized too which was a very good size for putting two on a shelf...I mat water quite a few of my plants. I haven't used the egg crating method, but the kitty litter pans are strong and could hold a good amount of water for that type of wicking. tish

Hi everyone, I am going into the hospital in September just for a few days and I need to set something up to help water my violets I do have a lot on wicks,but I don't know what this egg crating is and where can I purchase it. Thanks Terri

Terri =

it depends - if your soil is close to 1:1:1 - you can turn them to wicks, eggcrate, mats, etc.

But if it is just for few days - you can water your plants - and cover the whole stand with a plastic dropcloth to preserve humidity - and they will be just fine. if they are not on a stand - put them all on a table - in a middle of the room - not on the direct light - invent some frame - so the dropcloth won't be sitting on the leaves - and again - cover them.

To convert to wicking - you need to try first and see how it is working for you. I would say that just before the surgery - you need not to worry, but eat well, get some fresh air and build some strength to help you recover later. I just had a small surgery in April - and I had other things to occupy my mind during the recovery - not to worry about my plants.

The way how it works - you get a sheet of this eggcrate in the fluorescent lights department of HD, measure the size of your trays - cut the thing with pruners - and put something to support this grate in your tray. Dora uses couplings - i use 6 condiment cups, I mat - so I cut a cheap fleece throw to 6 pieces, wrap the grate so the edges dip into the solution and put my plants on the top. All my plants are wicked and all soil is 1:1:1, even more perlite for streps.

Good luck with your surgery.

Irina

Here is a link that might be useful: eggcrate

Hi Irina, Thank you so much for the well wishes, to be honest with you I am so used to having surgeries as I have R.A. and it has made me have new knees,hips and now they are going to rebuild my foot after you explained the egg crate and showed me a picture ding dong I remember seeing them. I am going to have my husband pick some up for me as he is real good about helping me with my violet's Thanks again -Terri

OUCH!!!!

Hello all,

Came across this web site with instructions that were originally explained by Pat Hancock for using this wicking tray technique. I'm going to give this a try and had a couple of questions about the wicks. Are the wicks just laying on top of the matting? Does the matting stay wet because the water level in the tray kept high, or because the sides of the matting are wrapped around the sides? Is Physan 20 routinely added to the fertilizer solution for the trays?

http://gardenhat.org/wicking-trays-african-violets/

Did find of 5-pack of the Mondi black and white trays that I was going to order.

TIA for your comments!

Pretty clear on what's needed and how this works now, thanks Irina.