Wicking Pots

Here are my absorbent

pots

, greetings YouTubers. I'm Rick, the tech enthusiast, and this time I have a request to create a video about my absorbent

pots

and how they go together. Why an absorbent pot first has a large reserve of water or nutrients. available to plants, the absorbent action will help keep the soil moist but not wet and not watering from above reduces the chance of fungus or disease. My tomato plants really love it. I made these about 2 or 3 years ago using classic large round containers. I bought them from Lowe's and medium classic round containers I bought from Target, they are cute with rope handles and have a slight slope from top to bottom.

I started by cutting 1/2 inch PVC conduit to about 4 or 5 inches long and cutting 1 and 1/4 inch PVC pipe to about 18 inches long, after deciding where and at what level the drain or overflow pipe, I drilled a 3/4 inch hole in the side of the plastic container, unfortunately this was too small and I had to use a dremel to enlarge the hole, you may want to experiment a little with this or try a 7/8 inch hole because after inserting the 3/4 inch grommet into the hole, the 1/2 inch PVC conduit will be inserted. the buttonhole and buttonhole need to expand. I also use a little soap and water to help force it in about halfway to keep the bugs away.

I added a 90 degree elbow to the end with a custom bug block. I made a bug blocker. Cutting about 8 inch slices of 1/2 inch PVC conduit, I cut a mesh screen and glued the two slices together with a mesh sandwiched in between. I trimmed off the excess pieces with a sharp knife and that worked for about a The next year I set some down, blocked and used a little more PVC cement and that seemed to work above the drain pipe and the edge of the grommet will be level of the bottom plastic sheet. I created this false bottom using a sheet of PVC plastic that I bought on Amazon and use a router to make it round.

I made several attempts to check the fit before continuing, then traced the four-inch conduit around the center in pencil and a quarter-inch threaded conduit nearby. the edge and then the concentric rings around the center. I use the rings as a guide to drill a bunch of 3/16 inch holes for drainage, the center holes cut to fit the 4 inch PVC conduit and the smallest hole to fit the old threaded quarter hole. I plugged in the female connector and made sure the hole was smaller and a little tight so I could screw it on. I then cut a square piece of brush block material larger than the false bottom and cut the holes to match the four inch conduit. about an inch or so more than from where the false bottom rests to the bottom of the plastic container.

I marked that location for future reference after I was happy with the length, cut some notches in the bottom and holes in the sides to make sure they are well below the bottom failure level. What is not shown is that I also purchased a 4h coupling and cut rings 3/8 to 1/2 inch from each side of that coupling. This gave me the four rings I needed to assemble the two pots. the pot the 4 inch modified chute is inserted into the false bottom one of the rings made of the coupling that has square sides is added to the bottom this will be tighter than the other and will support the weight of the false bottom then the weed block goes on top and align the holes, it is easier to place what is assembled so far into the plastic container.

Keep the small hole turned towards each side of the drain pipe, otherwise the drain pipe will interfere with the conduit connector. Then place the 1 1/4 inch PVC conduit into the fitting. I have included a lid to keep bugs out. This will be the filler to screw the filler tube by hand into the false bottom, making sure the We block hasn't moved now for the wick here. I use a four inch drain sleeve or drain sock. I was able to find a small roll at Home Depot. I cut a piece about five inches longer than the four-inch modified pipe I cut earlier.

A knot is tied at one end and the knot is placed first in the opening of the conduit push most of it down once you fill the sock with soil you will need additional material to expand the layer of the sock over the top of the conduit and add the other ring with a rounded inner edge facing down, this will make it easier now that you are ready to soil carefully add your favorite mix into the socket area first place the soil in the sock repeat this until it is full continue stacking with care the potting mix as a mound in the center now slowly spread the soil to the edges of the inside try not to leave the soil under or behind the weed block, keep repeating until the pot is full.

I like to fill mine to about an inch or half an inch from the top, the soil will settle shortly after watering it or after a storm, now it's ready. For the plants, as you see, I have the drainage and filling tube towards the front of the pot, if you don't like the height of the filling tube, you can change it well next year anyway. I hope this inspires you to create your own absorbent pot if you like this video, be sure to let me know in the comments section below and don't forget to rate and subscribe.

Thank you and see you soon.