Self Watering

[big rockpile]

How many use Self Watering? And have you seen any problems?

big rockpile

 

[Tundra20]

Self watering as in a wicking bed system

 

[big rockpile]

Self watering as in a wicking bed system

Yes thinking of Buckets and some Raised Beds.

big rockpile

 

[Oliver Buckle]

Usual problems are too much or to little in buckets, I have found wood in the bottom and standing them in a tray of water works pretty well.

 

[Tundra20]

Yes thinking of Buckets and some Raised Beds.

big rockpile

Raised beds would work but buckets I don't think do as well
We use food grade ibc tote tanks with wicking system and wrks really well for us

 

[big rockpile]

Rethinking about going with what I have. Thanks.

big rockpile

 

[Sean Regan]

I have a leaky hose system along the whole of the left-hand side of the garden, supplied from a tap below the kitchen window.
It is in three sections, the bed beside the main patio, the rockery and then the rest of the border and the area in front of the bamboo at the bottom of the garden.
Two Hoselock multi-valves either side of the rockery mean I can water one section, or any combination of two, or all three.
Another leaky hose will water the narrow border between the shed and the summerhouse when required.

I also installed this over a decade ago, for about £50. It's speed-fit pipework, so not affected by frost or freezing.
It's rare that I have to use any of this more than a few times a year.

 

[big rockpile]

I have a leaky hose system along the whole of the left-hand side of the garden, supplied from a tap below the kitchen window.
It is in three sections, the bed beside the main patio, the rockery and then the rest of the border and the area in front of the bamboo at the bottom of the garden.
Two Hoselock multi-valves either side of the rockery mean I can water one section, or any combination of two, or all three.
Another leaky hose will water the narrow border between the shed and the summerhouse when required.

I also installed this over a decade ago, for about £50. It's speed-fit pipework, so not affected by frost or freezing.
It's rare that I have to use any of this more than a few times a year.

Last Summer I was using 3,000 gallons of water a month. About a third of it inside.

But considering drip irrigation outside.

big rockpile

 

[Tundra20]

 

[Mr_Yan]

I did these in 5 gallon buckets for a few years. High maintenance unless you automate the filling of them. With something that small it really just turns into hydroponics-in-disguise as you're so dependent on the nutrients and fertilizer because the grow medium will be tapped out before harvest.

I don't bother with them anymore.