[SIP Gro-Tubs]

Originally Posted by ArthurDent004

I was using what I had at hand. I read some articles that said braided nylon rope like this

http://www.lowes.com/pd_349226-258-0...ope&facetInfo=

worked well.

Here's a link to a short article on wicking action

http://www.davs.org/Wicks%20by%20George%20Starr.html

The artical was a good read, But, its about growing African Violets.

African Violets arn't grown in large containers used to grow Tomato's, so for using a wick the size used for a AF, it would not wick enough for a 5 gl container.

Wicking is compared to how large the diameter of the wick, with consideration to its capillary resistance to gravity and depth of the reservoir.

The reservoirs for AF's are usually less than 1/2'' deep, and the pots are in the 4-8" dia. x 4-6" tall, not much wick is needed to keep the soil moist in such a small pot. Also they are indoor plants so they don't transpire (sweat) water thru the leaves, as what a tomato plant growing in the hot summer heat.

A 5 gl bucket will need a much larger wick. In my many years of manufacturing Wick watering systems, I've concluded that a reservoir 6" deep needs a wick with a diameter of at least 11/16".

http://api.ning.com/files/c9ozb3dSdP...Mojito8184.jpg?width=737&height=552

Mojito Gro-Box 8" x 18", 3 gl resevoir 4" deep, 3 polyester wicks

http://api.ning.com/files/hppPojbhNY...737&height=552

8 Bibb lettuce growing in a 8" x 24" Gro-Box. 4" deep 4 gl. reservoir

http://api.ning.com/files/sAlTHbIBOU...737&height=552

4 New Mexico Chile Petin plants growing in a 12"x 18" Gro-Box. This photo was taken 5 weeks after planted, the transplants were in 606 plug trays and about 4" tall.

http://api.ning.com/files/nRYeUf5ap2...737&height=552

6 Strawberries in a 12" x 18" Gro-Box

http://api.ning.com/files/5iIjtudCho...737&height=552

These are 12x18" Herb Gro-Box's after 4 weeks from transplanting, each box has 5 herbs, and the low water and high water consuming herbs grow in the same box just inches from each other.

These are just some of the pictures of what my Cedar Herb Gro-Box's that I build and sell. Reservoirs are hand fabricated to fit inside, the bottom of the box and the resevoir tops are 10mm Coroplast, all wicks are 11/16'' diameter polyester. The soil-less media is only 5.75" deep. The measurements of the box, example 12x18" is the top opening inside the trim boards, The total height of each box is 12.625" so this box has a growing surface of 1.5 sq/ft surface area with 5 herbs.

Will be posting in the next day or so, complete instructions with photos on how to make a 5 gal Gro-Bucket using only one 5 gl. bucket, instead of 2.