How does it work, self-watering?

[dcarch]

Hi all,

I have not grown tomatoes before in self-watering containers (Earthbox). I am sure it works, but I don’t understand how it works. Can someone please explain my questions?

1. In most self-watering designs, the water is in the bottom compartment. How does the water get to the top of the soil? Capillary action doesn’t seem to me to be able to get water that high up.
2. Do the roots eventually reach down and clot up the water compartment?
3. Wouldn’t the water rot the roots?

Thanks

dcarch

[feldon30]

The roots eventually grow down into the water.

The roots still get oxygen in that first 18" of depth that they're growing through soil.

[MsCowpea]

Technical explanation from Earthbox inventors:
http://www.earthbox.co.uk/NewEarthBox/UofFInfo.asp


Simple explanation from their site:
http://www.earthbox.com/consumer/how_works.html

[dcarch]

Originally Posted by MsCowpea

Technical explanation from Earthbox inventors:
http://www.earthbox.co.uk/NewEarthBox/UofFInfo.asp
Simple explanation from their site:
http://www.earthbox.com/consumer/how_works.html

I am still interested to know how does the water get to the soil near the top of the box and will the water rot the roots if the roots are in the water reservoir all the time.

Thanks for the links.

dcarch

[MsCowpea]

No, the roots don't rot. Think of hydroponics--roots don't rot as long as there is aeration.

For all self-watering containers their is a method of "wicking" the water from the reservoir to the top.

Some use a fabric type wick others soil that entends into the reservoir.
(Earthbox)

The 2 rear corners of the grid are cut away allowing the medium to extend into the water reservoir, thus providing a seepage source of water.

Because the medium extends into the water, the water is "wicked" up to the top.