stick wick outside of container here, in imaginary garden...Hazey the clown said:With that all said, with regard to perch zone and drainage, I wonder about the wisdom of mixing perlite with coco, or mixing any different sized soil. Is there an optimum size soil particle for all pots (drainage wise), or is there a ratio to pot size, and what the hell is it? Is the perch zone all that important for us to "drain" if were bottom feeders, and most importantly had anyone tried sticking a wick/or part of one out and below the pot. It could theoretically be the same wick bringing the water in. Anyone got any ideas how to test this?(beyond what was expressed earlier in thread)
details here:
coco+wick+gh flora nova=never dump run-off|pdg’s imaginary/enjoyable garden
https://www.icmag.com/ic/showthread.php?t=127112
while coco is a good medium in general, have found that roots from fresh clones reach out of 4-6" containers using simple orchid bark + pumice & pure perlite... seemingly it is the higher oxygen content & larger collidial particulates. used to mix coco @ 50%/50% perlite, etc. seems 10-15% is enough water holding capacity if want roots to extend beyond 4 or 5 gal top container.
w/ more coco in top container, there is less need for roots to extend their search for a constant water source. there is also thicker media barrier to push thru. the pros to more coco is that the media buffers the solution & is a greater fail safe.
more aeration of the media, more drainage holes (ala kbs buckets) seems to be effective.
maybe lots of shoes strings in lots of holes extended into external res for wicks, instead of 1-4 big ropes.
coco is good, & if use it as primary media, would still top & bottom dress coco w/ @ least 2" of perlite. also, when transplanted into 5 gal buckets, surround 4-6" root-ball of coco w/ perlite/hydroton/marble chips/lava rocks/etc laterally.
the water-holding capacity & porosity of the media particulate seems more factor than size of the media.
hope this helps. enjoy your garden!