What will improve drainage and aeration...

[generalgrievous]

Perlite...

 

[Scrappy4]

of sorts... yes.


it just happens to be in the wrong place. ie around the soil instead of inside.

your perched water certainly evaporates faster with a fabric pot.

Then use the old rootin tootin double pot in a pot method. Let the roots grow through a 1-2 gallon smart pot, Planted in a bigger smart pot.

But really the only time I had trouble, In this regard was when I had too much castings of questionable quality, hydro shop wiggle worm to be exact. Other than that one time, big pots watered once every three or four days has worked well. And now I'm using homemade castings and compost, it's coming together nicely. I think that oak leaf compost's texture helps too. Not that I can't learn something here though........scrappy

 

[mad librettist]

Then use the old rootin tootin double pot in a pot method. Let the roots grow through a 1-2 gallon smart pot, Planted in a bigger smart pot

very clever!

 

[h.h.]

Then use the old rootin tootin double pot in a pot method. Let the roots grow through a 1-2 gallon smart pot, Planted in a bigger smart pot.

But really the only time I had trouble, In this regard was when I had too much castings of questionable quality, hydro shop wiggle worm to be exact. Other than that one time, big pots watered once every three or four days has worked well. And now I'm using homemade castings and compost, it's coming together nicely. I think that oak leaf compost's texture helps too. Not that I can't learn something here though........scrappy

Bigger is always better. The extra soil becomes the wick. A bottomless smaller pot can be planted in a larger pot bringing soil up the sides and increasing height. Two zones are created. Alternate watering insures one zone is always wicking while the other zone is teasing the roots over. Roots follow the water.
I was reading somewhere about living mulch..I think it might serve to help wick in the outside zone.
Keeping the fines out of your soil always easy transference of the water and air as well as providing an easy path for the roots. Use them in the top of the upper zone. They'll keep water from going right through yet won't effect drainage. Bone meal needs to be mixed in. I read phosphorous doesn't move easily through the soil. Blood meal, use a weak extraction. Manures, top dress or weak extraction.Same with alfalfa. Lime, I think should be mixed in as a precaution to any dead spots in the pots such as corners where there is poor transference.
Long spikes can be put in the pots as well. Water will adhere to them and travel down. As the rootball forms, they can be pulled out, leaving paths for air. It's a way to break up a rootball without actually disturbing the roots.
Just more of the crazy shit I do that keeps some wondering if I'm actually growing anything or just playing in the dirt. Truth is the later, playing in the dirt. The nugs are just a side benefit.

 

[Krshna]

hey guys, i need some help, its late, im stoned, and im feeling really thick. im bouncing between here and all these wick thread around the web right now getting really confused so i made this horrible drawing for you guys. basically does the wick action depend on gravity as in pic # 1, where a wick would have to be hanging free, lower than the pot? or could i do as in pic #2, and have the wick run down, along the bottom of the pot, and out the side, and sit at the same level as the pot. I need to transplant, and am very limited this grow as far as height, so i want to make/get containers that are as short and wide as possible, but avoid the downfalls of the perched water table. any help would be greatly appreciated!
(the red line is the wick)

 

[mad librettist]

the wick works because of water's properties:

cohesion
capillary action
diffusion

unlike a straw, a wick will work without gravity. the longer you make it, the more water it can move.

Bury it in the ground, and the wick can work in reverse if the weather gets very dry.

 

[Krshna]

the wick works because of water's properties:

cohesion
capillary action
diffusion

unlike a straw, a wick will work without gravity. the longer you make it, the more water it can move.

Bury it in the ground, and the wick can work in reverse if the weather gets very dry.

Thanks ML, that's exactly what I was hoping for.

 

[self]

what trichrider said. you could add 2-6 tablespoons. I add a handful per 3 gallon pot, so...yeah.