A simple set up used to keep your plants watered without having to constantly be monitoring the moisture level is the hydroponics wick system. It utilizes a reservoir full of water or a nutrient solution and a wick to feed your plants.

A simple set up used to keep your plants watered without having to constantly be monitoring the moisture level is the hydroponics wick system. It utilizes a reservoir full of water or a nutrient solution and a wick to feed your plants.

A very easy way to get the hydroponics wick system up and running is to begin with two equally sized buckets, some fibrous nylon rope, soil and water. This is a very simple set up and many variations are available to you. These instructions will give you a basic understanding and you will be able to take them as a guide and modify them to your specific situation.

The two buckets are going to be stacked on top of one another when the project is finished. The top bucket should have three or four equally spaced holes placed in the bottom. The holes should only be large enough to fit the rope through them. The rope should be cut long enough to reach the bottom of the second bucket when they are stacked all the way to the top of the first bucket.

This step is the transplanting step. Make sure to use the proper technique specific to your chosen plant. You will need to take each rope and string it along the inside of the bucket that has the holes in it. The rope needs to go through the holes and to the top. It can be held in place by the grow medium you chose for your plant.

Finally, you will place water in the second bucket and stack the first bucket on top of it. Be sure that you place all of the wicks into the water. The wicks will then begin soaking, drawing water up to the roots of your plant and will keep the soil moist as long as you keep the bucket full of water.

To avoid root rot, or simply drowning your plants, and to avoid a flood you must fill the bucket with the proper amount of water. If the water level is too high the soil will remain soaked and if it is too low you will end up with inefficient water supply to the roots.

This is a simplified version of the hydroponics wick system that can be easily modified to fit your specific situation. Some people like to use a grow medium that has no nutritional value and add nutrients to the reservoir to feed their plants. Others use a fertilized soil and plain water. Some experienced growers use a combination of fertilizers and nutrient solutions.

Space, experience, and supplies available are important parts of implementing this system. The basic idea is to use a wick to keep your plants fed and watered. Experimenting a little will give you an idea of what you need to do and what adjustments you will need to make. Be patient and keep notes of what you do so you can improve and enjoy a happy healthy garden.