Wicking Beds

[Hamish121212]

Has anyone used old carpet as a soil/gravel separator and wicking layer? Plenty of used carpet at carpet stores if you ask them to save it for you.

[BlueWren]

Hamish121212 post=337064 wrote: Has anyone used old carpet as a soil/gravel separator and wicking layer? Plenty of used carpet at carpet stores if you ask them to save it for you.

Any nasties in carpet? Or am I just too suspicious nowadays?

[calliecat]

I wouldn’t be using old carpet for anything 🙁

[Dayla]

I am actually trying rolled up newspaper as my wick. About 4 green guides rolled up and spread around. I know it will break down but it won’t go anywhere, its fibres will remain. Its an experiment after all.

Dayla

[Wez]

Anybody looked into the SIP methods? (Sub Irrigation Planters)

Bluewren tried to send you msg but for some reason it’s not posting-I’ll try again later

[Dayla]

Wez post=337150 wrote: Anybody looked into the SIP methods? (Sub Irrigation Planters)

Can you tell us a bit about it please.

Dayla

[Wez]

It’s a type of wicking system but instead of a medium to hold water you use some sort of container to hold more water. I’m building one in bed form. I’ll try & post some photos when done.

[BlueWren]

For example a small version would be pierced empty plastic drink bottles or 2litre milk bottles in the bottom of a plastic box.Growing soil/mix can go straight on top.Still have a fill pipe going into one of the bottles and a top drainage pipe as in standard wicking beds.Very good for balcony set ups.Lots to think about.

[Fishfood]

Heres a few pages of how I constructed the wicking beds in the new place

http://www.backyardaquaponics.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=18&t=663&start=2160

Also look at second last page for latest photo

[Author]

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