Self Watering Root Pouch Wicking Tray

Self Watering Root Pouch Wicking Tray
Hi folks. In this clip, I go through how I've set up a Root Pouch as a stand-alone self-watering planter for dwarf fruit trees or bushes. I think a pouch of this size could also be set up as a small balcony planter for a few herbs or veggies as well.
Have included another idea for a slightly larger version of this set up with an internal water reservoir too.
Hope this helps those folks out that have asked about setting the larger Root Pouches up as stand-alone self-watering units.
Hope you enjoyed the clip & your gardens are booming.
Cheers all,
Rob
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[@RobsAquaponics]

Thanks for watching folks & don't forget to click the subscribe button if you enjoyed the video. Share the clip around with family & friends if you think they'll enjoy it too. 🌱 🍅🍆 Cheers all & have a top one. 😊 Rob

[@horseblinderson4747]

Have you ever taken soil temperature measurement comparisons?

[@tonyrowe1455]

Thanks for keepin us americans in mind with the inches and gallons and such 👍🤘

[@RobsAquaponics]

No problem Tony. Cheers. 👍😁

[@shadeedmuhammad8107]

I must say this dude did his thing. I love what did and more importantly he explains very well.

[@RobsAquaponics]

Thanks Shadeed. Happy growing mate.

[@diananickel3086]

one year I used these grow bags and just set them in kiddie pools. Every pool was colonized by frogs, so no mosquitos. It was easy and it worked.

[@MonteTurner]

I've been watching you clips for over 2 years now, and I always have to remind myself that if we are getting warmer you are getting colder. Great clip!! G"day!!

[@RobsAquaponics]

G'day Monte. Not too cool here yet. Have only had to put socks on twice in the morning so far 😉 Cheers & hope the season is going well for you, Rob.

[@dave-in-nj9393]

if you want to drain the trays, you can lay in a piece of fabric. I use old socks with a rock to hold it into the water. just lay the sock over the edge and it will wick the water.

[@carladavis4500]

Brilliant way to control mosquitoes since standing water for the grow bags are a breeding ground! Thanks!

[@RobsAquaponics]

Cheers CM. Have a top one. 👍

[@justgivemethetruth]

I love this sand-wicking-base idea ... it's brilliant, and it overcomes all the drawbacks of the rain gutter grow system that I tried and did not really like so much. It would be very cool to tie this to a concept I saw on Geoff Lawton's Permaculture Channel where he was telling about a worm casting system built right into the ground with a seat over it. Just drop you food and organic waste into the cavity and put the top back on and worms will eat it up and their castings and compost can be shared around all the plants growing next to it. It would be so cool to put all of this together ... but it might be so large that it would be hard to move, still it would be one modular sustainable permanent container gardening system capable of growing trees or keeping things going for years ... it seems like anyway. This is really great.

[@RobsAquaponics]

You can just bury scraps in the pouches for the worms. I find using a well aged horse or cow manure top dress & a decent mulch gave the compost worms food to keep them going. Here's the link to the updated clip too, kzbin.info/www/bejne/fILMoaV_jdOEbKs Cheers

[@mightyconker3903]

Poo in a bucket and cover it in charcoal powder. Best fertiliser ever

[@vk4vsp]

After my first wicking tub, I learned to fill it with water up to the overflow before putting soil in, because you can guarantee the sand will subside. We've found a good way to keep down the mossies in standing water is a pair of Muscovy ducks. You do have to be careful with new seedling though. They love arrowroot, cabbage and lettuce.

[@MichaelMantion]

I am going to try this with gatoraid or poweraid bottles. You know the textured ones that hold their shapes. Much better then recycling them and buying plastic piping.

[@Fikishut]

Great hack especially for the mosquitos~ I live in Florida and oh my do we have those suckers lol thank you so much🥰

[@RobsAquaponics]

Am glad you enjoyed it Fikishut. 👍 Hope the build grows well if you tried it.

[@qualqui]

And yet another efficient, time saving container garden method, COOL for those of us who have limited space, thumbs up RobBob, thank you for sharing! :)

[@RobsAquaponics]

Hope it gives you a few ideas Joe. Cheers & all the best mate.

[@50shadesofgreen]

good afternoon Rob !! great job with the update on the root porch and selfwatering wicking system !! thanks for sharing and happy gardening!!!

[@RobsAquaponics]

Cheers 50SOG 👍😊

[@1chking]

Rob I always enjoy your instructional videos. Your explainations are so clear. Detailed enough to give all the info without wasted, confusing dialogue. Thanks Mate

[@RobsAquaponics]

Thanks Calvin. Cheers mate.

[@MsM4677]

My first order of Root Pouches arrived this week! I'm excited to give them a try.

[@RobsAquaponics]

How have you found them so far Micah? Cheers & happy growing.

[@robyoung7923]

I like the two level !! I think you have just showed me the way I am going to build mine !! Thanks !!!

[@RobsAquaponics]

Nice one Rob. Hope they grow some great plants for you mate. Cheers.

[@christysalt6691]

What a fabulous idea!!! You sure have a great arrangement going for the watering system!!!✨️👏🏽🪴👏🏽👊🏽👏🏽🪴👏🏽✨️

[@AviatorDave]

Bob was you a teacher in your past life because I'm always learning something from you? Thanks a million>

[@RobsAquaponics]

Not to sure about that Dave 😉 Cheers mate & all the best. Rob

[@bigmike5785]

This is exactly what I was looking for. Thank you.

[@RobsAquaponics]

Glad I could help some Big Mike. I amended the design slightly for my next build. kzbin.info/www/bejne/fILMoaV_jdOEbKs Hope that helps some.

[@Not_So_Weird_in_Austin]

Thanks the issue for pouch gardeners is finding the tray to make the system. This works like a 5 gallon wicking bucket. Make certain to water in from the top of the pot at first to moisten the soil then the wicking action maintains moisture

[@daviddouglas7228]

Damn a top notch video. Been wondering how to wick my root poches. Very informative. This has helped so much.

[@RobsAquaponics]

Posted another clip with a slight variation if it helps mate, kzbin.info/www/bejne/fILMoaV_jdOEbKs Cheers David & happy growing.

[@crazysquirrel9425]

I took a 30 gal black plastic trash can (had hole in it from winter freezing, at the bottom), filled it mostly with old leaves and such (not fully composted though). I topped it off with some compost (a few inches) and potting soil on the top. I watered it to let it shrink a bit. Planted 1 pepper plant and some radishes in it. They are growing like CRAZY that way. Nice thing is easy watering, harvesting, and NO BENDING OVER. I figure that I can water the plant and keep the compost moist at the same time. Plants gets a little extra air too. By this fall when all is said and done, I should have a nice amount of leaf mold for next year!

[@RobsAquaponics]

Nice one Crazy Squirrel. 👍 Hope you got a great yield from it.

[@crazysquirrel9425]

@@RobsAquaponics Well, radishes sorta did OK. Pepper plant did better. Problem was that the high heat this past summer roasted not only those plants but all plants I had with 1 exception. I had some hot peppers on the side of a Hugelgarden that did VERY VERY well. Had tomato plants in air pots - meh. They did far less than last year. I even had a dripper container in each one and that too didn't help much. All those did was cause a purple disease to attack some of the plants. And then there were the tons of bugs enjoying the buffet I had... Not sure if I will plant all those 40 plants again next year. A lot of work and money for little return. I don't use pesticides or herbicides either. But I might use a herbicide this fall to kill off the tons of weeds I have growing and can't get rid of.

[@PermacultureHomestead]

nice info on the root pouches thanks rob

[@RobsAquaponics]

No problem Tory. I think as far as pouches go these are the most sustainable option for us here. Cheers mate.

[@harrychung433]

And the dog talks back. Thanks for the info, Rob. Makes the whole garden more mobile to get the most out of the sunshine. Would have gone with a rock/pebble topping over the sand, just to keep it looking neat. Then again, I am parcel to rock mulching. Let us know, if you decide to add that auto-tap to the beds.

[@RobsAquaponics]

When the master speaks Harry I must listen.😉 Bianca suggested rock as well around the edge to also help reduce evaporation, something I might add when we move the tray on the weekend. Will still leave most of the sand though as it will be doing all the water moving. The auto top up barrels have been running great so think the larger IBC auto top up beds will do just as well. Finding a large enough reservoir may be an issue though. Cheers mate & all the best.

[@BrightSparkIdeas]

Brilliant video, love your creativity.

[@RobsAquaponics]

Thank you very much!

[@unapocacosa]

Great video as always, Rob!

[@RobsAquaponics]

Hi there & thanks. 👍 Have a top one.

[@rebeccazody1278]

Thanks so much. Learned a lot.

[@RobsAquaponics]

Glad I could help some Rebecca 👍

[@binhminh417]

Thank you!

[@RobsAquaponics]

You're welcome!

[@B30pt87]

That was a lot of useful information, thank you.

[@BK-vh3do]

I like this idea

[@RobsAquaponics]

Am thinking I'll be making up a few more in the not so distant future BK. Cheers & have a top one.

[@theresalarson9416]

Your channel has inspired, and informed, me in so many ways over the years. I’m taking a stab at fruit trees & Autumn Olive berry bushes this year. I became convinced if sand’s wicking superiority after a comparative video you consulted with a fellow youtuber on with his channel some years back. Have been trying to figure best way to tie that to my root pouches, (minus standing water, slouching pots). I do have everything to do drainpipe inside the pot, but would like trees n bushes to have more soil depth for root development. Your set up is brilliant. I’ll probably have to use Sterilite containers - no access to used rain barrels. For looks, a technique called “hyper-tuffa’ around base is handsome, light weight & seasonally bullet-proof. (Energy depending!). Still planning to use in-pot piping for larger, thirsty veg tho. Thank you for all the great content. 👍

[@RobsAquaponics]

Glad the video has helped some Theresa. 👍 I did an updated version that might give you a few more ideas, kzbin.info/www/bejne/fILMoaV_jdOEbKs Cheers & happy growing. 🌱🌱

[@Arefa_Energy]

U are an Inspiration Sir

[@RobsAquaponics]

Thanks. Glad I can helps some.

[@timpage5021]

Good idea.

[@RobsAquaponics]

Thanks Tim. 👍 The wicking part works great but the tree is suffering from neglect at the moment. 😕 Cheers & have a top one.

[@justgivemethetruth]

I've seen this concept from Larry ?? what's-s'name on You-Tube and the rain gutter grow system, and I've always thought it was an extravagant waste of water, but I like the use of sand as a medium to distribute the water/nutrients. That is a good idea and I bet it keeps the amount of water you use as well as the evaporation down. But the problem that I have had with these grow bags is that they wick water out into the air and dry out the plant very quickly. If the nutrient pan underneath is better, the grow bags still seem to get hot and dry and when I was using them it meant I had to keep a really close eye on each bag to make sure it was not drying out. I did not think to put a pan underneath though. But, here in CA, USA, we are, or were for years in a drought, and I did not want to use too much water.

[@RobsAquaponics]

The only way I use the pouches is with some form of water tray under them here JGMTT. 👍 Having a large reservoir like this one also helps. In the updated clip I added some rocks on the top which I'll be doing to this one when we dig it out from where the builders have ½buried it. 😉

[@benthere8051]

I like it. Well done.

[@RobsAquaponics]

Thanks Ben There. 👍

[@veronicar.4611]

A bit of olive oil in water keep mosquitoe larva from surfacing to breath. They say 1tbs per gallon, but in this case I think a few drops would sufice.

[@justgivemethetruth]

4:28 - Oh WOW ... great graphics!

[@SunnyCLT]

Why is a field pipe needed in this case? One can just water over the sand right (assuming no splashing sand around while watering) and the water would flow straight to the void (slotted pipe). I love your videos btw, you are a great teacher and your videos are very pleasant to watch.

[@RobsAquaponics]

That may work OK Ravi. I have a crook back so not needing to bend far is one reason why like to have a fill pipe. Cheers mate & have a top one.

[@a206h]

I built flow thru wicking barrels, but my plants grew through the weed barrier and into the rock media/drainage pipe, up the watering tube and out the bottom of the barrel. It worked TOO WELL

[@RobsAquaponics]

That's some impressive growth KL. 👍 Was it hooked up to an aquaponics system or just water?

[@pabstube1]

Love your Chanel. Thanks for sharing!

[@RobsAquaponics]

Thanks Pablo & have a top one. 👍

[@GregsKitchen]

theyd be good for my crows nests!

[@RobsAquaponics]

Am sure we can sort something out Greg 👍 Cheers mate.

[@williamdyer3999]

Thanks so much for sharing your methods with the grow bag. I’m trying it for the first time as I’m in the desert and. The self watering aspect seems very helpful . So the bags you have to put space between the bag and water supply ? My concern is root rot and there fire I will take the extra steps to get the grow bag elevated . Since I’m using a 20 gallon bag I think a couple bricks to support the weight in addition to the recommended pipe . Thanks again Peace Always 🙏

[@annsfrench]

Interesting idea for fabric pots. I always havre trouble with them drying out and then not being able to rehydrate them. One question: don’t the plant roots grow through the bottom of the fabric pot into the sand?

[@RobsAquaponics]

They can do Ann but only a very small number make it through the Root Pouch brand. They tend to get trapped a lot better than other brands of pouches from what I've see. I think the owner of the company has a video of the process on their site. www.youtube.com/@rootpouch2633/videos

[@bigh650]

well done be well

[@RobsAquaponics]

Thanks & the same to you. Chewers & have a top one.

[@dougreynolds2813]

i capture all of my garden water, i use mosquito dunks in my barrels; they contain a bacteria that kills the larva, they're not what i'd call cheap, but they're effective. i put 1/4 of a dunk doughnut in each 55 gallon barrel, they'll last a month or so.

[@RobsAquaponics]

I've seen a lot of folks in the US use them. Last time I looked for them here they weren't available unfortunately.

[@eros9077]

Hi Rob. I enjoy your videos. They are very informative. I wanted to offer you a solution to your standing water issue. Have you tried placing Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis (BT) into the standing water? It will kill the mosquito larvae. Cheers!

[@Superwalter2222]

That looks like a good idea but wouldn't it mean that you would have to fill it up sooner? Because if the sides are open the water as it evaporates up it also goes out the sides. Don't get me wrong, it's good for the mosquitos by keeping them from reproducing though. Keep up the good work Rob.

[@RobsAquaponics]

Hey Walter. Bianca pointed that out as well & suggested a ring of stones on the sand around the edge. I don't think there would be much water loss though but might be worth it if it is a concern. Cheers & have a top one.

[@bluesight_]

great content, thanks!

[@RobsAquaponics]

Glad you liked it Luke. Have a top one.

[@michaelsmith6579]

such a good girl!!!

[@here_to_watch2115]

This design makes the water have to wick through 2 layers of fabric. With the right size tray, the fabric pot can sit directly on top of the pipes.

[@RobsAquaponics]

I pop the cloth over the pipe to stop the sand from filling it over time. Water will wick just fie through the 2 layers. Cheers & have a top one.

[@dystopiagear6999]

I just bury a 2-liter or 1-gallon jug in my containers, fabric or otherwise. 2-liter soda bottles fit perfectly in a 5-gallon bucket; adjust the size as needed. Cut some slits near the top and run in one or two pieces of nylon rope that reach down to the bottom of the bottle and out into the soil. Leave the top accessible so you can check it and keep it full with either plain water or mild fertilizer solution as needed. It just about takes longer to describe it than it does to make one. Cheaper than dirt and super easy to deal with. If you skip using the rope wicks (often even if you do use the ropes) some of the roots will grow right into the bottle and sip away at the reservoir at their leisure. There is always at least a small airspace at the top of the reservoir so the roots never "drown".

[@dystopiagear6999]

There is a certain point where my way doesn't work very well, because the rope wicks seem to only carry water effectively for about two feet. So in a big bed or IBC tote, yes you're probably better off using the big perforated hose and so on. But up to 30 gallons or so, it just doesn't make sense to spend the money on that big hosing and all that. It's just extra cost with no gain. A few dollars per container can add up pretty quickly if you have a dozen or fifty containers.

[@RobsAquaponics]

Your idea is great for small pots/containers & know folks that use it. I can fill one of these trays & not have to fill it for close to two weeks depending on what's planted in it with a 25 gal pouch on top & the cost is minimal when you factor in health of the plant & time saved. 👍

[@fengxue6466]

smart!

[@RobsAquaponics]

Cheers 👍

[@mday1416]

About the standing water and the mosquito larva in the water. how about putting a few drops of neem oil in the water that will float on the surface of the water and suffocate the larva. And neem will not hurt your plants.

[@RobsAquaponics]

I have thought about that m Day but figured that the majority of it would soak into the fabric. I think it's also good for the soil & plants to let it dry out periodically too. 👍 Cheers.

[@frangourdet]

Thanks! Great video and very informative.

[@RobsAquaponics]

No problem at all Fran. 👍 Cheers & happy growing. 🌱🌱

[@Imwright720]

Mosquito dunks solve the problem with standing water. It has bti which is a larvicide and only dangerous to mosquito. Won’t hurt puppy, birds or anything else.

[@RobsAquaponics]

Hi Gene. We don't get them here in Australia last time I checked. I was told we can get a liquid but haven't looked into it yet. I also think some of the plants like the gingers don't mind the trays drying out for a day or so as they don't like a lot of water around their roots all the time. Cheers & happy growing.

[@OttoNoodler]

What's the downside of not using a slotted drainage pipe and just letting the water sit at the bottom of tote?

[@RobsAquaponics]

The slotted pipe creates a larger void to hold more water meaning you don't need to water it as often. 👍 Cheers.

[@DesertMoonBathNBody]

Thank you. I have only a few this year with tomatoes which are doing great. Unfortunately my property only gets full sun along my cement driveway which is fine. Question is when we are away for a few days at a time could I just place the pouches in a deep drain pan as you showed without the wicking pipe and sand ; my question by doing so will it be bad if the roots are continually sitting in water or will the plant only draw what it need in reference to the water without worrying about causing boggy roots. I am new to gardening and appreciate your expert advice. Thanks.

[@RobsAquaponics]

I think you'll find that the water level will recede fairly quickly as it's used up. I found that I did get some roots to grow down to the sand layer but I have never seen any go rotten when I've moved plants.

[@paulabeattie8565]

I made some of these last season and I found that adding water at the point where I finished filling with sand showed any voids at that time and then I refilled.

[@RobsAquaponics]

Hey Paula. I do the same with the wicking beds but didn't with this jobbie for some reason. Cheers & have a great one.

[@BenjasUberHobby]

Yes I really like the idea to have the reservoir built into the bag. That looked great! I was wondering what are the black saucers that you are using? I have been looking for large saucers but most I find are pretty pricey. I do live in the USA but I am sure they have something like that here that is not as expensive as I have seen. :) Thanks for sharing :)

[@RobsAquaponics]

I got them from the local hardware store Benja. 👍 Some online suppliers may have larger than what you'll fin in shops. Cheers.

[@BenjasUberHobby]

@@RobsAquaponics Tyvm for the info :) Been looking for something like that. The small clear saucers just don't last long.

[@katkamarkusova]

Could you see this sand system working with a milk crate planter?

[@RobsAquaponics]

Hi there. Should work well with a crate planter. Would be great if you could find one with a sealed base so the reservoir could be built in. 👍 Cheers & happy growing.

[@sallygibson2274]

Hi Rob - really liking all your videos & info you're sharing. I'm building a sub-irrigated wicking bed at the moment and have a few wicking bags in a kiddy pool as well as a sub-irrigated milk crate strawberry tower which I've just started so be interested to see how they go. I'm just interested in why you sieve the compost & horse manure? I've got some great horse manure which i'm soaking in a barrel as a manure tea which I thought would be good to use for my sub-irrigated wicking bed but my compost isn't as broken down as I'd like it yet, but I thought if I put it in the bed with some worms they'd be able to continue to break it down. I really need to boost the soil as here in Cottesloe, Perth we're basically just on sand - so I'm using manure, purchased mushroom compost & soil improvers but would love to add some more nutrients - any suggestions? Thanks mate.

[@RobsAquaponics]

Hi Sally. I normally sift the compost to remove any bits of timber that may not have broken down & also to remove any curl grubs that are in there. I will screen the horse manure if it's going to be used in the worm farms but not if I'm adding it to beds when building them. Andrew from Vegipatchinperth has done a few clips on Soil Solver which is a clay additive that works well at turning sandy soils into rich soil kzbin.info/www/bejne/Z17FmYCXirOia80 Here is their site too www.soilsolver.com.au/ Hope that helps some.

[@sallygibson7140]

Thanks so much Rob - soil solver looks great. Looking forward to trying it out. Cheers

[@bigunone]

Well there goes the garden and the updates looks like your going to be busy playing with the dog! Sad! LOL

[@RobsAquaponics]

😄2 walks a day + playing fetch appear to be my new vocation Charlie 👍 Cheers & have a top one.

[@McDowallManor]

Hmmm.... a man in a pastel, striped shirt. Shirt has wooden buttons. Big beard and "scruffy" (apparently) hair. I'd call you a damn hippie but both you and I would just say, "Cheers mate." LOL. I love the idea of the pouches being used with notions of wicking. Ya got me thinking.

[@McDowallManor]

Hmm... I also like your zip tied water input. That's really got me thinking about post mods on my wicking bed.

[@RobsAquaponics]

😄 Have been called a hippy for years Andy but my longest standing friends know the real truth. 😉👹 Glad the clip has given you a few ideas. 👍 Hope the farm is doing well though our blistering cold cool season. Cheers mate.

[@amyl.shultz1121]

Think you'll have any problems with mosquitos? I like this idea...

[@RobsAquaponics]

Haven't noticed any issues yet Amy. Cheers & have a top one. 👍

[@niberusky8567]

Hi great video. Can you use perlite or small pebbles instead of sand?

[@RobsAquaponics]

pebbles don't wick well & I think perlite might get crushed under the weight. I've found the course sand to be the best & cheapest wicking material toi date.

[@justgivemethetruth]

The hard part here is finding a container for the water and sand base unit?

[@RobsAquaponics]

the 50gal drums suit the 25gal the best.

[@Nemodog]

Hi Rob, What would keep the roots from growing into the sand? Maybe it doesn't really matter if they do? I'm just thinking that the beauty of these pouches is that they self prune because of air contact. Wouldn't the roots making contact with the ground or with the sand in this case allow them to continue to grow outside of the pouch?

[@RobsAquaponics]

Hey Nemodog. The roots down the base will grow through but the lateral roots will prune off stopping the plant from becoming root bound. Probably not the best set up for perennials in that respect but think that the turmeric set up in a similar set up will do really well. Cheers & have a top one.

[@ivyshy98]

how long do these pouches last? just from sight it looks like the fabric material would rot after a while.

[@RobsAquaponics]

They're made from recycled water bottles & are UV stable so will easily last 5 years, just like a normal plastic garden pot. Cheers.

[@davidelo5843]

I loved your video , but Idon't really understand why the sand is needed ! Wouldn't the bag and soil wick it up with out the sand ?

[@RobsAquaponics]

Only if it comes in contact with the water, which i doesn't right down the base of the reservoir. Hope that helps.

[@expodemita]

Does this self refill with rain?

[@sawtruth5020]

Hi rob how long does the water last between fills in summer cheers

[@RobsAquaponics]

The plant is still small due to locust & leaf miners so I've been topping it up every 4 days through summer & that looks to do the trick. Larger plants would probably need a slightly larger reservoir or more frequent top ups. Hope that helps some mate.

[@mty216]

Do you have an update for this? How are the plants doing now? How does this system affect fertilizing?

[@RobsAquaponics]

Sorry Tyler, I thought I was on a different video so have to repost my response. 🤣🤣😬😬

[@RobsAquaponics]

That tree died off during our house renovations. The Black turmeric pouch tray has been going great guns for about 3 or 4 years now though. 👍 It's just a case of regular fertilising (I use compost or slow-release organic pellets) & mulching (I use last season's cut-up growth with the turmeric) & the plants look to be doing really well.

[@wobbles68]

Hi Rob, great video.How long will the dwarf lemon myer last(life span)in the root pouch for? Do the Root pouches last for many years or a short period of time? Best Regards Andy

[@DanDannyDanielleBob]

thanks for the content. have you played with autopot smart valves at all in conjunction with the root pouches?

[@RobsAquaponics]

Hi there & thanks. No I haven'tr as of yet. Is something I'm looking at trying with the aquaponics down the line though once I have a small system on the deck we're planing on building. Cheers & have a great one.

[@roryrathbone]

Mate, what a well put together video. Thank you. Also, what are your thoughts on using a perlite as a wicking medium instead of sand and tubing?

[@RobsAquaponics]

I think perlite might compact over time. I like the tube mainly as a void space to hold water. More water = less times the reservoir needs to be re filled. 👍 Thanks Rory & happy growing.

[@robertrosenfeld7458]

Do you recommend a coarse, large grain sand or will fine beach sand work well as a wicking medium?

[@downonthestreet]

Hi Rob. Excellent system and instructions - thank you. Just a question on a possible slight modification, pls. I'm in Perth, and the summers here can be brutal. I've found I need to shade the 30L plastic pots I've been using for tomatoes to stop them getting very hot in direct sun, which I assume roots don't like! I'm intending to try your grow bag wicking system on tomatoes this year. I'm going to use an appropriate sized flexi storage tub as the reservoir base, but was thinking of not cutting it down so it could act as a sun barrier as well as a reservoir. I'd need to use a longer piece of tubing that extended up above the tub in order to water. There would be air space around the sides of the grow bag. Do you foresee any problems with this arrangement, pls?

[@RobsAquaponics]

Hi RR. I think that would work OK. We get very hot summers here in Ipswich as well & find that the air pruning bags work well at allowing the soil & roots to stay cool. They allow a small amount of water to evaporate which keeps the soil cool & doesn't trap in the heat like a pot does. I think your idea would work. It would be interesting to see a comparison between a build as you described it & the version from this video just to see if there is much of a difference. Cheers.

[@downonthestreet]

@@RobsAquaponics Thanks for your response. From your comments, sounds like it's not necessary to protect the grow bags in peak summer as it is with plastic pots. I think I'll still try the mod I mentioned, though. At very least, it's easier than cutting the flexi tub down, and means it could still be used in its original state if required. I will try both and compare, as you suggest. Cheers!

[@AlKeys411]

Great stuff! I replicated in my backyard but have noticed (and smelled) some anaerobic bacteria in the sand. Is there a way to prevent that?

[@RobsAquaponics]

Allowing the base to dry right out before refilling may help some Alcapella. I have seen folks add some home made LAB (Lactobacillus) & using that to kill off any smells. I haven't tried it myself though as all but our first few wicking beds have been smell free. Hope that helps a little & sorry for taking so long to get to your question.

[@sandraanderson3001]

Have you done any wicking with cotton or nylon ropes into a water reservoir?

[@RobsAquaponics]

I haven't tried that but have seen systems that do use them Sandra. They look to work well for smaller plants. 👍 Sorry I'm not much help

[@erbauungstutztaufgnade1875]

👍

[@RobsAquaponics]

👍👍

[@MarkNorman_NXTLVL]

A question: What has been the largest fruit tree you have seen grown in a root pouch? 100L root pouch are you able to manage a 2-3M tall tree with stability? I appreciate any insight

[@RobsAquaponics]

I had some customers when I was selling them with 1.5 - 2m stone fruits in them Mark. They do need to be well fed like any potted plant. The root pruning just stops them from becoming root bound. Hope that helps mate.

[@RA-rf4nz]

Hi Rob! Do you think these Root Pouches would work in a flood and drain irrigation system? I was thinking of using a tray made out of an IBC tote like you have in one of your other videos but using flood and drain instead of just standing water. Would all the nutrients and beneficial microbes be lost out of the Root Pouch soil in a flood and drain system? Thanks, Love your video channel!

[@RobsAquaponics]

Hi R A. Haven't tried them myself but know folks that do. They work OK but you may have issues with algae growing on the base of the tray if it's not covered. Would like to know how you get on if you have a crack at it. Cheers.

[@justgivemethetruth]

That is an interesting idea ... have nutrient solution flow through the trough under the bags and recirculate, but not keep it sitting there standing, and evaporating.

[@bigscoop91]

I mostly noticed the huge difference in mold and mildew on the bags.

[@RobsAquaponics]

It's actually algae & at times moss more than mould. Comes off very easily in the wash or when hit with a water blaster. Cheers.

[@bigscoop91]

@@RobsAquaponics I haven't seen the subject yet but how is that beneficial for the plants? And does it harm the grow bags? Mine are just on dirt right now.

[@RobsAquaponics]

@@bigscoop91 It's not really an issue to the growth of the plants or to the integrity of the pouches from what I've seen mate. It would use up a little bit of water & nutrients from the soil but the amount would be negligible I would think.

[@bigscoop91]

@@RobsAquaponics Thanks alot. I hope to keep my bags long as possible so if it isn't a worry I wont bother.

[@gregbrooks9546]

Rob, I have some blueberry plants that I just started and planted. However, they are about an hour away from where I live so I was going to set a 5 gallon bucket next to them and wick the water slowly from the bucket to the plant over a 4-5 day process. What is the best material for transferring the water from the bucket to plant. I have used some 60% cotton shoe strings with little success but thought you might know what type of fabric or material.

[@RobsAquaponics]

Hi Greg. i'm not too sure to tell you the truth. I've seen a few posts online where folks use natural fibres like cotton, hemp or jute as wicks in different systems. Would like to know how it works out for you mate. Cheers.

[@dsr20631]

Hi Rob. I bought a few root pouches off you a while ago and have them set up in a container that holds roughly 5L of water to the overflow hole and plumbed up to a 30L reservoir via a float valve kinda like the rain gutter method. I'm wondering though will the pouches rot over time sitting in water 24/7 ?

[@RobsAquaponics]

Hi there. As long as they're the brow, red or green pouches you'll be fine. 👍 They are all part of the Boxer Brown line & are non degradable. How are they growing for you ?

[@dsr20631]

there growing well, I'm happy with the pouches.

[@RobsAquaponics]

Great to hear. Thanks 👍

[@stevenschkabaryn5103]

dsr20631 À

[@JebGardener]

Ever try an octopot? I hear they are similar.

[@RobsAquaponics]

Hey Mr Jeb. Only just heard of them (about 5 seconds ago 😉) so will suss them out. Cheers mate & happy growing.

[@gardeningonbalcony8817]

Rob, will the roots grow through the pouch into the tray over time?

[@RobsAquaponics]

They could do but think the majority will stay where they get the nutrients. It might be a case of removing the pouch & trimming the roots every few years. Cheers & all the best.

[@gardeningonbalcony8817]

Thanks!

[@annl1718]

Hi, where can we buy that brown bag?

[@RobsAquaponics]

You can buy fabric planters from Amazon using my affiliate link if you're in the US, www.amazon.com/shop/bnbob01?listId=6UUB60EC5W7I Or you can buy them or similar bags from garden & hydroponic centres as well. Hope that helps some Ann.

[@mmarrinan]

How is this going Rob? Thinking of splashing some cash on root pouches and wanting to make them as automated as possible!

[@RobsAquaponics]

Nice one Michael. Have been very pleased how they have worked for us.👍👍 Cheers & have a top one.

[@justgivemethetruth]

I've always had issues with evaporation with these grow bags ... I wonder if it would make sense to coat the inside of the bag or maybe just the sides of the bad with "slip" ... liquid clay mixture that would harden like an organic plastic, like they use to seal a pond? Do you think that might keep evaporation down and yet still allow air to prune to stubborn roots that might still try to get through?

[@VickiTakacs.]

I too am looking for a way to cut down on evaporation with these grow bags.

[@RobsAquaponics]

I think the key to growing well with these in hotter climate is to keep them in a tray of water or a reservoir like this one as I mentioned under your other comment. I do know folks that use drip or mist/spray irrigation to keep their pouches moist but for some of us it's too expensive & a lot of that water goes to waste. Not sure the clay would help too much & might hinder the air pruning a bit. Would like to know what you decide to use. 👍

[@justgivemethetruth]

@@RobsAquaponics I got all motivated from watching your videos on this and the Permaculture ones from Geoff Lawton. I think there is one scaling factor that could be used to advantage in these grow bags, and that is size. So, I just ordered a 4' wide grow bag on the theory that the volume to surface area ratio increases, and that might cut down on evaporation. I cannot find a big pan for the bottom of it, so I'll have to leave that for a another revision, but in the middle or the soil I want to try putting a 5 gallon bucket with some holes drilled on the outside and a fastenable screw-on top. Then every so often I can add vegetable and table scraps to the inside of the bucket, along with compost worms like red wigglers and see if the worm castings generated on the inside of the bucket will migrate and enrich the soil in the outer part of the grow bag.

[@VickiTakacs.]

@@RobsAquaponics I have clay soil which is generally always bad so I got recycled compost from the city and was cheap too. The thing that I have found to help is using cedar and pine hamster bedding from Tractor Supply as a mulch. Another thing that works is planting a plastic bottle full of small holes as then you can have it leach water out slowly as needed. I'd be worried about root rot.

[@justgivemethetruth]

@@RobsAquaponics Here is the Geoff Lawton Permaculture video I was referring to earlier in case you have not seen it - watch?v=LVDiaOdreuQ This is another great idea and I think could be combined with your self-watering grow bag concept.

[@evanbushong4291]

If my plant got a disease last year should I toss my bags and soil. Also how to you keep root from going into ground soil?

[@RobsAquaponics]

I'd wash the bags but it may pay to toss the soil if you want to grow the same crops in them. I have trays under my pouches that I can fill with water or put them on the wicking trays like the one in this video.

[@random-zr6jx]

Does the sand need to be rinsed first before use

[@RobsAquaponics]

I didn't as I trust the supplier. It may pay to is you're unsure of it's origin. Sand from the beach would definitely cause a few issues I think.

[@petechalmers6834]

Hi Rob, I'm just wondering how long the reservoir lasts. Mainly in a summer grow

[@RobsAquaponics]

It depends on the type of plant. I found small trees needed a weekly top up until they get established. Plants like the ginger & turmeric need more frequent top ups through the middle of summer, probably twice a week once they start dividing & putting on a load of new growth.

[@homefarmideas]

Hey my friend:) Is the sand pH neutral? I was just wandering if it will affect the plants is all.

[@RobsAquaponics]

I would say it is neutral as sand is generally inert as it's made of silica & won't break down but will double check for you. I'm back 😉 I added some water from the tap & it came out at 8.1. The town water comes out of the tap above 8 normally using my Bluelab meter so I'd say that's what I'me really reading. If I had some rain water I'd try that but all I have is some collected in the wheelbarrow that's mixed with some soil mix so don't think that would be too accurate either. If it is a silica based sand I think the only pH swing you'll get from it is if it's been contaminated by some other source at the suppliers like maybe some run off from a pile of "urbanite" making it more basic. Hope that helps some mate, Cheers.

[@homefarmideas]

Funny, when I started all this gardening caper I never thought of checking pH:) Thanks my friend!

[@organiccraftworks3153]

@@homefarmideas my experience is neutral is good, too alkaline has been seen ti leach the nutrients from the hydro or limits the plant's ability to absorb them... Thank you for an awesome design

[@organiccraftworks3153]

unless of course you're growing something that prefers a more acidic or alkalinish soil ;) cheers.

[@allanpennington]

Quick Q re the pouches. Do they have to have auto watering reservoirs, or can you just water them like you would a plastic pot?

[@RobsAquaponics]

Hey Allan. You can water them just like any other container garden. 👍 I like to use reservoirs as it means I don't need to get out there everyday to water them. Cheers & have a top one.

[@sandrag6038]

Hey Rob, do you have any problem with your citrus getting wet feet in your wicking tray set up, especially in winter?

[@RobsAquaponics]

No I haven't Sandra. I did end up losing the tree though. 😥 The next one will be going into the ground now the renovations of the patch are almost done.

[@sandrag6038]

@@RobsAquaponics I've set up a wicking system for my lime trees where I can drain their water in winter and let air in (to stop wet feet). I've used a boat bung fitting. Now, close to spring, I've screwed in the bung and filled the system again. My citrus are looking good. Cross fingers.

[@RobsAquaponics]

@@sandrag6038 Nice one Sandra. Hope they continue to grow well for you. 👍

[@tazztone]

how about filling the pouch with sand or wood chips at the bottom and put the whole pot on a saucer filled with water?

[@RobsAquaponics]

Most of our pouch gardens are sitting in a tray of water. No need to add anything in the base as we let them dry out before topping the trays back up to help prevent anaerobic layers in their bases. Cheers.

[@orchepiaviolinviola]

Hi Rob, I have some 20 gallon Root Pouches. I'm trying to find someone who talks/demonstrates about how to apply fertilizer in these bags. I also grow in Earthboxes, and you apply the fertilizer in a strip on the top I'm mainly growing root vegetables in these bags, and want to know what is your method for applying fertilizer?

[@RobsAquaponics]

I add compost & fertiliser pellets just under the mulch layer on ours Elizabeth. I find it breaks down fairly quickly that way & you don't disturb any roots. If you don't use mulch you could add it just under the top 1cm/¼" of soil. Hope that helps some.

[@orchepiaviolinviola]

@@RobsAquaponics Thank you for the information! I've since done more research on the topic, and I've learned that I should prep the soil 6-8 weeks before planting root vegetables. I wish you continued success with your garden!

[@Aaron-mx3bh]

Rob Bob, what size container is being used on top of the cut barrel? 100 liter?

[@RobsAquaponics]

Hey Aaron. Its a 95L pouch on top of the base of a 200L barrel. 👍 I have the dimensions of the pouches listed on the website if that helps at all. bitsouttheback.com/root-pouch/ Cheers & happy growing mate. 👍

[@vbmoonrocksi4902]

Sick set up man! I'm going try this out! How is it working?

[@RobsAquaponics]

It worked OK but cam up with a mod that works better I think. kzbin.info/www/bejne/fILMoaV_jdOEbKs Hope that helps.

[@catherinepususta8639]

I'm a bit confused. I have seen several of the "Gardening with Leon" videos and his use of wicking buckets. He suggests after the first 2 weeks of watering from the top, to add a fertilized water to the pipe every singe time you water. You don't do that, fertilizing only from the top into the soil at the start Is the slow release fertilizer enough for the entire season, or do you ever add more fertilizer at any point, and how? From the top in the soil or from a water- soluble fertilized solution? And if you water with a solution would the mosquitos lay their eggs in that?

[@RobsAquaponics]

I just had to watch one of his latest videos to see what Leon was doing. I normally use a complete organic fertiliser so it's a single addition used to feed the microbes in the soil which in turn feed the plants. That one addition is generally all that's needed for one crop of fast growing green veggies. For tomatoes or heavy feeders like broccoli I would feed the soil again every 6-8 weeks. I have recently started to add a small handful of activated rock minerals as well to cover any of the minor elements that are in small amounts or lacking in most commercially made organic soil fertilisers. I have also used liquid feeds like fish emulsion with added seaweed but at the moment it's mainly the slow release pellets & dust. I try to keep the fill pipes covered so that the mozzies aren't really an issue. Hope that helps some Catherine. 👍