Seed Starting / Cloning Tray, Wicking System for Nursery Pots (Self-Watering DIY SIP) Tutorial

[@earthmike532]

This channel deserves way more views than it's getting.It's very critical information and it's very practical and I am very thankful

[@Albopepper]

Thanks so much for your positive feedback! Hopefully some of the helpful videos will gain traffic over time. People like you go a long way in supporting my channel!! 🙂

[@CheaddakerT.Snodgrass]

Absolutely! No horse s just facts.

[@eastcoast4233]

Fantastic video. The graphics are second to none. Now I’m eager for the larger raised bed project mentioned. 🤓🤗👍

[@Albopepper]

Thanks for watching. I really appreciate your feedback! 😁

[@bmiller1958]

I just found this channel over the past weekend. THIS IS GREAT STUFF!!! I found myself binging. Keep up the great work!!❤

[@Albopepper]

Welcome to my channel & thanks so much for your support!! 😃

[@shelleynobleart]

This is the best solution I've seen. Going to set it up right away. Thank you for sharing!

[@Albopepper]

I'm glad to hear that you like the idea! I hope you get great results!! 😃

[@dsbennett]

Excellent! I'm getting ready to set up self-watering raised beds. The wicking cords will improve the design I have in mind. I've seen this before but forgot about it. Thanks a billion.

[@lindac446]

Thank you! I've been considering rigging up a wicking system for my outdoor bonsai plants.

[@Topsrite]

Again, excellent information, can’t wait to see the next one as it looks larger and my interest is there. Your vids are 💯 reliable. 💥

[@Albopepper]

I'm glad you liked it! Thanks so much for taking time to watch. 😃

[@flatsville9343]

This is an excellent modular build. The concept is certainly sound. If you lack woodworking skills you can adapt this concept to deep tub & upside down plastic baskets. I went through a trashbag full of old plastic containers & found some dollar store type plastic storage baskets (with square holes in the bottom) that fit inside large bus tub. The baskets are about 6 in high. The bus tub about 7 in high. I snipped out holes to fit the tapered pots about 1/3 way down & side by side. Flipped the basket upside down & pushed in the pots to hold & suspend the above the water line in the tub (as the wick provides the moisture.) There's some minor slack in the fit which I can solve with some foam blocks. With some online searching, I could no doubt find a tub & basket insets for a better fit.

[@beepboop3732]

Is there nothing you can’t do ? 😮 Really good video! Looking for your next one.

[@Albopepper]

Thanks for watching! You are too kind. I appreciate your support on my channel!! 😁

[@davenooner2142]

Great setup there. Nice use of old scraps of wood.

[@Albopepper]

Thanks Uncle Dave! I hope you are doing well & enjoying the early Spring weather. 🙂

[@davenooner2142]

Yes we are doing well here. Working on farm equipment lately for spring time. You and your family, please take care.@@Albopepper

[@flatsville9343]

Excellent modular build. Thanks much.

[@Albopepper]

You're welcome! Thanks for watching and supporting my channel. 🙂

[@jansheltonhunsaker9700]

YOU ARE AWESOME! I learned so much! Gonna try it!

[@Albopepper]

Thanks so much for watching! I hope it works well for you. I've just turned over all of the thyme plants. The prototype now has a mixed batch of herbs & veggies. All of the plants are super happy!! 😎🌿

[@tychabelimbi4816]

You’re the best

[@Albopepper]

Thanks for watching! 😃

[@jyothiblooms747]

Informative video . Thank you. Your new subscriber.

[@Albopepper]

Welcome to my channel! Thanks for taking time to watch.

[@WindyWhiskersCorner]

Always love your videos. Those is a good idea I need to adapt for use here. Thanks.

[@Albopepper]

Thanks for watching. I hope the idea can help out! 🙂

[@deecooper1567]

Another great idea 🤩 thank you 👵🏻👩‍🌾❣️

[@Albopepper]

You're very welcome. Thanks for watching & supporting my channel! 😁

[@nomanejane5766]

I went to a lowes that had their smaller plants like this

[@bigdaadio.K2WW]

Great job on a fantastic video

[@Albopepper]

Thanks for watching! I'm glad you enjoyed it. 🙂

[@SuperKabookie]

Great video! I’ll make one for sure!

[@Albopepper]

Awesome! Let us know how it turns out!! 🙂

[@elizabethworley7073]

It is an interesting thing to think about: how would you build a system that could hold 10 5 gallon buckets? Something that could support that weight? Also, when willing, you could put the tray of pots into the lid from the Rubbermaid tote.

[@Albopepper]

That's a good idea that you can use the tote lid as a tray for the pots! For the 5 gallon buckets, you could place them in a row over a rain gutter that is reinforced with 2x4 lumber.

[@restawhileyall1781]

Thank you for your awesome videos.

[@Albopepper]

You're welcome. Thanks for taking time to watch! :)

[@eastcoast4233]

Suggestion for wicking planter version 2 - instead of plastic pots use small fabric grow bags to enable air pruning. So easy to sow and incorporate a wicking cord. I’ve been using BPA free landscape fabric as it’s strong but breathable. Solid plastic type materials should be avoided. Many KZbinrs including MIgardener rightly promotes fabric pots as the best growing solution but recognises the risk of soil becoming too dry - incorporating a wicking cord overcomes this disadvantaged. Would love to see your take on this. 😊

[@Albopepper]

Where do you get your 3.5" fabric nursery pots? And how will you suspend those in between the rails?

[@eastcoast4233]

@@Albopepper I made them! Super easy. Fold a rectangular piece of fabric in half so that you will be sowing down both sides, having placed a wicking cord into the fold so that it will get stitched in place. With soil in im honestly sure they would sit on your planter in rows like your pots do, but for more stability you can fold the top to create slits for two chopsticks or pencils to hang the soil bags from instead.

[@Albopepper]

It sounds like you've got it figured out. If you try it, let us know how it goes!

[@eastcoast4233]

@@Albopepper Already have, moved my grow bags over a week ago and the soil has remained moist but not too wet since, seedlings (tomatoes, dahlias, stock, and a few other things) are all coming on well :)

[@Red2U]

Brilliant!

[@Albopepper]

Thank-you! 😀

[@EkhoProductions]

Very clever!

[@Albopepper]

Thanks! 😁

[@rtaskyy]

This is amazing

[@Albopepper]

Thank-you! 😀

[@jimd1617]

fantastic 🤩

[@Albopepper]

Thank-you! 🙂

[@growermo940]

Exact idea 💡🔥🤘

[@Albopepper]

😎

[@andrewh3101]

how do you know when to add water? Do you have to lift up the plant holder every few days? Wouldn't the clear plastic container be better for the base, so you can view it easier?

[@Albopepper]

Yes, the clear plastic version definitely allows you to see spot if the water it low. Otherwise, I just pull up one of the pots and peak underneath. I only check every few days. The main thing is to make sure the wicks are always touching water. Also, be aware that if the system is not perfectly level, one side might dry out before the other. Depending on plant size and how deep the reservoir is filled, you can easily go a week without even touching it! 🙂

[@rtaskyy]

is this something you would use for any seedlings? does SIP ever 'overwater' seedlings? sometimes i hear that you should let seedlings 'dry out' a little bit for its roots to spread out more.

[@Albopepper]

Great questions! I've been testing this on a variety of seedlings including lettuce, celery, peppers, tomatoes, oregano, balloon flower, salvia & germander. The celery & lettuce loved it. The flowers & herbs did pretty well. None of them seemed to fair any worse vs non-wicking versions. My potting mix recipe worked extremely well for the thyme, but for the tomatoes & peppers, I think they needed fertilizer. Those plants did well at first. But as they got bigger, they ran out of nutes & needed repotted. One thing I've observed is that the plants have NO issues sending roots out into the pot. The wicking system definitely did not impair rooting. With some plants, the rooting was even enhanced. The tomatoes began sending roots all the way down the wick and into the water reservoir. It started to fill up with water roots! albopepper.com/images/tomato-water-roots-in-reservoir.jpg

[@rtaskyy]

@@Albopepper wow those roots are intense! couldn't you just use a water soluble fertilizer and add it to the reservoir to fertilize everything at once when it comes to the tomatoes/peppers?

[@Albopepper]

That's a great idea actually. I had been thinking about that. But I would probably be very picky about what kind of fertilizer I used. Some liquid feeds have a broad range of nutrients, but they still lack calcium & magnesium. So I would look for a complete fertilizer. Essentially, a hydroponic solution. My guess it that this would work the best. In my testing though, I had a variety of plant types in the same system at once. The tomatoes got too large and crowded out the other things. So ultimately, it was best to simply pull them out and repot.

[@TheKuptis]

2:44 How can the total length be 22 1/4" when your support rails (green color) are 22 1/2"?

[@Albopepper]

Good catch! It was supposed to be 25 1/4" total length. I've blurred out that measurement to avoid confusion. Here's a corrected slide for your reference: albopepper.com/images/board-cuts.png

[@carlossantana3463]

would it work with air pots?

[@TUKByV]

I find 1"x2"s to be straighter on average than furring strips. Ymmv.

[@Albopepper]

Thanks for that tip!

[@davidbishop2969]

What diameter is your derby rope (wick)?

[@Albopepper]

Thanks for watching. Please see the link in the description.

[@davidbishop2969]

@@Albopepper Thanks!