Namaste from Nepal! First time caller with a self-watering planter question...

Hi all, I just got to retire in a small village in Nepal, and that means I can finally do some gardening! So many wonderful plants here, and the weather is grand. But I want to make some self-watering pots for when I am away for more than a few days, and I had this idea to convert a set of plastic tower planters that I've got, like this black one:

They are two pieces to this planter, with an insert for the potted plant, and a shell with lots of room for water at the bottom. So my idea is this:



Inner pot, bottom view:



That's the idea that I've used with very small succulent pots, and it works great... only I need to find the right wicking material for these pots me thinks, as I am using nylon rope in this application, and that does not seem to draw water up in my soil-less tests. Hmmm.... ideas? Thx!!!
Jigs

 

Get cotton string. my first thought was that nylon will never work, but you already know that. Jute may work, or natural fibers of somekind. clothes line material?

And Welcome to the forum.

 

Hello @Jigs Gaton and welcome to GS...lovely place you have there and a great idea with the pots...i'd say Carolyn and Eileen have given you sound advice...as I pot differently

 

I agree cotton cording should do fine ! Jute, second best,,but I am not sure jute would be absorbent enough for your needs ! Either should be easy to find and inexpensive !

 

Thanks all! Great tips!!! Well, I've been experimenting with a few different fabrics and I have found one non-organic material that works great: NEOPRENE from old mouse pads:


The red and white materials is from plastic biodegradable bags (does not work). The reason I did not just cut up old tee-shirt ribbing, is that I read that organic materials (cotton rope, for example) will rot and potentially cause plant disease? But I think I will just throw some charcol mulch on the bottom of the inner pot and hope for the best using cotton ribbing. Whatcha think? thx again!

 

I'm gunna try that, thx. Seems like the easiest thing to do...

 

it would take quite some time for rot to occur but charcoal is a fine addition to the base anyway. it won't hurt anything.

 

Thx, done! All plants happy now...

 

Pleased you got them sorted Jigs