My name is Scott and I'm an avid waterer. I can't help it. I know it's wrong, but I can't stop. You provide fantastic tips to help those of us who need help.
Hi Eli & Kate I watched your videos and have to say this has been a game-changer for me. I used large gravel trays and old wire shelving from from my old mini greenhouse to raise up and hold seedling pots on. The capillary matting helped reduce the amount of time I used to spend watering. Now it's just a matter of topping up the water tray. My seedlings are thriving. Thank you so so much for your videos, I love the channel, love you guys....Tina (Dublin, Ireland ☘)
great tips, Eli. I have managed to over water using capillary mats and the seed tray platform is going to be a game changer! Somehow missed the notification for this one when you posted it out so now I am ready for the next seed sowing sesh. 🌱
Oh Suz when it’s newly sprouted seedlings like that, this is the time to be extra careful… A wee spray bottle and a spritz of water is the way to go. Super delicate wee things
I really enjoy watching your video's, Learning so much and theres nothing better than being in the greenhouse (with a cuppa) and having one of your videos on to listen to whilst pottering about. Xx
This is the second video I've seen on this exact topic TODAY. I've never seen it before and luckily, I will be using it on my seeding which is starting this week. Thanks.
I've got a few long weekend trips over the next couple of months and was getting twitched about my greenhouse seedlings and plants suffering when left alone (honestly, they're better at causing worry, work and stress than looking after human kids!) So I've just ordered this matting. Thank you once again Eli (and Kate of course) for your timely tips. Love you both x
If you’re having trouble with overwatering in the house, there are many options for self watering plant pots for indoors. I bought some from Amazon and my plants have never been healthier. My peace lilies love it so much, they keep flowering. It used to be years between flowers and now they just keep coming.
Brilliant! Great minds think alike. How modest is that eh. I have been collecting wonderful big trays for years. My two indoor growlight gardens from Sunblaster work with this system. It had just occurred to me that I could duplicate it everywhere. I did try the upside down seed tray thing but found there were dry spots. I am putting some plastic over the tray before the felt materials. Happy gardening!
I always over water you have inspired me, I have had nearly all I need to do similar with all my tomatoes and peppers to make them all self watering I will take some pictures might have time this weekend
@@eliandkate would it be ok with you if I published a short video showing my new self watering system. I will mention that it was based on your design.
I looked into capillary mats and found most were made of polypropylene (not biodegradable so wind up in the landfill versus the compost pile when they get manky). I remembered that organic microgreens were sometimes sprouted on mats made of paper, wood fiber or jute. That last one got me thinking: Burlap is made from jute so it may be a longer lasting reusable and biodegradable option as capillary matting. And cheaper too! The initial watering can also be done from below by setting the pots in a tray filled with water without the supports, then transferred onto a tray with the supports and matting after saturation.
Oh interesting Give it a go and let me know how it goes, that’s an interesting one to try. They do get manky, really manky…. So I’m a cheap skate…. I wash and reuse until they end up as scraps for craft 😂😂😂 hence those tiny off cuts Save pennies where you can
Great stuff, thanks Eli. I am going to adopt this method to reduce wasting time pratting putting my seedling pots/trays in a big tray full of water for a amount of time, then removing them to be replaced by another set of thirsty pots/trays, and continue until everything has been watered.
I like this idea, Most of my seedlings are already in progress but I will get the matting and give this a go for next year because I will put my hands up ...guilty as charged, I am an over waterer😁 p.s. loved the videos with yourself and Gardener Scott. .........West coast gardener
Great tips! I seen another video on this on a larger scale using a rain gutter on edge of plastic covered table with capillary mat. I wondered on hotter days if it would keep up?
9:51 That’s really useful Eli. Thanks. On a separate subject I was watching one of your older videos about making your own potting compost. Do you use the same recipe for your seed compost and potting compost? Thanks for your help.
I’ve just bought some capillary matting after watching this. Such a brilliant idea. My rhino arrived last week and is being erected tomorrow! I’m so excited! What is your board for the sockets made from? It looks so cool. Love your channel and your accent. Xxx
Ah, I actually made the board for my socket… hence why it has our logo on it. It’s laser cut acrylic with a aluminium backing plate I made a wee clip about it ruclips.net/video/SFjZ79JSbRI/видео.html
Great video as always. I'm new to greenhouse growing and had a panic about not watering yesterday. My capillary matting is dry but not all are in trays.
Hello from Québec! Just discovered this amazing channel and I am hooked! Question: here we are almost 1 month behind you for temperature so I am starting seeds this week (last frost early June) and I want to try this watering method and I would like to know if you leave the water all day of if you empty the tray at some point? I worry about creating breeding ground for insects. Wishing everyone a great garden!
Hello 😍 Nope I don’t empty the tray but I don’t fill them, I just add enough to keep the mats wet so they don’t generally have water in the bottom that long. You’ll find that you’ll have to adjust the amount you add depending on your temperatures and sun etc too.
Hi Eli and Kate great tip on watering will give ago,can I also can I ask you girls if you made your own hoop covers noticed them in your garden or did you buy in kit ? Hugs from Shropshire 🌻
I'm half way there, I have a container that holds water that I put my pots in.... but, um, yeah.... after actually having a bit of rain recently (and thanks to my handiwork, my greenhouse roof has points where it leaks)... they got a bit over watered. They may be ok... I just took them out and placed them elsewhere while the water dries up a bit :D I'll have to look for some capillary matting and some standoffs to improve my setup :D
I guess that’ll depend on your set up and temperatures, but mine easily makes it through a weekend, in fact, it can last most of the week in summer when it's hotter. Remembering though that your temps and humidity will prob vary from mine.
Hi Eli, once again what a really helpful video and I will be copying this idea. I have a question, in the green tray with the spinach seedlings it doesn't look like there's a platform - are those pots just sitting directly on the damp matting? If that's the case, is there any reason you use a platform for some but not for others?
hope it works well for you :D Yup all of the trays have platforms. Some of the smaller trays have different platforms that are a lot lower so maybe not as obvious :D
Hi eli going on holls for a week any suggestions for watering my plants/seedlings while I am away.Seen your video on using matting do you think that would work for the week?? Thanks for any advice
Thanks for all that Eli, really helpful. One question- do you keep the pots sitting on the matting permanently til they’re ready to go out? Thanks again
I do yeah. The pots never get soaked the way conventional watering does, they just keep absorbing moisture so that the bottom half is always moist, always there as the plants need it
I've tried it at the beginning, but I had troubles with those tiny flies (not the fruit ones) and decided to stop it again and the flies went away. This was in the house, don't you have that problem? And if so, how do you deal with it? Happy Easter! Nice video again
Yeah fungus gnats are a real problem if you over water, they love wet compost. Not just in the house but in the greenhouse too. An infestation in the house a few years ago was one of the reasons that spurred me to accept I was over watering. In the greenhouse, now that I’ve switched from watering as standard and now only bottom watering, plus the potting in, is starting to reduce their numbers well but for indoor plants which is obviously much more of a priority… You need to go with a two pronged approach once you have them. You need to deal with the adult flies (yellow sticky paper traps work great for this) but you also need to kill the eggs and larva in your compost too. For that the best thing I found was a dilute peroxide drench.
Thanks for all your great tips! How do you use the capillary mating with your indoor plants? I'm thinking something similar with raising the plant up to create a reservoir for the water, but do you have problems with your plants not being stable and falling? I've got a very active and bouncy boy and three dogs, so stabilization is important in my house. As it is I spend an enormous amount of time picking up things that have taken a tumble.
This is not just useful for first time gardeners. I have a problem keeping my seedling trays evenly damp in the greenhouse. This happens because I have sun on one side of the greenhouse and not on the other. I never even considered a capillary tray. Good advice!
Hi Eli. I’ve been trying your watering system for my greenhouse tomatoes and it seems to be working really well. 👏 I’m going to have to start feeding them soon, can I put the feed into the tray and let it be taken up or should I feed them from the top? I was planning on using comfrey feed but I know that you said not to use organic feeds in Quadgrows, does that apply to the tray method too? Thanks for all you do.
Ahhhh so I’m glad you asked. So this system is great for seedlings and small plants but I wouldn’t recommend it for long term for larger plants. As for adding fertiliser, I wouldn’t recommend it. I’ve not done it myself but I’d imagine you’d end up with mould and fungus and bacteria on the matting as the feed would permeate the mats and be the perfect breading ground.
Hi Eli I ask you a question a few days ago I was just reading your reply when me tablet went dead so here goes again re self watering plants I am going on 1 weeks holiday so I was looking at the matt's your reply was you will need a big reservoir then ????????? Thanks for your help ( tablet charged up)
Hi Ladies, Confession: I have copied this system from you guys. And I added my own twist. I used left over gravel cells from the landscaping of my garden paths, to create the cavity height. I cut them to size and put them in IKEA shoes trays - they fit beautifully the upper shelves in my Rhino greenhouse. I finished the whole set up last week and what difference it makes. It saves so much time. A question: how often you change your capillary matting, or just wash them. Great vid and thanks for the ideas.
Hey Gina that's awesome and you know what... I use those gravel things too.... they are in one of my videos from previous years about this set up :D I wash and reuse the matting wherever I can. Sometimes it gets disgusting and I don't reuse that one, but mostly a good wash at the end of the year :D
Just got my capillary matting today in the post, can I use it for seeds or only seedlings? And does a propagator lid have any effect on the amount of watering either with the matting or normal bottom watering? Thanks
Hey So no, this is for plants not seeds. It gets the bottom of the pot or tray consistently moist so it’s t much use for seeds as they need the top layer to be wet. You wouldn’t use a propagator lid with it as you wouldn’t be using it to germinate seedlings.
Oh, such a good idea, thank you Eli and I am sure my seedlings will agree 😂. I wonder if green woolly carpet underlay will work as capillary matting? I have few bits left over so might try that. Otherwise I am sure I have seen capillary material in the discount stores.
Hmmm technically yeah however I’d worry it just wouldn’t cope with the amount of water and feed a plant would need. You could make a self watering pot instead? Have a watch and get an idea of the basics… then customise it to be your perfect system for your plants? ruclips.net/video/3yfoZH0yyq4/видео.htmlsi=rT2FAbsrywugZnnZ
What a clever idea! I'm actually the opposite. Plants can be heard begging for water here. I am always turning around and finding plants that have dried out completely, poor things. Any tips for stopping the white mould on the soil surface? In the conservatory I have those self-watering pots with the strips of fabric that draw up the water, but because the soil is moist, I always end up with white mould. Very frustrating. xx
Hmmm if it’s the quadgrows self watering type then the surface shouldn’t be moist. Are you maybe using a potting mix that’s too water retentive? Are you watering from above as well as the water reservoir? The surface and a couple of inches down should be dry
@@eliandkate -I had that problem also inside the house not so much in GH. Too warm, the oscillating fan helped and yes the type of soil. I planted more flats with a new bag of same potting mix and added a lot more perlite and the mold was almost non existent.
This issue is a specific thing to the quadgrow units Dusty. Are you using those? Because they use wicking action to draw water up to the plants, you need to be careful not to use a particularly moisture retentive soil as you want them to dry out and then kick the wicking action in. If the soil stays wet then you get the white mould on top like you can on seed flats
@@eliandkate They are a similar little planter with a wicking system at the bottom and a water reservoir. I have emptied them out and will try a drier mix with more perlite. I didn't water from top, no. It was frustrating as the plants I was trying to over-winter died. I wasn't precious about them - they were an experiment - but I'd like to crack the problem before I try and grow anything I am precious about.
So avoid things like peat moss and coir as it holds a lot of water When you first plant up you water from above to get the system going but never again after Remember they don’t work for seedlings, they are for bigger plants 😍
I like that idea but I think the advice to “let the plant tell you” is even more valuable as I’m forever watering dry tops even tho the plants are looking perky enough. Lost my aubergines to root rot and the courgettes are looking dodgy too now - I can’t help myself 😢
I may use a more natural fiber mat, but it will save me from being the enthusiastic over-waterer. I live in a temperate rainforest zone, that's my excuse.🤣
I tried that technique a few times with different materials and it never worked out well for me. My seedlings would do well for a while but then over night would be be dead.
I'm guilty as well. My husband is a double trouble waterer. We have an honor chart and have to mark when we water the starts. By the looks you may be on the way leading a "over waterer's anonymous...OWA group. big cheeky grin...
My name is Scott and I'm an avid waterer. I can't help it. I know it's wrong, but I can't stop. You provide fantastic tips to help those of us who need help.
😂😂😂😂
@@eliandkate Sounds like a the start of a 12-step program.
😂😂😂 we’re gonna need to hire a bigger meeting room
😂
Did you purchace your big and medium trays and capillary matting please? On line?
At last!!! I’m a beginner gardener in Scotland and have been looking for easy to follow videos for months - thank you for all of your advice! 👍🏼
Hurrah
Glad you found us Helen 😍
Hi Eli & Kate
I watched your videos and have to say this has been a game-changer for me. I used large gravel trays and old wire shelving from from my old mini greenhouse to raise up and hold seedling pots on. The capillary matting helped reduce the amount of time I used to spend watering. Now it's just a matter of topping up the water tray. My seedlings are thriving. Thank you so so much for your videos, I love the channel, love you guys....Tina (Dublin, Ireland ☘)
Yay
Glad it was useful
great tips, Eli. I have managed to over water using capillary mats and the seed tray platform is going to be a game changer! Somehow missed the notification for this one when you posted it out so now I am ready for the next seed sowing sesh. 🌱
You’re ahead of the game
Another great idea, luckily I already have most of it just have to get some matting, many thanks Eli 😊
So helpful …from a chronic over waterer!! Thank you
You Miriam?
Sounds like we have an awful lot of over waterers here 😂
Hi Eli & Kate, this is a great video with lots of helpful tips on how capillary matting helps your plants. Thanks for sharing and take care 😊
Happy to share Christine 😍
I planted my first seeds a few days ago and am already freaking out that they’re too dry. This is very helpful 😍
Oh Suz when it’s newly sprouted seedlings like that, this is the time to be extra careful…
A wee spray bottle and a spritz of water is the way to go.
Super delicate wee things
I really enjoy watching your video's, Learning so much and theres nothing better than being in the greenhouse (with a cuppa) and having one of your videos on to listen to whilst pottering about. Xx
A potter is good for the soul
Turn the pot everyday on the mat, Brilliant advice.
It’s happened to you too then? 😂😂😂😂
This is the second video I've seen on this exact topic TODAY. I've never seen it before and luckily, I will be using it on my seeding which is starting this week. Thanks.
Oh fab, hope it’s useful
I've got a few long weekend trips over the next couple of months and was getting twitched about my greenhouse seedlings and plants suffering when left alone (honestly, they're better at causing worry, work and stress than looking after human kids!)
So I've just ordered this matting. Thank you once again Eli (and Kate of course) for your timely tips. Love you both x
I know right! So stressful
So appreciated this! I so over water my plants. And this looks like it might be the solution. Going to try this! Thank you for sharing.😊❤
Good luck 😍
My name is Danny and I am a severe under waterer! So this will really help me❤
There’s a couple of you confessing here Danny
Think there are less “we’ll behaved gardeners” than those of us with watering issues 😂😂😂
If you’re having trouble with overwatering in the house, there are many options for self watering plant pots for indoors. I bought some from Amazon and my plants have never been healthier. My peace lilies love it so much, they keep flowering. It used to be years between flowers and now they just keep coming.
I just passed responsibility to Kate 😂😂😂😂
Thank you Eli, for always giving us such useful tips and info. I look forward to all your videos!!!
Fabby that you’ve found it useful Debbie 😁
Brilliant! Great minds think alike. How modest is that eh. I have been collecting wonderful big trays for years. My two indoor growlight gardens from Sunblaster work with this system. It had just occurred to me that I could duplicate it everywhere. I did try the upside down seed tray thing but found there were dry spots. I am putting some plastic over the tray before the felt materials. Happy gardening!
Sounds like a good plan 😀
Wow Eli, that certainly is a game changer! Watering is a major issue for me so I am going to try this. Thank you so sharing 🏴
You are so welcome! Fingers crossed it helps
Fantastic video - I have watched your channel for a long while and this tutorial for me is one of the best ... from an avid waterer.
Excellent Paul glad it’s been a good one for you
I always over water you have inspired me, I have had nearly all I need to do similar with all my tomatoes and peppers to make them all self watering I will take some pictures might have time this weekend
It’s defo worth a try.
Thankyou 😊
...it's nearly Sunday. Woop! xx
Great video thank you
Glad you found it useful Andrew
This works great. I have used this type of system for several years. Highly recommend trying it.
Me too
It’s saved me so many times
Great video again Eli, have been using this tip successfully since I first found your site, keep up the great work 😊
Oh no… was that the original video where I thought I was debunking it?
Just back from my allotment having installed several self watering systems. Great video, just what I was looking for.
Oh fab
Good luck 🤞
@@eliandkate I’m away visiting family for a few days this week and now I don’t need to worry about my seedlings.
👏👏👏👏
@@eliandkate would it be ok with you if I published a short video showing my new self watering system. I will mention that it was based on your design.
Of course Adam
Can’t wait to see
Brilliant, fantastic info. Thank you so much 🤗🤗🤗
Good luck Sally 👍
Brilliant Eli. Thanks for the tip 👍 Happy Easter 🐰🐣
Merry lots of chocolate day to you too 😍
As always a fantastic video packed with great advice & just the advice I needed .... as Im terrible at over watering ... thanks very much 😘😘😘🌻🌻🌻🌷🌷🌷🌷🌷
It sounds like we all are 😂😂😂
@@eliandkate I'm going to take on board your comment about them looking dry on top .... because that's when I panic water ... big time 😘😘😘😘
I looked into capillary mats and found most were made of polypropylene (not biodegradable so wind up in the landfill versus the compost pile when they get manky). I remembered that organic microgreens were sometimes sprouted on mats made of paper, wood fiber or jute. That last one got me thinking: Burlap is made from jute so it may be a longer lasting reusable and biodegradable option as capillary matting. And cheaper too!
The initial watering can also be done from below by setting the pots in a tray filled with water without the supports, then transferred onto a tray with the supports and matting after saturation.
Oh interesting
Give it a go and let me know how it goes, that’s an interesting one to try.
They do get manky, really manky…. So I’m a cheap skate…. I wash and reuse until they end up as scraps for craft 😂😂😂 hence those tiny off cuts
Save pennies where you can
I did this with some short trays last year and they got some grow trays which fit on my shelf with the capillary matting
Great stuff, thanks Eli. I am going to adopt this method to reduce wasting time pratting putting my seedling pots/trays in a big tray full of water for a amount of time, then removing them to be replaced by another set of thirsty pots/trays, and continue until everything has been watered.
Oh I’ve done that too…. It’s the waiting on the pots taking up the water… then draining…. You need patience
Great video, just in time for us too as we're having a few days away and this will be just the job, thanks so much Eli!
Awww perfect then
As always great advice and tips. Thanks for sharing.
Glad you enjoyed it Sheila
I like this idea, Most of my seedlings are already in progress but I will get the matting and give this a go for next year because I will put my hands up ...guilty as charged, I am an over waterer😁 p.s. loved the videos with yourself and Gardener Scott. .........West coast gardener
Top secret… but next week… Scott is back 😍
Great tips! I seen another video on this on a larger scale using a rain gutter on edge of plastic covered table with capillary mat. I wondered on hotter days if it would keep up?
Oh yeah, I’ve seen greenhouse staging with a sunken part for doing this too… all proper and official
9:51 That’s really useful Eli. Thanks. On a separate subject I was watching one of your older videos about making your own potting compost. Do you use the same recipe for your seed compost and potting compost? Thanks for your help.
Hey Katherine
no they are separate recipes to do different things. If you do a wee search, there's videos on each
I’ve just bought some capillary matting after watching this. Such a brilliant idea. My rhino arrived last week and is being erected tomorrow! I’m so excited! What is your board for the sockets made from? It looks so cool. Love your channel and your accent. Xxx
Ah, I actually made the board for my socket… hence why it has our logo on it. It’s laser cut acrylic with a aluminium backing plate
I made a wee clip about it
ruclips.net/video/SFjZ79JSbRI/видео.html
Perfect timing. I am a water criminal as well!
Oh suspect there is a whole heap of us 😂😂😂
Great video as always. I'm new to greenhouse growing and had a panic about not watering yesterday. My capillary matting is dry but not all are in trays.
at this time of year, watering is a real chore. Every year I swear I'll get better :D
@@eliandkate I'm really enjoying 'seed watch' as am a late starter, but I can imagine things do grow old.
seed watch is fab! At any experience level, followed by harvest watch
@@eliandkate it's quite incredible. I've never had anything resembling the space I have now. I may have too many! 🤭😂
Great tips for those of us that belong to AWA (avid waterers anonymous). 🤣🌱🥰👍 TFS
😂😂😂😂😂😂😂
So if it’s time for you to prick out and pot on those tiny seedlings, this video will be useful to watch next
ruclips.net/video/2rQ_of9sVUY/видео.html
Hello from Québec! Just discovered this amazing channel and I am hooked! Question: here we are almost 1 month behind you for temperature so I am starting seeds this week (last frost early June) and I want to try this watering method and I would like to know if you leave the water all day of if you empty the tray at some point? I worry about creating breeding ground for insects. Wishing everyone a great garden!
Hello 😍
Nope I don’t empty the tray but I don’t fill them, I just add enough to keep the mats wet so they don’t generally have water in the bottom that long.
You’ll find that you’ll have to adjust the amount you add depending on your temperatures and sun etc too.
Hi Eli and Kate great tip on watering will give ago,can I also can I ask you girls if you made your own hoop covers noticed them in your garden or did you buy in kit ? Hugs from Shropshire 🌻
The hoops we’re a kit from quickcrop
I'm half way there, I have a container that holds water that I put my pots in.... but, um, yeah.... after actually having a bit of rain recently (and thanks to my handiwork, my greenhouse roof has points where it leaks)... they got a bit over watered. They may be ok... I just took them out and placed them elsewhere while the water dries up a bit :D I'll have to look for some capillary matting and some standoffs to improve my setup :D
Oh no
Leaky roof …. I had the same issue with the shed and my dahlia tubers
How often does the reservoir try need refilled? Can it make it through the weekend?
I guess that’ll depend on your set up and temperatures, but mine easily makes it through a weekend, in fact, it can last most of the week in summer when it's hotter. Remembering though that your temps and humidity will prob vary from mine.
Hi Eli, once again what a really helpful video and I will be copying this idea. I have a question, in the green tray with the spinach seedlings it doesn't look like there's a platform - are those pots just sitting directly on the damp matting? If that's the case, is there any reason you use a platform for some but not for others?
hope it works well for you :D
Yup all of the trays have platforms. Some of the smaller trays have different platforms that are a lot lower so maybe not as obvious :D
Hi eli going on holls for a week any suggestions for watering my plants/seedlings while I am away.Seen your video on using matting do you think that would work for the week?? Thanks for any advice
You could give it a go with an extra deep reservoir
Thanks for all that Eli, really helpful. One question- do you keep the pots sitting on the matting permanently til they’re ready to go out? Thanks again
I do yeah.
The pots never get soaked the way conventional watering does, they just keep absorbing moisture so that the bottom half is always moist, always there as the plants need it
@@eliandkate Thanks for your prompt reply. I’ll give it a go 👍
With this watering system can I use it from the start when I first plant the seeds in the compost or does it only work when the plant has some roots?
It’s better for seedlings and small plants. With seeds you are better to list the soil surface
I've tried it at the beginning, but I had troubles with those tiny flies (not the fruit ones) and decided to stop it again and the flies went away. This was in the house, don't you have that problem? And if so, how do you deal with it? Happy Easter! Nice video again
Yeah fungus gnats are a real problem if you over water, they love wet compost. Not just in the house but in the greenhouse too.
An infestation in the house a few years ago was one of the reasons that spurred me to accept I was over watering.
In the greenhouse, now that I’ve switched from watering as standard and now only bottom watering, plus the potting in, is starting to reduce their numbers well but for indoor plants which is obviously much more of a priority…
You need to go with a two pronged approach once you have them.
You need to deal with the adult flies (yellow sticky paper traps work great for this) but you also need to kill the eggs and larva in your compost too. For that the best thing I found was a dilute peroxide drench.
Thanks for all your great tips! How do you use the capillary mating with your indoor plants? I'm thinking something similar with raising the plant up to create a reservoir for the water, but do you have problems with your plants not being stable and falling? I've got a very active and bouncy boy and three dogs, so stabilization is important in my house. As it is I spend an enormous amount of time picking up things that have taken a tumble.
I don’t use it with indoor plants… Ive switched my indoor plants to Terracotta pots to try help
This is not just useful for first time gardeners. I have a problem keeping my seedling trays evenly damp in the greenhouse. This happens because I have sun on one side of the greenhouse and not on the other. I never even considered a capillary tray. Good advice!
My greenhouse is exactly the same… those shelves are really useful but cause loads of shadow
Hi Eli. I’ve been trying your watering system for my greenhouse tomatoes and it seems to be working really well. 👏 I’m going to have to start feeding them soon, can I put the feed into the tray and let it be taken up or should I feed them from the top? I was planning on using comfrey feed but I know that you said not to use organic feeds in Quadgrows, does that apply to the tray method too? Thanks for all you do.
Ahhhh so I’m glad you asked.
So this system is great for seedlings and small plants but I wouldn’t recommend it for long term for larger plants. As for adding fertiliser, I wouldn’t recommend it. I’ve not done it myself but I’d imagine you’d end up with mould and fungus and bacteria on the matting as the feed would permeate the mats and be the perfect breading ground.
Ah I didn’t realise that. Major rethink needed 😱
Thanks for such a helpful reply.
@user-jj9sg5fu1e hope it helps 🥰
Hi Eli I ask you a question a few days ago I was just reading your reply when me tablet went dead so here goes again re self watering plants I am going on 1 weeks holiday so I was looking at the matt's your reply was you will need a big reservoir then ????????? Thanks for your help ( tablet charged up)
A bugger reservoir so you don’t run dry while you are away
Hi Ladies,
Confession: I have copied this system from you guys.
And I added my own twist.
I used left over gravel cells from the landscaping of my garden paths, to create the cavity height. I cut them to size and put them in IKEA shoes trays - they fit beautifully the upper shelves in my Rhino greenhouse. I finished the whole set up last week and what difference it makes. It saves so much time.
A question: how often you change your capillary matting, or just wash them.
Great vid and thanks for the ideas.
Hey Gina
that's awesome and you know what... I use those gravel things too.... they are in one of my videos from previous years about this set up :D
I wash and reuse the matting wherever I can.
Sometimes it gets disgusting and I don't reuse that one, but mostly a good wash at the end of the year :D
I know. I also got the gravel cells from you. So, when we were doing our paths I made sure we saved the left overs.
Thanks for the tip on washing
Hurrah 🥰🥰🥰
My seedlings thank you, and my water bill thanks you. Now, what to do with all this twitchy energy.... Good video, as always.
Oh I didn’t even think of that…. Luckily we don’t pay for water…. Oh I can’t imagine living somewhere in a water meter 😬
Just got my capillary matting today in the post, can I use it for seeds or only seedlings? And does a propagator lid have any effect on the amount of watering either with the matting or normal bottom watering? Thanks
Hey
So no, this is for plants not seeds. It gets the bottom of the pot or tray consistently moist so it’s t much use for seeds as they need the top layer to be wet.
You wouldn’t use a propagator lid with it as you wouldn’t be using it to germinate seedlings.
@@eliandkate Thank you, always have nighmares with seeds as its always either bone dry or soaking wet, never any middle ground with me lol.
Oh, such a good idea, thank you Eli and I am sure my seedlings will agree 😂. I wonder if green woolly carpet underlay will work as capillary matting? I have few bits left over so might try that. Otherwise I am sure I have seen capillary material in the discount stores.
Worth a try???
You never know 😁
Also, wilko sells the matting but costs more than if you were buying in bulk. It’s basically a form of felt.
@@chrisivens3413 thank you 🙏
Me too
👍👍👍👍👍👍
can you do this without the capillary matting?
I don’t understand what you mean, sorry.
Can you do what?
Can I do this with tomato plants in their final pots?
Hmmm technically yeah however I’d worry it just wouldn’t cope with the amount of water and feed a plant would need.
You could make a self watering pot instead?
Have a watch and get an idea of the basics… then customise it to be your perfect system for your plants?
ruclips.net/video/3yfoZH0yyq4/видео.htmlsi=rT2FAbsrywugZnnZ
What a clever idea! I'm actually the opposite. Plants can be heard begging for water here. I am always turning around and finding plants that have dried out completely, poor things. Any tips for stopping the white mould on the soil surface? In the conservatory I have those self-watering pots with the strips of fabric that draw up the water, but because the soil is moist, I always end up with white mould. Very frustrating. xx
Hmmm if it’s the quadgrows self watering type then the surface shouldn’t be moist.
Are you maybe using a potting mix that’s too water retentive? Are you watering from above as well as the water reservoir? The surface and a couple of inches down should be dry
@@eliandkate -I had that problem also inside the house not so much in GH. Too warm, the oscillating fan helped and yes the type of soil. I planted more flats with a new bag of same potting mix and added a lot more perlite and the mold was almost non existent.
This issue is a specific thing to the quadgrow units Dusty. Are you using those?
Because they use wicking action to draw water up to the plants, you need to be careful not to use a particularly moisture retentive soil as you want them to dry out and then kick the wicking action in.
If the soil stays wet then you get the white mould on top like you can on seed flats
@@eliandkate They are a similar little planter with a wicking system at the bottom and a water reservoir. I have emptied them out and will try a drier mix with more perlite. I didn't water from top, no. It was frustrating as the plants I was trying to over-winter died. I wasn't precious about them - they were an experiment - but I'd like to crack the problem before I try and grow anything I am precious about.
So avoid things like peat moss and coir as it holds a lot of water
When you first plant up you water from above to get the system going but never again after
Remember they don’t work for seedlings, they are for bigger plants 😍
I like that idea but I think the advice to “let the plant tell you” is even more valuable as I’m forever watering dry tops even tho the plants are looking perky enough. Lost my aubergines to root rot and the courgettes are looking dodgy too now - I can’t help myself 😢
I lost my aubergine too 😭😭😭
I may use a more natural fiber mat, but it will save me from being the enthusiastic over-waterer.
I live in a temperate rainforest zone, that's my excuse.🤣
😂😂😂😂 is my excuse that I live in a marine climate?
I tried that technique a few times with different materials and it never worked out well for me. My seedlings would do well for a while but then over night would be be dead.
Booooooo that’s sucky
@@eliandkate yea it was. Lol.
What is the spelling of the felt mat?
It’s just capillary matting
@@eliandkate hey, I’m in the process of shooting a video for my raised garden bed. You wanted an update. Should I tag you when it’s done?
Yup
Either tag us here or insta if that’s where you are or add the #inthegardenwitheliandkaye hashtag 😍
I’m the opposite 😳 … I probably underwater - is that better or worse 🤔
Ha ha ha I would say they are equally bad, especially with seedlings 😁
Hey Mrs…. This will be useful
Pallet planter
ruclips.net/video/pb-PV4rQIow/видео.html
I'm guilty as well. My husband is a double trouble waterer. We have an honor chart and have to mark when we water the starts. By the looks you may be on the way leading a "over waterer's anonymous...OWA group. big cheeky grin...
I know… there are so many of us 😂😂😂