Great idea. As I don't have a green house I'm using 50lt clearish tubs with this capillary base inside for my seedlings as my portable green houses. Thank you for sharing 🌻👍
I have been cloning for years. I decided I wanted to start seeds also. So many interesting plants to chose from. I have had mixed results due to summer heat 100f+ and trial and error planting. Your videos have been very helpful. Because of covid 19 I am using what I have. I screened my potting soil for seed planting mix. I used Expanded Clay Aggregate instead of sand for my capillary bed. The soil was bone dry when I put it together yesterday. This morning 1/2 the top of the soil looks damp. This little miracle is inspiring me to forge on. You have made it an interesting science project instead of a chore. Thanks for sharing.
Thanks, again it was my pleasure! I have been using the capillary bed for many years to raise seedlings and found it helps quite a lot. I thought it was important for others to know about this simple but effective technique :-)
Again, my pleasure. I have found this so useful myself and like to spread the word. Also check out my website, over 600 articles, hopefully something of use :-)
Thats brilliant, it only took me a minute to see where you were going with the bottle and pot. I have several tons of sand from where our above ground pool used to set, and was already building some pans to fit into my steel wire shelving units, so seeing this and your newspaper pots video is perfect timing for me. most of my plants are already in 3 inch jiffy pots, but I have a wood lathe, so making the tool to make the pots is only a half hour of time. So the remaining 100 in other trays can go in paper pots. Then I should have a setup for very happy plants. I have a grow tent setup with temp, and humidity control, as well as timers for air changeover. These new to me ideas will make it even easier to have more success with my seedlings! Thanks!
Like most things in life, its simple when you know how. Thank you very much, my seedlings will have a much better life expectancy after watching your video.
What a smart idea! If a person had one of those trays full of paper pots, and used a 2L bottle, do you think they would make it 4 days without water while away from home? Our weather is about 20C so not highly evaporative.
I think that it is highly likely it will. To fit a two litre bottle, though, it is best to use a hot glue gun to secure the small pot the bottle fits into to the bottom of the cat litter tray. Because of the larger mass of the bottle it can be very top heavy when full, so it needs the glue for extra stability! :-)
If you happen to see this is there any risk of overwatering seedlings via this method? Does the soil always stay damp and can that cause root rot? Thanks for sharing this info!
Hi Barb! I germinate the seeds in multi-cell punnets, then when the seedlings hit the four leaf stage I transplant them into the newspaper pots and let them grow on for 2 to 4 weeks then plant them directly into the soil newspaper pot and all. :-)
This is a brilliant idea, I’m so eager to try it😊however, I’m seeing this video 5 years after it was made and I’m in the US… despite much googling I’ve been unable to find a 1” plastic pot to put the bottle in. Would a small terracotta pot work (about 1.5” wide at top and 1.5” deep)? Seems like it would work as the water would seep through the terra-cotta. If the terra cotta pot would work, should I plug the hole at the bottom?
Sorry, just saw this! Terracotta would work and you would not need to block the hole, the idea is to support the bottle at the right height and the water needs some way of flowing out, You may even need to drill a couple of extra holes in the side.
Thanks for this! I've given it a go and my seeds over the past week and a half have been more successful than previous attempts. I'm using cardboard recyclable seed pots that absorb the water and keep the soil moist (rather than being open at the bottom). I've noticed that there is white fuzzy hair type stuff that I'm worried might be a fungus that's appearing around the edge of each cell - however I've also noticed that some of the roots from the seeds look like this. Should I be worried about it?
Hey Alice, if they have been in for only a week and a half it is unlikely to be roots, more likely fungus. See how it goes, depending on what fungus it is it might cause damping off or there may be no interaction with the seeds at all. Good luck!
I’m trying out this genius setup for my seedlings this year! But I’ve run into a snag...the roots are growing into the sand and break off when I lift them 😕 Have I missed something? Thanks so much!!
You may be leaving them in there for a bit long , but I have had it happen and I just pull the roots ot of the wet sand and wash of the sand and pot them on anyway, no problem!
Genius! Thank you! I am planting some very small seeds (Pycnanthemum) and was worried how I was going to water them without washing away the seeds. Problem solved!
The sand acts as a reservoir for the water, allowing it to wick up to the plants but without having standing water present which can cause issues with mosquitos. The thicker the sand layer the greater the water reservoir.
The 25mm pot is right side up, the bottle is upside down, The bottle sits inside the pot but because the mouth of the bottle sits up off the bottom of the pot by 6 - 10mm, water is released when the level gets below where the mouth of the bottle is. Does that make sense? It sounds bit dickie but I don't know how lese t describe it!!! :-)
@@underthechokotree2792 Hi Nev, turns out you know a friend of mine in Carlingford. Anyway, I sowed the seed raising containers in cat litter boxes and sand. I used a mix of sieved compost, coir, perlite and sand. All good, but the seeds aren't germinating. They are outside, under cover - Kincumber, Central Coast, so lowest temps are 5 deg. Do they need to be in a glass house? Sarah
Nothing really, but generally by the time the plant is send roots down into the sand it is time to plant them out anyway. If they do send roots down into the sand, and I have had some newspaper potted seedlings remain in the capillary bed for extended periods rarely, you just lift them up and shake the sand off! :-)
Why do you need the sand ? why not just let your weeping bottles just maintain 1/4 or 1/2 inch of water in the tray and set your seedling pots sit on the bottom of the trays to wick up ?
what a clever idea if you want to raise seedlings in a nursery like this.
Great idea. As I don't have a green house I'm using 50lt clearish tubs with this capillary base inside for my seedlings as my portable green houses. Thank you for sharing 🌻👍
Sounds great! :) My pleasure!
I have been cloning for years. I decided I wanted to start seeds also. So many interesting plants to chose from. I have had mixed results due to summer heat 100f+ and trial and error planting. Your videos have been very helpful. Because of covid 19 I am using what I have. I screened my potting soil for seed planting mix. I used Expanded Clay Aggregate instead of sand for my capillary bed. The soil was bone dry when I put it together yesterday. This morning 1/2 the top of the soil looks damp. This little miracle is inspiring me to forge on. You have made it an interesting science project instead of a chore. Thanks for sharing.
My pleasure!
Great idea - thank you so much - am just starting to raise my own seedlings. Appreciate the time you've taken to do this :)
Thanks, again it was my pleasure! I have been using the capillary bed for many years to raise seedlings and found it helps quite a lot. I thought it was important for others to know about this simple but effective technique :-)
Really terrific watching. Thank you.
I could not have found this video at a better time. Thank you for spreading your knowledge 😊
Again, my pleasure. I have found this so useful myself and like to spread the word. Also check out my website, over 600 articles, hopefully something of use :-)
This will help many people, thank you. Southern Alberta. :)
My pleasure! I'm glad you found it useful! :-)
Thats brilliant, it only took me a minute to see where you were going with the bottle and pot. I have several tons of sand from where our above ground pool used to set, and was already building some pans to fit into my steel wire shelving units, so seeing this and your newspaper pots video is perfect timing for me. most of my plants are already in 3 inch jiffy pots, but I have a wood lathe, so making the tool to make the pots is only a half hour of time. So the remaining 100 in other trays can go in paper pots. Then I should have a setup for very happy plants. I have a grow tent setup with temp, and humidity control, as well as timers for air changeover. These new to me ideas will make it even easier to have more success with my seedlings! Thanks!
Well done, your set up sounds great! :-)
Wow what a simple idea thank you.
Like most things in life, its simple when you know how. Thank you very much, my seedlings will have a much better life expectancy after watching your video.
My pleasure Sir! :-)
great videos, i love them all !
take good care !
greetings from a fellow gardener from belgium !
Thanks Vicky! Whereabouts in Belgium? my son-in-law is from Maasmechelen.
Thanks Neville love your ideas
Simply brilliant!
Thank you! :-)
Thank you! You explain things so well! You're a great help!
My pleasure! :-) I'm glad you found the video useful!
Ive been looking for a set up exactly like this. Thank you for sharing the information!
My pleasure! :-)
Does it matter if the seedlings on the sand require different amounts of water? Or do you suggest you use as similar as possible on the same tray?
Thank you, finally something I can do right away
my pleasure!
Ingenious!
What a smart idea! If a person had one of those trays full of paper pots, and used a 2L bottle, do you think they would make it 4 days without water while away from home? Our weather is about 20C so not highly evaporative.
I think that it is highly likely it will. To fit a two litre bottle, though, it is best to use a hot glue gun to secure the small pot the bottle fits into to the bottom of the cat litter tray. Because of the larger mass of the bottle it can be very top heavy when full, so it needs the glue for extra stability! :-)
Under the Choko Tree That’s a good idea. Thank you, I’ll give it a go.
Thank you ... this is great!
My pleasure! :-)
If you happen to see this is there any risk of overwatering seedlings via this method? Does the soil always stay damp and can that cause root rot? Thanks for sharing this info!
It keeps the roots damp, not wet and in my experience, I have never seen any root rot.
Under the Choko Tree thanks!
Cool and Helpful
Thankee ma'am! :-)
Nev do you leave the seedlings pots on the sand permanently until they have germinated and are ready to plant out?
Hi Barb! I germinate the seeds in multi-cell punnets, then when the seedlings hit the four leaf stage I transplant them into the newspaper pots and let them grow on for 2 to 4 weeks then plant them directly into the soil newspaper pot and all. :-)
Great tip, thank you.
Glad you liked it! :-)
This is a brilliant idea, I’m so eager to try it😊however, I’m seeing this video 5 years after it was made and I’m in the US… despite much googling I’ve been unable to find a 1” plastic pot to put the bottle in. Would a small terracotta pot work (about 1.5” wide at top and 1.5” deep)? Seems like it would work as the water would seep through the terra-cotta. If the terra cotta pot would work, should I plug the hole at the bottom?
Sorry, just saw this! Terracotta would work and you would not need to block the hole, the idea is to support the bottle at the right height and the water needs some way of flowing out, You may even need to drill a couple of extra holes in the side.
Thanks for this! I've given it a go and my seeds over the past week and a half have been more successful than previous attempts. I'm using cardboard recyclable seed pots that absorb the water and keep the soil moist (rather than being open at the bottom). I've noticed that there is white fuzzy hair type stuff that I'm worried might be a fungus that's appearing around the edge of each cell - however I've also noticed that some of the roots from the seeds look like this. Should I be worried about it?
Hey Alice, if they have been in for only a week and a half it is unlikely to be roots, more likely fungus. See how it goes, depending on what fungus it is it might cause damping off or there may be no interaction with the seeds at all. Good luck!
@@underthechokotree2792 Thank you! :)
Would it work with perlite instead of sand ?
I found no advantage with the perlite and it was much more expensive!
Excellent. I must try this 😁
Brilliant thanks for a great idea
You’re welcome 😊
Awesome!
Thank you! :-)
Absolutely brilliant! Thank you :')
My pleasure! :-)
What a great idea
Thanks Mark, I've been using the idea for years and found it works so well. I wanted more people to be aware of it! :-)
Great tip thanks
I’m trying out this genius setup for my seedlings this year! But I’ve run into a snag...the roots are growing into the sand and break off when I lift them 😕 Have I missed something? Thanks so much!!
You may be leaving them in there for a bit long , but I have had it happen and I just pull the roots ot of the wet sand and wash of the sand and pot them on anyway, no problem!
Genius! Thank you! I am planting some very small seeds (Pycnanthemum) and was worried how I was going to water them without washing away the seeds. Problem solved!
My pleasure Ma'am! :-)
Love it. Thanks
My pleasure, glad you liked it! :-)
Great idea!
Thanks Lou!
what is the sand for and does it need to be that thick?
The sand acts as a reservoir for the water, allowing it to wick up to the plants but without having standing water present which can cause issues with mosquitos. The thicker the sand layer the greater the water reservoir.
How does the bottle sit on the bottom of the 25ml pot without falling off? If I cut the bottom out, then the bottle just empties.
The 25mm pot is right side up, the bottle is upside down, The bottle sits inside the pot but because the mouth of the bottle sits up off the bottom of the pot by 6 - 10mm, water is released when the level gets below where the mouth of the bottle is. Does that make sense? It sounds bit dickie but I don't know how lese t describe it!!! :-)
@@underthechokotree2792 Perfect! I wasn't taking the sand and water into consideration. Thanks for making these tutorials!!
@@sarahdawson-shepherd6243 My pleasure Ma'am! :-)
@@underthechokotree2792 Hi Nev,
turns out you know a friend of mine in Carlingford. Anyway, I sowed the seed raising containers in cat litter boxes and sand. I used a mix of sieved compost, coir, perlite and sand. All good, but the seeds aren't germinating. They are outside, under cover - Kincumber, Central Coast, so lowest temps are 5 deg. Do they need to be in a glass house? Sarah
@@sarahdawson-shepherd6243 Hey Sarah, Cool! Depends, what varieties of seed are they? How long since they were sown?
Wouldn't it be easier to use capillary matting?
Not if I have sand, but no capillary matting! :-)
Sand is much less expensive
But what stops the roots from growing down into the sand once they fill in?
Nothing really, but generally by the time the plant is send roots down into the sand it is time to plant them out anyway. If they do send roots down into the sand, and I have had some newspaper potted seedlings remain in the capillary bed for extended periods rarely, you just lift them up and shake the sand off! :-)
Thanks so much :)
02:00 The video starts.
The video starts what?
Why do you need the sand ? why not just let your weeping bottles just maintain 1/4 or 1/2 inch of water in the tray and set your seedling pots sit on the bottom of the trays to wick up ?
mosquitoes
Plus they do seem to do better when wicking up, using the sand as a reserviour