organic wick system?

anybody here tried to do an organic grow with a wick system?...i am kicking around ideas for an outdoor grow this spring...i have 5 gal buckets and 4 gal grow pots...will a wick system keep the roots too wet...i am going to do a gravity drip at one site,a solar pump system at another site and want to try a wick system at another site...just wanting to experiment a bit...each way has people for and against it...i just want to try it for myself and decide for myself...the soil i am going to use is somewhere between subcools super soil and revs tlo soil...w99

The constant wet of the wick system makes the organic thing a mess. You could get away with it a few days but the soil acidity would spike the roots will rot. Also MJ likes to be watered from the top. A drip system on a timer would be better

A cotton 3/8th's " rope for wicking is good. Good soil doesn't need a PH tester, or all that other shit.

I am trying the same thing. I use coconut fiber. gravel and potting soil normally. Want to try Hydro, so as I change over i'm experimenting.
In my pots I have 4 or more 3/8 wicks in place. I can adjust how much the girls get. Later I will go soil free.

South Texas said:

Good soil doesn't need a PH tester, or all that other shit.

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u might need the p.h tester to check your water though

w99illie said:

anybody here tried to do an organic grow with a wick system?...i am kicking around ideas for an outdoor grow this spring...i have 5 gal buckets and 4 gal grow pots...will a wick system keep the roots too wet...i am going to do a gravity drip at one site,a solar pump system at another site and want to try a wick system at another site...just wanting to experiment a bit...each way has people for and against it...i just want to try it for myself and decide for myself...the soil i am going to use is somewhere between subcools super soil and revs tlo soil...w99

Click to expand...

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W99illie.... To do the wick thing, soil is out. It works best (soilless or semi-soilless) with coco fiber, perlite and " Jiffy " seed starting mix. 50 percent coco, 10 percent perlite and 40 percent Jiffy seed starting mix.
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I've used this mix with wicks sucessfully on two grows. I used two gallon pots filled to the top with this mix - four wicks per pot on 2 x 4's on concerte blocks over a kiddie pool from the dollar store. The wicks hung down into the res, cut about 1/2 from touching the bottom. For wicks - I used capillary mat material - cut into strips - got it from Wormsway.com The stuff works great & does not cost much.
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I mixed my nutes - used Bontanicare back then - filled my kiddle pool half full & turned on a small aquarium air pump / stone setup to keep it oxygenated. The light was a 400 watt HPS, over six plants - I could have done 8.
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It was very easy to setup / use - didn't cost much and got decent results - without allot of time spent tending it. Once a week, I'd check the TDS & water pH - make small adjustments - and dumped & flushed every 10 to 12 days - both the pool & pots. All my drainage, got used for my veggie garden. I don't believe in dump to waste...... I reuse everything I can....
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Hope this helps.......
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Just an update, if anyone reads this old thread.....
After further studies, changed up a bit... stole OhsoGreens' soilless reciepe. Sill using multiple 3/8 cotton rope for wicks.
Last purchased seeds did not make it. Blame myself cuz never had prob with this Co. B4, but no idea what I did wrong.
Anyway, got a dozen bag seeds up & goin' in rockwool cubes and finishing up room....... ( now it's roomS )....

Part 1 of my log @ 1st time Hydro Growin' coming soon.

Thanks To OhsoGreen for all the help.!!