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Container Gardening

SWC Basic Questions

14 years ago

I have a few very basic Qs about the SWCs I have been reading about here on GW. For purposes of explaining questions, I'll use the dual 5 gallon bucket example.

1. Why does the wicking cup/basket need to be flush with the inside/upper bucket? What does it matter?

2. What keeps the soil/potting medium from getting into the bottom water reservoir?

3. Why put the fertilizer ring at the top rather than mixed in with the growing medium? How does it get absorbed by the roots if it sits on top?

4. Why doesn't someone just make these and sell them online or in stores for those of us who don't want to mess with drilling, sawing, etc. ;-) (And I don't mean sell for $50/60 per unit like Earthbox! That's outrageous IMO!)

Told you these were basic questions!

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Comment (1)

farkee
14 years ago
I am sure you will get a variety of answers-here's mine:

1) The wicking cup would not have to be flush with interior container. Most designs do make it flush though.

2) Moisten the mix first--it pretty much sticks together. A little may fall through but it is inconsequential.

3)See link. The concept is a gradient supply of nutrients. The moist mix gradually releases the nutrients in the strip. The beauty of Earthbox invention is that you fertilize only once all season. You MUST keep a plastic cap on top of it.

4)Well, Earthbox owns one type of patent and there are others. You just can't make them and sell online if you are infringing on various patents. There are other SWC available for less. You could always pay someone to make them for you, Josho had the original idea of using 2 rubbermaid tote containers and cutting one in half. Google for his plans. Ray added permanent support and used large totes. He has also done alot of interesting experiments-search for his posts. Jmalt also has plans. Other companies that carry SWC: Gardeners Supply Co, Garden Patch.

I also think Earthboxes are overpriced at $60 which I have seen at a local nursery (included fert. and dolomite but not potting mix). BUT you can buy them from EB directly for $30 but I don't know how much it is to ship.
They are very well made out of food grade plastic.

http://shop2.mailordercentral.com/EarthBox/products.asp?dept=5

I will say that I have Earthboxes that I believe are close to 15 years old and some around 10 years old. They are out in the Fl sun year in and year out. I never put them away. They last a LONG, LONG time. Much longer than the home-made versions from totes (which I have also made). I only wish EB came in a larger version.

Here is a link that might be useful: gradient system
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