ok i realize a potential problem. the bottom of this box is not flat. The wicking chambers have a gap at the bottom. I am wondering if this is going to cause a lot of soil to get into the water res. I am thinking about lining the lower portion of the wicking chamber with coffee filters. necessary?

I think your design is very attractive. Much more so than the rubbermaid totes so commonly used.

The thing about wicking chambers is that surprisingly little gets into the water reservoir. I filled a commercial earthbox with 100% turface to see how it would wick water (quite well). If you aren't familiar with turface, it is fired clay pieces around the size of BBs, some smaller, some larger.

Anyway, the wicking chambers on the EB have open sections far larger than the turface and the aeration screen has holes much larger as well. There was almost no Turface in the water reservoir.

The trick is to put the potting mix in moist/wet so it sticks to itself. Once the box is filled the mix goes nowhere.

If you are super concerned then use window screen (or your coffee filter idea), but I promise you it isn't necessary. Just put the mix in moist.

It also won't hurt to use the coffee filter so go ahead to get that peace of mind, but it really isn't necessary even though I totally understand how it seems like it would be.

the finishing touch, courtesy of my 2 1/2 yr old son...

{{gwi:33658}}

justaguy

I suspect the only way the soil in the wick would "move" would be if some of it were washed out of the wicking chamber when the water flowed down through the fill tube into the water chamber. Otherwise, it's a "still" environment!

regaldozer

You might also just cover the wicking chambers with knee-high pantyhose -- pull 'em up from the bottom of the wicks while imagining a short-legged girl! If it's too long, just let the toe-part float free. They're really cheap at dollar stores.