Btw, I tried to resolve this mystery in one of my other posts on "Container Soils - Water Movement and Retention" and seeking comments from the experienced ones. ----Quote---- Moving on I am thinking of trying out Self watering containers. I was just wondering as to why it works and why the water is not being wicked up infinitely and result in root rot. The reason that I came up with and I would need the the experts confirmation / comments over here is this 1/ A self watering container is constantly sitting above water and after all the soil in the container has just enough moisture, the water keeps on wicked up until PWT levels are reached (an a portion of it may well be inside the pot itself). Now since the soil at the bottom is constantly in water, the roots do not grow into that PWT area and remain above that level for entire life cycle of the annuals (veggies) and they keep on getting the moisture and the air at the precise time that they need. 2/ On the other hand if we were to keep a container already having roots reaching the very bottom of it (the container) in a saucer full of water, because of the PWT the water will get wicked in through the drainage holes and getting the plant over watered since the roots in the PWT area will rot. 3/ Now that would mean that to make a very easy self watering container would be to let the container sit in the water saucer (perhaps an inch deep) and the potting soil will wick water up and also maintain that PWT. In order for roots to not reach the PWT area, we must ensure that the saucer is always full of water. (Ofcourse the container should be deep enough to allow for both PWT space and the enough free soil space for the roots) Am I reasoning it correctly? ----Unquote--- I did get a reply but I am still trying to understand it :) You know a newbie can have trouble understanding everything the experts say....

Worked out the cheapest, most compact and most simple automatic watering system for me. Uses 3 buckets, one float valve, simple barbed fittings and clear 1/2" tubing. There are no penetrations below water level and no alterations to planters. Top bucket only holds 5 gal, so you can hook up to larger tank if you desire. Use only clear tubing to detect any air bubbles. I am going to use Hudson valve to feed top bucket when away from home. Used 3 Lowe's buckets. Top Bucket - no alterations Bucket 2 - Cut off top below the expanded "ring" for spacer to lift top bucket up additional 2 3/4". Discard bottom. Bottom Bucket Installed 1/2" US Plastics #23136 float valve slightly above desired water level. Installed barbed elbow on float inlet. Installed clear 1/2" tubing from elbow over the top of top bucket to reach bottom. (Siphon action feeds float valve on bottom bucket) Ran 1/2" tubing from bottom of bottom bucket through side (above water level) to barbed connector. Ran 1/2" tubing from the barbed connector to barbed "Tee" at top fill pipe of first container. Ran 1/2" tubing from "Tee" to bottom of fill tube. Tubing runs from bottom bucket to "Tee" on first container, to "Tee" on second container, to "Tee" on 3rd, etc. (Last container doesn't have "Tee", tubing runs directly from last "Tee" to bottom of container fill tube. Primed siphon of container tubing by holding end of tube in bottom bucket to garden hose. Put top bucket into bottom bucket and fill. Primed siphon of top bucket to float valve. Note: Fill planting containers first, as the siphon action to the float valve only supports a small but adequate flow rate.

Really----- How did your tomatoes do last year? I can't believe [tomatoes] can produce and grow well in a confined 18 gallon container. I want to try some home maid ones myself,VERY INTERESTED. Great garden, :)

Amanda, I am also running experiments of different container mix combo trials. See the other thread in the link below. I will not be ever using "plain" Miracle-Gro or Sta-Green potting mixes going forward. They simply are "too good" at retaining moisture. At a minimum, I will always mix in 20% Perlite. That I have learned so far. Depending on my current trials, I may also add in either: Turface, bark fines, redwood compost, or cactus mix. What lowering the water level does is make it slightly harder for the moisture to wick up into the main chamber by a few inches in height, which I think is a good thing. But the main benefit of lowering the water level in the reservoir will be a fresher stream of water now going into the wicking system. Raybo Here is a link that might be useful: Container mix trials