Photos: Decorative Pot cover / Wicking Reservoir for Plant Display
dviolet1
6 years ago
last modified: 6 years ago
Wanted to share my idea for used an empty candle jar as a pot cover. The space below the plant pot serves as the reservoir for wicked plants. Would like to see what others use for decorative wicking containers and hope you'll share your photos.
~D
Featured Answer
Sort by:Oldest
Comments (35)
Elsa
6 years agoRelated Discussions
Planters with perforated disk above internal reservoir?
Comments (11)When one asks for opinions, they might be rough and unvarnished. You hopefully wanted folks' honest thoughts though. It looks like this may be your first post at Gardenweb, surprised I didn't notice that yesterday, I usually do. Welcome! I would keep those pots, as I agree with your opinion of their appearance. My style is that usually chop/dig a triangle out of a pot with a hand pruner. I haven't the patience to wait for a small hole to drain, and pots need to be able to drain as fast as water comes out of the hose, for rare occasions when I find that necessary. The nail thing above is so civilized, but would be too small of a hole for life at my house. "I saw a claim that this air space also allowed for more oxygen circulation, but who knows." Like said above, air can't get in there, how would it circulate? The only drawback I know to putting plastic pots outside is their light weight. The wind can blow them over a lot easier. The empty reservoir at the bottom would make them more top-heavy. I might fill that with gravel for outside use, taking some precaution to make sure nothing shifts to block the hole added to the true bottom. With the way the bottom is such a drastically smaller diameter than the top, this is already top-heavy, if filled to near capacity. With a hole in the bottom, they would be excellent pots, with the whole bottom surface able to drain freely. Your idea about not snapping the bottom sounds great for later repotting! You could still use them inside after adding a hole. You'd just need some type of added saucer/something to protect porous furniture/windowsills. That defeats the saucerless look for which the pot was designed, but should be a way to use them inside & out and have great looking plants growing in them, just like any other pot with a hole in the bottom. The saucer doesn't have to be ugly. I'd check the thrift store for interesting plates, saucers, glass dishes. If they're not used to fill with excess water, they should stay clean and nice looking, not caked with limescale or brown dirty rings. Since you get to decide where the hole is, might as well make it at or near the outside edge. Then you can tilt the pot toward the hole after watering and know that the reservoir is empty, further dripping should be minimal. Though you might not invest in multiple 'nicer' pots now, or at any single time, if you start collecting them slowly, you can sit the ugly pots inside them and have the best of both worlds. Another tactic is to have dangling/ground-cover type plants cascading over the sides, to hide the pots. "I've always disliked the traditional ceramic planter with saucer setup, because if the water does happen to flow out, it makes a big mess since the saucers don't collect much. However, I've recently been buying a lot of this type and will likely use more of them from here on out." If you water plants at a sink, then put back on drip saucer, you......See MoreAdvice on newly wicked Setup Smelly?
Comments (12)I agree with Irina. I'd immediately pull it out and inspect the roots. If you do not see nice plump white roots ends poking out of the soil or if the soil falls away from the roots and they are brown, then you need to take action. Gently tug on some of them - do they come out easily? From past experience with store bought plants, I'd just about bet it's a root issue. If the roots are fine, remove the droopy leaves as Irina suggested and repot in a smaller pot. If the roots are not fine, then you have more work to do. Remove all the leaves except the ones close to the crown - maybe leave 6-8. Then remove all the roots. If there is an rotting or mushy areas, remove that until what's left is firm and green/ivory colored. If the area where the roots are is sort of like bark, then gently scrape it with your fingernail - don't go deep - I seem to recall that the cells that from roots are on the top surface, not throughout the whole meristem, but I'm not sure. Better safe than sorry. Dust with a bit of hormone if you like, then repot in a 2.5 inch pot, 3" max. I like to use just damp sphagnum moss and put the pot in a plastic bag for these situations. Let the sphagnum sit in some water for at least 5 to 10 minutes to get wet throughout. Before using it, wring it out in your hand - you want it to be damp like a wrung out sponge - water shouldn't drip from it when you squeeze. Put the crown/meristem in the moss, bag it, and set on your light stand. Check the moisture level every so often - once a week is plenty. If you need to add some, add a teeny amount - I actually use an eye dropper. Look for roots in a couple of weeks. I move mine to soilless mix when I see roots, but still leave it bagged or in a covered container for at least another month. If I tug gently and the soil moves, I leave it. When the soil barely moves or doesn't move, I slowly acclimate it to the room temp/humidity and then add it to my collection....See MoreHoya Wick Watering
Comments (16)I'd love to see photos! Excellent! Thanks so much for taking the time. Now I know a few questions to ask :) I've got a bunch of those netted pots from orchids and pond plants when I bought them years ago, they've been around just in case. Do you use all netted baskets or a mix of them and other containers for the inner one? Wow, that Kerrii is gorgeous! Love the leaves. From doing some reading - Correct me if I'm wrong, I've never tried this and am very new - some versions, specifically Rays which I'd heard of, use one pot with holes toward the bottom, filled with media and plant so, when watered, only a small amount of water can stay in the bottom of the pot. I didn't try this system because that one pot couldn't hold the amount of water for the time I'd need without being huge and using a ton of media = financially a waste and I'd assume way too much is not a good thing for the plant. The system you're using, one I hadn't heard of, uses a solid outer pot and inner netted basket and possibly a decorative outer pot if desired? Again, correct me if I'm wrong. I see a water meter - have you found that really helpful or necessary? I realize it's probably helpful since it's tough to tell what the water level is. Any suggestions how deep to make the water if I don't have a water meter? Using 2 pots would keep the media in the inner one the right size for the plant. I assume that the outer pot could be as large as needed to start the water at a good height for the plant yet hold as much water as necessary for a length of time. From doing wick watering I've found that, surprisingly to me, the pot really doesn't have to be all that big since there is a constant draw of moisture. I'd assume this media would be the same? This media would probably work better with plants that need to dry a bit because I assume it will hydrate quickly if it goes totally dry. Wicking can be a challenge in that way because it can be hard to start up again. It's been horribly hot and dry here too, weird tho but our humidity is still very high. Not sure which is more unhappy, me or the plants!...See Moreplant seller who ships in pots
Comments (46)re: "If the plant is very root bound, I like to run a knife down the side of the root ball in a couple of places, cutting about 1/8" deep." That's what I've always done--if terribly rootbound. I figure, either way there will be loss. If those roots don't get acclimated or spread out, so that more soil can get inside the rootball, it would seem logical to me, that there would be a sacrifice of growth and vigor and possibly a failed hosta. If I do the surface cutting, (not unlike some methods of division where roots are lost in the process, if cutting from above ground) then the plant will recover and will become vigorous in a season or two or three, (again, typical time frame for any hosta to 'sleep-creep and leap') at least in my limited experience. But--E.O., no doubt, knows far more than I do on the subject--so we live and learn, as he has, hopefully! :o)...See Moredviolet1
6 years agoElsa
6 years agodviolet1
6 years agoElsa
6 years ago
Rosie1949
6 years agodviolet1
6 years agoA&C with AVs -- all good. I saw at this year's AVSA convention they had an unusual container category.
I'll have to look for your video sometime. I was interested in doing something with glass bowls or candle jars like these DYI vases I recently saw http://www.honeywerehome.com/-paint-swirl-vases.html
~D
Rosie1949
6 years agolast modified: 6 years ago
User
6 years agomine started out in cool whip containers with tiny plastic cups..then upgraded to mason jars. Which isnt a new creative idea..i happened to see it here and fell in love with them..plus the jars were a gift..kinda fun to look back and see how much they've grown..as well as the amount ..oops..I'm usually raiding the recycling bin..which i might have a problem..
my collection as of may
below is as of today..and its not even all of it..
my newest noids
now..if i can find something to water wick in a basket.....hehe
dviolet1
6 years agodviolet1
6 years ago
Nice setup Heather! Here's what I do for certain containers that might work for a basket that's big enough. Use yogurt containers that come with lids.
Line with baggie and fill with fertilizer water for wicking.
Cut one hole in lid for both watering and the wick. Invert lid (upside down) and a 4" pot sits perfectly on top. Put two or three in a basket and your all set. Air needs to circulate so you can't crowd. I'm using this for deep pots where I want to raise up the wicked plants.
User
6 years agoRosie1949
6 years agodviolet1
6 years agodviolet1
6 years agoRosie, fertilizer salts build up in reservoirs and containers must be cleaned every so often. Just toss the baggie out and line with new one!
dviolet1
6 years agoUser
6 years agoRosie1949
6 years agodviolet1
6 years agolast modified: 6 years agoUser
6 years ago
Julie He
6 years agoRosie1949
6 years agodviolet1
6 years agolast modified: 6 years agoHere is a pictorial Rosie. Ask questions if unclear.
Cut off bottom part of plastic shot glass. Bought at Party City.
Place Solo cup inside shot glass. Draw water fill line around Solo cup bottom
Punch hole in bottom of Solo cup for wick. Notch bottom of shot glass. This shows how cups will fit together.
Fill to fill line with diluted fertilizer water.
Fun project finding tea cups to use at home or in thrift shops and picking out the minis for them. (Still waiting for the blooms though.)
dviolet1
6 years agolast modified: 6 years agoRosie1949
6 years agoJulie He
6 years agodviolet1
6 years agoHey all
Yes, there IS a way to waterproof the painted glass!
http://www.tulipsandaterrier.com/2014/01/25/diy-waterproof-painted-vases/
https://www.sandandsisal.com/2012/05/painted-glass-vases.htmldviolet1
6 years agolast modified: 6 years agoPot/reservoir cover (by Neda Alikhan)
This is so simple and cute.
Julie He
6 years agoRosie1949
6 years agolast modified: 6 years agodviolet1
6 years agodviolet1
6 years agoJulie, not sure exactly sure what the grower used but I am thinking of my scrapbook supplies when I see this. Cut a strip from some pretty paper, weave some ribbon or washi tape, add some embellishments, use stick on Velcro tabs for closing. Wow, the possibilities.
Here's a couple of more simple ideas the grower uses to dress up drab containers.
Possibilities are there.Rosie1949
6 years ago
Related Stories
SUMMER GARDENINGHow to Water and Refresh Your Potted Plants Over the Summer
Keep container gardens looking lush by cooling them down when temperatures rise and by giving them a seasonal spruce-up
Full Story
CONTAINER GARDENSSolve Your Garden Border Dilemmas With Planted Pots
Set your containers free from the patio — placed among plantings in the ground, they fill unsightly gaps, let you experiment and more
Full Story
GARDENING GUIDESDecorate the Landscape With Versatile Agave
Beautiful, succulent leaves reach toward the sky, adding texture and beauty to the drought-tolerant landscape
Full Story
HOUSEPLANTS10 Top Plants to Grow Indoors
Brighten a room and clean the air with a houseplant that cascades artfully, stretches toward the ceiling or looks great on a wall
Full Story
DECORATING GUIDESDecorating 101: The ABCs of Arranging Vignettes
Learn how to make captivating displays with a few of your favorite things
Full Story
TRADITIONAL STYLEDecorating With Antiques: Silver’s Legacy
Learn how to tell sterling from plate, ways to display pieces and why silver is so darn special to begin with
Full Story
TILETop Tile Trends From the Coverings 2013 Show — the Wood Look
Get the beauty of wood while waving off potential splinters, rotting and long searches, thanks to eye-fooling ceramic and porcelain tiles
Full Story
DECORATING GUIDES9 Tips for Making Your Shelf Display Look Great
Learn the tricks stylists use when arranging objects on a shelf
Full Story
BUDGET DECORATINGBudget Decorator: 12 Cheap and Chic Fall Centerpieces
Some of the best things in fall are free (or nearly so) and make for beautiful, meaningful displays to brighten a table
Full Story
PRODUCT PICKSGuest Picks: 20 Uncommonly Attractive Pots and Planters
Cultivate some personality indoors with plant containers that are as unique as the greenery they hold
Full StorySponsored
More Discussions
Jeff Zenner