Announcement

Collapse
No announcement yet.

Capillary matting question

Collapse

X
 
  • Filter
  • Time
  • Show
Clear All
new posts

  • Capillary matting question

    Hi, Ive set up my capillary matting system for going on holiday, but it doesn't seem to be 'drawing' - it's worked fine for me before, so I'm wondering if I have the matting the wrong way up this time? It's the grey 'wooly' stuff with flecks of colour in and a see-through plasticky coating on one side. Currently I have the plastic side down, should it be up?

    Any help appreciated,

    Ta.
    He-Pep!

  • #2
    I found that new matting was reluctant to draw up water at first. I speeded it up by flooding the bench and letting the excess water drain off into the reservoir below. After that it kept nice and moist on its own.

    Your matting sounds different from mine, but from the description you've got it the right way up.
    My gardening blog: In Spades, last update 30th April 2018.
    Chrysanthemum notes page here.

    Comment


    • #3
      Thanks Martin, but it's the same bit of matting that I've used the past couple of years, just can't remember which way up i had it before... maybe the plastic coating is to reduce evaporation, and protect the cloth from dirt and roots, in which case i have it the wrong way up?
      He-Pep!

      Comment


      • #4
        I would assume plastic faces down as it's the matting that you need to stand the pots on. To help it absorb water, dunk the matting and squeeze out any excess.
        sigpic“Gorillas are very intelligent, but they don't have to be as delicate as chimps -- they can just smash open the termite nest,”
        --------------------------------------------------------------------
        Official Member Of The Nutters Club - Rwanda Branch.
        -------------------------------------------------------------------
        Sent from my ZX Spectrum with no predictive text..........
        -----------------------------------------------------------
        KOYS - King Of Yellow Stickers..............

        Comment


        • #5
          What is capillary matting and what is its function? I couldn't find any information on Wiki.

          Comment


          • #6
            It's an absorbent fabric that you stand your plants on to take up water, one end of the matting is submersed in a trough of water & capillary action draws the water to the plants.
            sigpic“Gorillas are very intelligent, but they don't have to be as delicate as chimps -- they can just smash open the termite nest,”
            --------------------------------------------------------------------
            Official Member Of The Nutters Club - Rwanda Branch.
            -------------------------------------------------------------------
            Sent from my ZX Spectrum with no predictive text..........
            -----------------------------------------------------------
            KOYS - King Of Yellow Stickers..............

            Comment


            • #7
              Anyone know the maximum height capillary matting can draw water?

              Wold it be able to draw water from a container on the floor to a tray with more matting on the top of the staging?

              Would having the matting wick in a tube improve the performance?

              New all singing all dancing blog - Jasons Jungle

              �I have not failed 1,000 times. I have successfully discovered 1,000 ways to NOT make a light bulb."
              ― Thomas A. Edison

              �Negative results are just what I want. They�re just as valuable to me as positive results. I can never find the thing that does the job best until I find the ones that don�t.�
              ― Thomas A. Edison

              - I must be a Nutter,VC says so -

              Comment


              • #8
                I wouldn't think it would lift water that high Jay as gravity would force it back down, I would say to have the trough around level with the bench. I'm only guessing by the way as I've never used it.
                sigpic“Gorillas are very intelligent, but they don't have to be as delicate as chimps -- they can just smash open the termite nest,”
                --------------------------------------------------------------------
                Official Member Of The Nutters Club - Rwanda Branch.
                -------------------------------------------------------------------
                Sent from my ZX Spectrum with no predictive text..........
                -----------------------------------------------------------
                KOYS - King Of Yellow Stickers..............

                Comment


                • #9
                  Jay you could stand your tray on the top of a trough containing your water. something like what I've done here.

                  Attached Files
                  Location....East Midlands.

                  Comment


                  • #10
                    Originally posted by Bren In Pots View Post
                    Jay you could stand your tray on the top of a trough containing your water. something like what I've done here.

                    [ATTACH=CONFIG]63569[/ATTACH] [ATTACH=CONFIG]63570[/ATTACH]
                    Thanks Bren. Trying to work out an auto-watering system to look after the watering while I'm at work.
                    Do you have a problem with algae or mould build up on the matting? Would adding a little bit of Condys' Crystals help?

                    New all singing all dancing blog - Jasons Jungle

                    �I have not failed 1,000 times. I have successfully discovered 1,000 ways to NOT make a light bulb."
                    ― Thomas A. Edison

                    �Negative results are just what I want. They�re just as valuable to me as positive results. I can never find the thing that does the job best until I find the ones that don�t.�
                    ― Thomas A. Edison

                    - I must be a Nutter,VC says so -

                    Comment


                    • #11
                      Originally posted by Jay-ell View Post
                      Anyone know the maximum height capillary matting can draw water?
                      If I remember right, the instructions with my matting said maximum lift 15cm. So I've got my reservoirs fixed just underneath the greenhouse bench, like this:

                      Attached Files
                      My gardening blog: In Spades, last update 30th April 2018.
                      Chrysanthemum notes page here.

                      Comment


                      • #12
                        Originally posted by Jay-ell View Post
                        Thanks Bren. Trying to work out an auto-watering system to look after the watering while I'm at work.
                        Do you have a problem with algae or mould build up on the matting? Would adding a little bit of Condys' Crystals help?
                        Jay I modified the matting by covering it with black plastic with holes cut out for the pots that stopped the algae problem. I've seen plastic with holes in that would save messing around but I tend to use what I've got laying around.
                        Location....East Midlands.

                        Comment


                        • #13
                          Years back I used plastic as lining for raised beds and it encouraged mildew so I'd assume the same for covering capillary mats.
                          It's worth experimenting though and let us know

                          Comment


                          • #14
                            I use a plastic barrel as a header tank into a seed tray which act as a reservoir feed via a float valve feeding the larger tray. No more than a 10 cm lift.

                            Worked well last year but green algae is always a pain in the greenhouse.

                            Comment

                            Latest Topics

                            Collapse

                            Recent Blog Posts

                            Collapse
                            Working...
                            X