What is Microponics?

[Aeon]

Yes it would, IF I was still on the island. I havent updated my details but I just
bought a property at Berowra heights. Its a flat quarter acre block which is much more conducive to growing food than beautiful Scotland Island. I loved the island and island life, however it wasnt working for my husband so we are very happy we have found a place to live that we can both enjoy ( he's not the outdoors type bless him).
I was thinking of putting a shed closer to my mandala so I could indeed put some AP stuff in there. I like to have my fish outside though. I have never found the occasional rain to do them any harm.
Still haven't had a chance to look up wicking beds yet!

cheers,
Aeon

[Bidadisndat]

Wicking Beds: You might have seen a variation on the theme: Gardening sections in places like Big W sell 'self watering' plant pots that have a reservoir in the bottom. The potting mix goes onto a platform that has cone-shaped supports, which hold some of the mix, that sits above the reservoir. The water in the reservoir is wicked up through the mix in the supports.
Another system I've seen described in a book has a pot plant above a water container with a wick of braided rope between the two. The rope is teased out at both ends, the bottom being placed in a container of nutrients disolved in water, and top end being led through a hole in the bottom of the planting pot where it is covered with potting mix.

(Had I married a certain Miss Brown, oh so many years ago, her father was going to give us a block of land on the island. Fortunately, reason prevailed and the lovely girl called the whole thing off, probably saving us both from certain misery. )

[TCLynx]

Wicking beds can be very simple to quite complex. As simple as a plant pot with a deep container rather than shallow saucer under it or some liner material buried in a trench between some trees. Those would both work as wicking beds. Others are complex where you have a deep container that you put gravel in the bottom and distrobution pipes and watering ports and then root barrier on top of the gravel and planting mix on top of that with the drain holes being about the height of the bottom of the planting soil.

I made a couple of wicking beds for my inlaws. They were made of old water tanks cut in half the long way kinda like blue barrels but twice as big. I drilled holes about half way up and the beds are total about 30 cm deep. In the bottom I put free wood chip mulch and then a layer of mushroom compost and a bag of good potting soil. I installed micro irrigation on a timer cause I knew they wouldn't remember to water. Those beds have been growing and producing wonderfully through a very hot summer for them. They are up on blocks and barrel ponics like cradles since I wanted to make them easy to tend. They are in front of the deck so the beans and cucumbers have climbed right up the railings.

[GaryD]

Hi TCL,

My experience of wicking beds is overwhelmingly positive. In fact, I believe that wicking beds are the perfect companion to an aquaponics system......for those plants who prefer a soil-based environment.

Gary