Capillary Matting

[Beckybex]

Hello all.

Have had my greenhouse for a few weeks now, (is actually a big plant stand with pvc zip cover. Thinking of getting some capillary matting to put under pots and trays, worried about over/under watering. Has anyone else tried this? Thanks...

[Gwyndy]

I use capillary matting in gravel trays for all seedlings in pots. I find that it distributes the water evenly and, provided you don't overfill the trays, the pots just take up what they need. It also helps to even out the the bottom of the trays so that you can put more pots in without them tipping over.

[Sanjo]

I'm off on holiday for a few days soon and having rigged up an automatic Heath Robinson watering system for part of the greenhouse I have also placed capillary matting under a couple of tomato plants and some small pots. A small feeder tube from the system is aimed across the matting to wet it when the system comes on at night. I have tried it out and the tray collects the water and wets the mat, a bit too wet in fact so I am going to have to make a drainage hole for the excess. With my luck I'll probably find I come back to very dead, very wet plants!!

[selfraising]

I use it all the time for my seedlings. As already said, the plants only take up what they need so there should be no concern about over watering.

[sweetiepea]

Used it for the first time this year. Was away for five days over Easter and returned to find happy healthy plants. I think its great!

[Storming Norman]

I use water matting [thicker than capilliary matting] that fits my gravel trays. It is great to bring on bedding plants and seedling vegetables, without constant watering. I only water the mats and not the plant pots. I used to use capilliary matting but found this a better solution.

My plants that are currently hardening off are also sitting in their trays with matting - it has been hot so this is a solution to keeping them growing strongly.

The trays need to be flat so the water does not run off, and leak proof. The matting needs to be quite damp but not swimming.

Also some plants do not like being this wet, so those need to be handled differently.

The cleaning up at the end of the season is important - I re-use my mats but they have to be clean enough for seedlings next year.

This is a real time saving practice and good for the plants as well.

Ann

[Two_Sheds]

Used it for the first time this year. Was away for five days over Easter and returned to find happy healthy plants. I think its great!

the low-cost option is a folded, soaked newspaper (which can be composted after use). Or an old towel (soaked).

[crichmond]

If you use a water resevoir then the plants only take what they need.

Two Wests - Please enable your cookies

[Beckybex]

Bought a kit that included some plastic sheet and wicks from ebay. Set it up today so will see how it goes! Am I right in thinking that I can just soak one corner of the matting and it will spread across or should I remove the pots and trays and water the whole surface? There wasn't much in the way of instructions supplied. Also, I assume I can add feed to the water when I saturate the mat?

Thanks for all your help!!!

[crichmond]

Hi

Yes the water will soak all the way across, but for the first time use I would water with the watering can as dry matting will take quite a lot of water and will empty the resevoir, use a rose on the watering can no need to remove the plants just do it in the evening when the sun wont affect the plants having water on them.