Dutch Passion Dutch Passion Brooklyn Sunrise Organic SIP

[MOB]

I use a Tupperware tray on mine but I just dump it once the excess is done coming out! Def was much easier on 1st plant! Now being a pain on box that’s had multi runs b2b! Def make sure u put couple 2x4’s under each end of box to give u room for a decent drain tray if u go that route!

2x4s also help keep air circulating thru grow area / tent ..... takes away a little height for raising lights but not much.

 

[WildBill]

biochar in the soil will inhibit wicking - I have zero biochar in my soil mix .... I understand the ways and even have homemade biochar I use in the veggie garden but not in EB .....

the drainage flows into a little cup EB provides with the kit but I don’t even use that - I have a Homemade dip stick I put into Tank and measure - doesn‘t have to be totally full, in fact some folks let dry before adding new but when it does overflow I have a rag closing off drain hole and it soaks up water but after a little while, you’ll know to add water often ..... you would really like not having to Guess did I give enough or too much water .... I mean to tell you it makes watering so easy .....

I would avoid a tray catching runoff .... you really want tent clean and dry and no water sitting in a tray!

What makes you think it will hinder wicking? This product in my lawn has undoubtedly helped with moisture retention on this new place with its super sandy soil. If it helps with water retention, it should help with wicking. I'm not doubting what your saying, it's just not what I've seen outdoors.
I don't see how this particular form could harm wicking when used within reason. I think I used 4 cups per 1.5 cu/ft bag mixed in. Now that's not knowing how it will migrate thru the the media strata. I should be able draw some sort of logical conclusion, once I examine the pots after this grow is over. I might be able to see it harming wicking if it migrated to form a layer.
If you had some sort of empirical data you've found, I'd sure be interesting in reading it.

As far as water in the tent, that gets wiped and soaked up when I bottom water the pots in the trays after 30min of them soaking up the water.

 

[Fermented_Fruitz]

What makes you think it will hinder wicking? This product in my lawn has undoubtedly helped with moisture retention on this new place with its super sandy soil. If it helps with water retention, it should help with wicking. I'm not doubting what your saying, it's just not what I've seen outdoors.
I don't see how this particular form could harm wicking when used within reason. I think I used 4 cups per 1.5 cu/ft bag mixed in. Now that's not knowing how it will migrate thru the the media strata. I should be able draw some sort of logical conclusion, once I examine the pots after this grow is over. I might be able to see it harming wicking if it migrated to form a layer.
If you had some sort of empirical data you've found, I'd sure be interesting in reading it.

As far as water in the tent, that gets wiped and soaked up when I bottom water the pots in the trays after 30min of them soaking up the water.

I can answer that cuz it doesn’t absorb and hold water like soil does! May hold some but not near what the soil alone would! U really don’t wanna add bunch of perlite or any drainage material in! Especially in full size cuz I can tell u from experience that’s a long way up for moisture to wick so need a tight fitting cap and nothing that’ll prevent water from traveling north out the reservoir and up to soil surface

 

[MrOldBoy]

What makes you think it will hinder wicking? This product in my lawn has undoubtedly helped with moisture retention on this new place with its super sandy soil. If it helps with water retention, it should help with wicking. I'm not doubting what your saying, it's just not what I've seen outdoors.
I don't see how this particular form could harm wicking when used within reason. I think I used 4 cups per 1.5 cu/ft bag mixed in. Now that's not knowing how it will migrate thru the the media strata. I should be able draw some sort of logical conclusion, once I examine the pots after this grow is over. I might be able to see it harming wicking if it migrated to form a layer.
If you had some sort of empirical data you've found, I'd sure be interesting in reading it.

As far as water in the tent, that gets wiped and soaked up when I bottom water the pots in the trays after 30min of them soaking up the water.

BioChar is excellent for drainage but not wicking ..... I would not have in my mix - as you read more about soil requirements you probably discover .... Not saying it won’t grow or that you’ll have issues .....

Once you start watering, it’s unlikely you will overflow the reservoir but then experience will be best teacher .... again I have a dipstick I use to judge how high and I don’t worry about filling or topping off - a little air between tank and soil is a good thing .....

I did want to mention, when you order EB be sure to order extra rain caps, red if you can get, red appear to be a little thicker too .... and when you set up include two caps n top for extra protection against bugs getting into soil.

 

[Fermented_Fruitz]

BioChar is excellent for drainage but not wicking ..... I would not have in my mix - as you read more about soil requirements you probably discover .... Not saying it won’t grow or that you’ll have issues .....

Once you start watering, it’s unlikely you will overflow the reservoir but then experience will be best teacher .... again I have a dipstick I use to judge how high and I don’t worry about filling or topping off - a little air between tank and soil is a good thing .....

I did want to mention, when you order EB be sure to order extra rain caps, red if you can get, red appear to be a little thicker too .... and when you set up include two caps n top for extra protection against bugs getting into soil.

To keep bugs outta reservoir I have found a shot glass fits perfectly into fill tube and blocks entrance route for them!

 

[MrOldBoy]

I can answer that cuz it doesn’t absorb and hold water like soil does! May hold some but not near what the soil alone would! U really don’t wanna add bunch of perlite or any drainage material in! Especially in full size cuz I can tell u from experience that’s a long way up for moisture to wick so need a tight fitting cap and nothing that’ll prevent water from traveling north out the reservoir and up to soil surface

Exactly - no perlite or BioChar or sand - rather peat moss ..... Original does not wick as well as Junior due to height, especially when you mound up soil over container

 

[MrOldBoy]

To keep bugs outta reservoir I have found a shot glass fits perfectly into fill tube and blocks entrance route for them!

Another thing that works is a turkey baster - bulb fits snug into filler tube - tape down sides of shower cap if needed as well and plug drain hole to prevent bug entry as well .... I use a rag for that chore!

 

[WildBill]

I can answer that cuz it doesn’t absorb and hold water like soil does! May hold some but not near what the soil alone would! U really don’t wanna add bunch of perlite or any drainage material in! Especially in full size cuz I can tell u from experience that’s a long way up for moisture to wick so need a tight fitting cap and nothing that’ll prevent water from traveling north out the reservoir and up to soil surface

I don't know about that statement. That's one of the selling points of this product isb that it's hydrophilic and I've seen it work in my damn sandy azz soil. All of that can't be attributed to the humic acid either.

I'm gonna submit an question to one of the developmental engineers on this topic and see if he can show some real data.
If it does show to be hydrophilic, I'll start a thread and post their data.

Not to step on toes, but what we have here so far is "Bro-science".

edit..........In either the 50/50 mix of humic acid and biochar or their full biochar product will instantly start to break up when water hits it and is fully broken up within minutes. This would not occur in both products if they were weren't hydrophilic. I could see it happening in the mixed product as it could be attributed to the humic acid.

 

[WildBill]

I did want to mention, when you order EB be sure to order extra rain caps, red if you can get, red appear to be a little thicker too .... and when you set up include two caps n top for extra protection against bugs getting into soil.

Yeah, I had plans to do just that. You just backed it up.

 

[Fermented_Fruitz]

You may wanna use bro science as starting point cuz not sure how many studies there are Idk g earthboxes! Remember it’s all about the wicking! When the souls pulling moisture up to surface and staying moist lime it should you’ll see a sea of root feet poking outta top of soil! I noticed I don’t see it so much on 1 of current because multiple runs have put a good amount of oly mountain fish compost in soil so doesn’t wick as well as it used to so don’t see them thick white roots poking out!

There’s some but I know MoB has some pics in his archive with much better examples!