Using CAPILLARY MATTING
A steady supply of water for young plants
When propagating, whether from seed or by cutting, a steady supply of moisture is very important. If young plants dry out, even briefly, they 'suffer a check'. This can bring on premature flowering or lead to tough woody growth where you want tenderness. Prolonged stress from lack of water can lead to a failure of the crop, even if the plants suvive and seem to be healthy.
Capillary matting can be used either in the greenhouse or when plants are being hardened off indoors. It will help make sure pots don't dry out and will keep a humid atmosphere around leaves.
You can cover an entire bench with the matting. Or it can be cut to line seed trays in which small pots are to stand. Either way it will do its job. You need to make sure excess water can drain away, and the surface under your matting should be waterproofed (wood can be covered with a layer of polythene.
Pots need to stand directly on the matting, with the water able to 'wick' up from the damp mat into the compost. For best results choose pots or trays with a flat bottom. Do not add drainage crocks or gravel to the bottom of the pot, though if using clay pots a single piece of crock may be placed over the hole to stop compost washing out. Research has shown that crocks do not improve drainage when capillary matting is used, and professional growers do not use them.
Plants will root through the base of the pot into the matting if allowed. To prevent this, move or lift the pots about once a week.
When propagating, whether from seed or by cutting, a steady supply of moisture is very important. If young plants dry out, even briefly, they 'suffer a check'. This can bring on premature flowering or lead to tough woody growth where you want tenderness. Prolonged stress from lack of water can lead to a failure of the crop, even if the plants suvive and seem to be healthy.
Capillary matting can be used either in the greenhouse or when plants are being hardened off indoors. It will help make sure pots don't dry out and will keep a humid atmosphere around leaves.
You can cover an entire bench with the matting. Or it can be cut to line seed trays in which small pots are to stand. Either way it will do its job. You need to make sure excess water can drain away, and the surface under your matting should be waterproofed (wood can be covered with a layer of polythene.
Pots need to stand directly on the matting, with the water able to 'wick' up from the damp mat into the compost. For best results choose pots or trays with a flat bottom. Do not add drainage crocks or gravel to the bottom of the pot, though if using clay pots a single piece of crock may be placed over the hole to stop compost washing out. Research has shown that crocks do not improve drainage when capillary matting is used, and professional growers do not use them.
Plants will root through the base of the pot into the matting if allowed. To prevent this, move or lift the pots about once a week.
Capillary matting is cheap and easy, the professional's choice for ensuring a steady supply of water. Often used to cover greenhouse benches, can be a godsend to the hobby grower too. As well as using it in the greenhouse and on outdoor benches to make sure all plants get a steady supply of water, there are several ways you can use it to create a 'self watering' system to keep your plants moist while you are at work or away on holiday.
Self-watering bench
Set up a bench, ideally in the shade, either in the greenhouse or outside, covered with waterproof fabric (a sheet of polythene will do fine). Cover this with capillary matting. Get a big bucket, fill it with water and place it on the bench. Now cut a long strip of the matting and weight one end down at the bottom of the bucket of water. Lead it up and out of the bucket, down the side and then tucking the other end of the matting strip securely under the main sheet of mat on your bench. Water will soak up the strip and into the main sheet, as long as the end of the strip is under water.
Your plants can then be placed on the capillary matting, where the moisture will wick up into the pots. The bottom of the pots will need to be in direct contact with the mat (no seed tray in between) and they will need to be filled with compost right to the bottom - no layer of crocks. Clay pots need a single crock to cover the hole of course, but otherwise the water will wick up through the absorbent clay.
A leaky plastic bucket, with a small hole pierced in the bottom, will do the job even better!
This set-up will keep plants watered for days. If you are away for a proper holiday, all you need is a kindly carer who will just have to top up the bucket every few days. For a short break of few days to a week, this will do the job all by itself!
Houseplants
In the house, lay a sheet of capillary matting in the bottom of the bath - PLUG OUT! - and leave the cold tap gently dripping onto the matting. The bath will need a good clean when you get back but all your houseplants will be happy as anything. But remember - remove all saucers and make sure the bottom of the pot is in direct contact with the mat!
Capillary matting of a luxurious thickness is available from the Trading Store at just £1 per square metre.
Self-watering bench
Set up a bench, ideally in the shade, either in the greenhouse or outside, covered with waterproof fabric (a sheet of polythene will do fine). Cover this with capillary matting. Get a big bucket, fill it with water and place it on the bench. Now cut a long strip of the matting and weight one end down at the bottom of the bucket of water. Lead it up and out of the bucket, down the side and then tucking the other end of the matting strip securely under the main sheet of mat on your bench. Water will soak up the strip and into the main sheet, as long as the end of the strip is under water.
Your plants can then be placed on the capillary matting, where the moisture will wick up into the pots. The bottom of the pots will need to be in direct contact with the mat (no seed tray in between) and they will need to be filled with compost right to the bottom - no layer of crocks. Clay pots need a single crock to cover the hole of course, but otherwise the water will wick up through the absorbent clay.
A leaky plastic bucket, with a small hole pierced in the bottom, will do the job even better!
This set-up will keep plants watered for days. If you are away for a proper holiday, all you need is a kindly carer who will just have to top up the bucket every few days. For a short break of few days to a week, this will do the job all by itself!
Houseplants
In the house, lay a sheet of capillary matting in the bottom of the bath - PLUG OUT! - and leave the cold tap gently dripping onto the matting. The bath will need a good clean when you get back but all your houseplants will be happy as anything. But remember - remove all saucers and make sure the bottom of the pot is in direct contact with the mat!
Capillary matting of a luxurious thickness is available from the Trading Store at just £1 per square metre.
