SELF-WATERING RESERVOIR SYSTEM
INSTRUCTIONS:
H
ow
it Works:
The Wickinator water reservoir is a self-watering system that stores up to 6-10
extra cups of water (or the equivalent of approximately ½ gallon or more of
water) at the bottom of your window box. Standing water will drown out roots
and result in plant death. The Wickinator works by drawing water from the
reservoir up the wicks and into the potting mix. As the potting mix dries out,
more water is drawn from the watering reservoir to act as an automatic self
watering system to keep your mix watered, but not drowning out your roots. It
is normal to have to water a window box every 2-3 days. With the Wickinator you
will water 3 times less frequently allowing your plants to be watered approximately
once per week. Great for vacations or those with a busy lifestyle.
Using
the Wickinator:
First, simply water the potting mix in your window box in a normal fashion
until you’re satisfied. Once done watering your window box, fill up your
Wickinator water reservoir (treating it like a backup source of water). This
will be your extended supply of water that will refill your potting mix and
water your roots as your potting mix begins to dry out. Monitor at first, as potting
mix becomes dry and Wickinator begins to become empty then it is time to water
again and refill your Wickinator water reservoir. You can check the water level
by simply looking down the fill pipe.
Wicks: Each wick is approximately
4-5” long. If a wick accidentally comes out during shipping, simply twist it
back into the holes. DO NOT pull the wicks up to the top. Wicks
should only stick out about 1.5” out of the pipe, so that the other end of the
wick is touching the inside bottom of the reservoir system.
PLANTING INSTRUCTIONS:
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Optional - Self-Watering Reservoir
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Optional - Rocks, Pebbles or Styrofoam peanuts (lighter material)
*
Optional - Black Landscape Fabric (tightly woven). Available at most nurseries
or box stores.
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Use quality Potting Mix. Potting mix is preferred over potting soil.
Step 1: Install the window box or
place planter in desired location.
Black Landscape Method
Step 2a: Cut a strip of tightly
woven black landscape fabric slightly larger than the inside bottom of box. Place
a layer of landscape fabric first, on the bottom of box, underneath the
reservoir and covering all the drain holes. This will act as a filter to
capture potting mix prior to clean water exiting from drain holes so that potting
mix does not spill through drain holes.
Pea Gravel Method
Step 2b: Place a layer of small rocks
or pebbles. This will act as a filter to capture potting mix prior to clean water
exiting from drain holes so that potting mix does not spill through drain holes.
Step 3: Place your Flower
Window Box Self-Watering Reservoir inside of box on top of filtration layer
(fabric or gravel). Wicks only need to stick out of the reservoir system about
1.5”. A good potting mix will draw water 6-8” from each wick. NOTE: For boxes
over 12” tall, overtime roots grow deeper towards wicks and encourages deep
root growth.
Step 4: Add potting mix to
your box for best results. Fill up to 1-2 inches of the top of your box.
Step 5: Proceed by adding your
choice of flowers, plants, herbs or seeds.
Step
6: Each time you water your box: First water and saturate your potting mix.
Then pour water down your downspout if you have a reservoir system filling it.
This will allow you to put 3x as much water in your box so that you water 1/3
as often. As potting mix dries out it will pull water from wicks out of the
reservoir.
Step
7:
Monitor first couple of weeks to see how often you should re-water your box as
well as fill your reservoir system.
