Here is yet another Larry Hall type rain gutter sub-irrigation system. Note the cloth wick instead of a hydroponics net cup. I would do it in a different way but I like this idea. It is my belief that threading a cloth wick up through the growing media will help capillary action.
Think of the cloth wick as sort of like a candlewick. Cloth wicking could be a way to facilitate capillary action in heavier media with a higher percentage of aged compost. One of the objectives is to reduce the cost of the growing media in SIP systems.
Instead of the knotted cloth wick I would use two strips (2-4” wide) of polyester batting (Pellon for example) or polyester felt hooked together in U shapes.
It would require making two slots in the middle of the of the container bottom (about 4-6" apart). Use a hot knife or make a series of small holes with a drill, or use a sabre saw or reciprocating saw if you have one.
One U shaped wick would be threaded through the slots and go down into the rain gutter. The other U shaped strip would be threaded (hooked) through the “water wick” (like a chain link) and go up into the soil media. I'll add photos to illustrate later.
via www.youtube.com
This video is of how I adapted the rain gutter grow system to my needs. I put a wick in the bucket and let the wick go up into the mix. Hopefully, the plants won't have to work to hard to get water during the hot summer. The mixture is similar to Larry Hall's recipe, but again I changed it a little. I might put a float valve on the system as time goes, but for now I'll try it like it is. Have fun gardening!
Here's a link to Larry's video that inspired me to build my system: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rTtWhO6oGoM&context=C4e2fe8dADvjVQa1PpcFMs...