Wick Irrigation for plants - Minimize water use, maximize long term plant survival on remote sites.

Wick Irrigation. How to minimize water use for plant crops, minimize weeds, and maximize long term survival on remote sites by David A. Bainbridge (Restoration Ecologist).

Advantages of using wicks (nylon ropes), such as low cost, durability, very low water use, no moving parts, less animal damage, promoting root extensions.

Capillary (no control valve needed) or gravity fed wicks (with higher flow rates) may need adjustable clamp for adjusting the flow rate (lower early in the plant's life, and less constricted as the plant grows). Some plants can have capillary wicks such as oregano, and some will need the higher gravity flow wicks.

How to test and compare your wicks. David shows various test setups including successful desert field tests at the Salton Sea and shares the results using several plants. And also shows what works, and what doesn't work using various tests. A few other similar methods such as capillary mats beneath container plants that are used in some nurseries, and product being sold commercially are also compared with the wick irrigation method.

What types of tools and hardware to get, and where to get them (mostly can purchase at your hardware store). What size containers, such as jugs and bottles to use. How to drive the wicks into the soil, depending on what type of soil you have.

Make sure the wicks are washed before use.

Thanks to Laurie, John Rieger, Pam Beare, Ross Virginia. And Scott Murray farm adviser. Mike Evans at the Tree of Life Nursery for test plots.

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