Capillary Matting Reservoir Placement

I've just invested in some capillary matting for my indoor seedling area and I'm thinking of sitting the water in long troughs beside the seedling area because I cannot attach them to the sides of the shelving that I use as the base for my trays.

Seems to me that the water should wick okay for the short distance up and over the sides of the trough and down to the mats. Stupid idea or?

 

Well, I for one will be very interested to know if this works. I have a polythene cover for my seed/cutting propagator and find it is mostly self watering - mind you, the heat mat under the capillary encourages the humidity required.
If it does need extra moisture, I use a can with a nice fine rose on it.

 

I used to use capillary matting when going away on holiday.
I'd put a layer of polythene down first and lay the matting on top with the end in a low dish full of water.
It worked for short periods without any attention, main problem I found was it kept everything sodden all the time.
Dont use the stuff normally.

 

I'm set on using it now that I have it cut to size.

I just wanted to know if the placement of the trough beside rather beside and down would work. In my mind, it would be even more efficient (too much maybe) because gravity would help bring the water down to the mat.

 

I think that might happen.
When I used it the water level in the dish was higher than the matting, which is probably why it kept things too wet.

 

Hi,

Are you looking for something to keep the seedlings moist while away ?

Can I ask what you are starting off so late in the season ?

As a trial I've been trying PaulB3s method which only needs the pure water topping up once a week.

Have to confess I have never had all the Fuchsia cutting take like these have and the seeds germinate so fast.
Did half expect a lot of damping off and rot etc but none apparent, probably a lot to do with the semi sterile Perlite and DI water.

See the end of these posts for details and pic.
Living Stones/Linthops / Succulents

Germination

 

No, @ricky101 this is for indoor winter use. I grow all sorts of lettuces and other things in my setup. Then come December 26th, I start my hot pepper seedlings.

@pete I'm hoping to get good hydration... prepares them for when they go in pots and I overwater them

And I'm putting heat mats under the whole lot. Experimenting.... I was working in the lab, when late one night....

 

Well, this is what happened. I initially put the water container beside the mat and @pete you're right. The water was acting like it was being suctioned with a tube! So I dug around and found something to sit the container slightly below the mat. Works lime a charm

I now have it in both of my indoor areas. I think I will figure out how much I would need and the cost to put this in my greenhouses too... although out there I already have low flow irrigation set up. ..