From the page: The t-shirt has many chapters ahead
Idea 6
Wicking strip for watering
The wick-watering method is an old nursery technique: a fabric strip carries water from the reservoir to the soil by capillarity, the same effect that makes coffee climb up a paper napkin. Old t-shirt cotton is perfect because its fibers retain and transfer moisture continuously, releasing water only when the plant asks for it.
What you need
- Old cotton t-shirt (the more worn, the better — old fibers absorb more)
- Scissors
- Container with water (jar, bottle or bucket, depending on pot size)
- A potted plant
How to make it
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1
Cut the t-shirt into strips about 1 to 2 inches wide, lengthwise, and stretch one of them — pulling the strip with a "twisting" motion makes the cotton denser and improves capillarity.
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2
If you want a thicker wick, twist two strips together — a fuller wick carries more water, ideal for large pots.
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3
Bury one end of the strip 2 to 3 inches deep in the pot's soil, near the roots, without hurting them — that's where the water arrives first.
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4
Dip the other end into the water reservoir, which should sit at a level LOWER than the bottom of the pot — capillarity only works if the water "climbs".
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5
Water the soil and the strip well the first time, to "prime" the moisture transport — after that the system sustains itself.
Finishing touches
Perfect for trips and for plants that hate waterlogging, like ferns and herbs. Replace the strip every one or two months, when it darkens or starts to stiffen — and the most worn-out t-shirt of all still yields wicks to spare.
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