So @BackyardBoogie420 got me interested in this when I saw him post he had an auto watering technique that uses a Capillary Mat and a Blumat sensor. Any of you guys doing this? Any DIY’ers out there with their own modification of this? Can they be used through all stages of growth? Can regular nursery pots be used? Could an old towel suffice as a cap mat? So many questions. Please share thoughts or experiences.
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Ive been told those green scrub pads for dishes also work but havent tried them myself. The mats were cheap enough. Think i got enough to do a 4x4 for $10-15. Currently running a manual watered capillary mat with plastic nursery pots for veg, with plans to upgrade to a self watering system like he described.
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I was also thinking that the green sorta felt feeling rugs used for outside would work. Pretty cheap and come in large size.
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The mats im using seem to work because its a series of small air holes that become filled with water and when water is drawn into the pots surface tension pulls water through the mat towards the pots.
Take a look at Autopot’s tray2grow system. The capillary mat in that is basically PIG mat, that stuff you use to soak up oil on the garage floor. You can find off brand versions for alot cheaper. The only problem is that the roots will grow into whatever you’re using without a blocker, which Autopot uses. It’s a copper coated permeable fabric.
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Can you share where you sourced these mats?
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Ive bought the things that @BackyardBoogie420 suggested for that system just need to get my room fine tuned and set up then I’ll be running the cap mat set also. The ease and automation is just too appealing for me as I’m away from home 50-60% of the year. I have a few wicking bases running and they’ve got me out of a few extended holidays timelines without issues.
Looking forward to see what you’ll do.
Heres a link for my grow journal
When I start the set up I’ll tag you to the progress.
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Nice read. Thanks
I just searched “capillary mat” on ebay and a ton of different sellers have them.
Roots will grow into them, so you just gotta be mindful not to move them during flower
You guys should seriously consider a Earthbox or homemade SIP which is outlined in @CrunchBerries SIP thread that’s gold. So much easier.
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Stoked to see in the cap mat interest spreading! It really is a great and cheap way to help automate IME. I use them on every stage of growth, from seedlings all the way to harvest. I really recommend fabric pots, especially since you can get em so cheap. But Im going to do some tests with capillary twine in plastic pots to seee if that works. Plastic pots just sitting on the mat doesnt work. Unless you get those super fancy commercial mats with multiple layers. But its so much more, I cant justify it.
Stuff like an old towel wont work. The magic of the cap mat is how much water they can hold. Also keeps the plants much lower to the ground. Those sip containers are cool. But I cant regulate 75 plants with them, and the added height doesnt work for my setup.
I should also mention they work best when you stuff the plants all on eachother in the fabric pots. Not necessary, but a good trick. And it works perfectly into the grow model if youre an avid SOG grower like me.
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I got an Earthbox recently just have yet to start a cycle in it, but most likely in 2025 I’ll do a comparison between both a capillary set up and EBs for fun, why not ?
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You can get a root mat that blocks the roots from growing into the coco mat (or whatever you are using for capillary) they sell one at Autopot for their seedling tray system
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