I am seroiously thinking about moving from hand watering to these.
Any tips/pros/cons for these?
I’ll be growing in soil, feeding with top dresses and occasional compost teas etc.
All insights are welcome!!
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These work with wicking strings, anybody using any wick systems?
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Wicking (bottom-fed) is very effective. I use it exclusively in my DWC hydro grows, both buckets and totes, and bag grows on self-watering bases. It should eliminate any need to top-dress, since the nute solution is in the reservoir/base/bucket/tote.
If you go this route, I strongly recommend running an air line (stone optional) in them to prevent stagnation and the many problems that come with it, especially since you’re using soil.
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@Deadhead and airstone in the reservoir you mean?
I’m actually planning to keep top dressing and keeping the reservoir for water only, I try to steer clear of the liquid nutes…
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Yes, the reservoir.
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Did you have any issues with the airstone makingvthe Ph out of wack? I read people warning about that…
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Nope. But I don’t use soil, don’t top-feed, and don’t use liquid nutes.
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I use a wave maker in my Autopots which uses much less energy FYI.
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I use liquid nutes but I feel with this you can still top dress and hand water a bit more than you can with those wicking ones. If you top feed its better to hand water, if I were top feeding, I wouldget one of those water rings, fabric pots and a drip tray to catch the runoff.
Here is what I use.
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Top dress… sorry. If you topdress you have to water from the top for those new nutrients to get down to the lower roots.
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I would be ok with the amount of work that comes from shutting the valve, top dressing and giving a couple hand waterings before opening the valve again.
Still way less work than hand watering all the way…
I use organics so there should not be any issue with salt buildup.
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With the system you are looking at you will need a fabric pot but yes it is doable, the only issue I can see with going with your system is you’ll have to move your plants when you topdress and water as you need/should check your runoff ec/ppm/ph and keep the water in check. Look into something like what I sent, they also make a tray like one that you can use fabric pots with I believe.
@Cosmoctopus You must mean the Tray2Grow? I was debating on that one too, but my eyes are set for the Spider Farmer one.
As for the checking the runoff, I don’t really do that. I monitor the Ph going in but never bother with the runoff. I use organic nutrients and the ppm I wpuld get from the runoff would be too scary lol… part of the ppm is not plant availabe yet because it has not been consumed by the micro heard so the reading usually shows way too high a number.
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That’s fair, I just don’t want your growspace to get messy with runoff when top feeding and the water going everywhere.
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Thank you for your concern! Now I have never used this system, but I think how they do is turn off the valve until the soil is dry enought to water again, top dress, and then top water once or twice to get the amendments down into the soil and after all that open valve again to continue wick watering.
Anyhoo, I pulled the trigger on that system so soon you can follow my adventures with it in real time..!
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Have you found any that last? 
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Last few I bought if they quit working they need a good cleaning
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Been wanting to make the switch for a couple yrs now but to many people around here saying they are trash has held me not to 
The more expensive ones (still cheap) last for at least a couple of grows. Periodic soak in peroxide keeps them sweet.
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I used that exact setup last grow. Wicks stop working after a while. Total no go for scrog. I ended up buying (2) 2 gallon trash cans from wal mart. Cheap fountain pump/drip line. Works with nutes too if you have an agitator. $50 ish.
Takes all day to water out 2 1/2 gallons and gives me 25% runoff. I still use them as a basin to test my runoff. I like them, but not for what they were designed for lol.
They work real good in a garden also for potted veggies keeps them from getting root rot outside. Now that i think about it that is probably a good setup if you fertilize your outdoor plants
My spider farmer and ac infinity bith lasted all summer no wear big heat and super intense sun. I bet they last 3 - 5 years. You need a support in the middle