When it comes to the word wick, most of us will associate it with a candle or a famous Russian action movie character. But did you know that you can grow cannabis using cotton or nylon wicks to water your plants? This extremely simple and effective addition to your garden can save hand watering and be a lifesaver for holiday breaks with the family.
In this article, I break down all you need to know about growing cannabis using the wick hydroponic system and why everyone should give this easy, clever, and old-school style of growing a try.
What is the Wick Hydroponics Method, and how does it work?
Simply put, the wick hydroponic method (WHM) permits water absorption through a cotton braided rope. The wick rope is inserted into the base of your plastic or fabric pots and is allowed to hang down into a container.
Because water is inside the container directly beneath the pot, the wick and growing medium inside the pots will perform capillary action, causing water to be drawn upwards, meaning you cannot overwater your plants.
An example of a wick system setup
What is capillary action, you may ask? Basically, it is the movement of water within the space of a porous material. A mop head or kitchen tissue paper designed to absorb spills and wet patches is a perfect example. The next time you drink using a straw, you will have a real-time example of how simple but effective capillary action can be.
An explanation of how capillary action works
The next question you may ask yourself is, how can it be hydroponic if there is no pump, air pump, or any moving parts? Well, technically, you could call the WHM a homemade hydroponic hybrid!
What is fantastic about the wick method design is that you can use organic or hydroponic substrate as your growing medium. As long as your organic medium has a good ratio of perlite, vermiculite, and a spongy characteristic to squeeze, physics should do the rest. A wick system is an excellent alternative to hand watering when growing cannabis plants outdoors and is highly practical.
The benefits and drawbacks of a wick hydroponics system
You may think this sounds too good to be true – how can a cotton braided rope make life so easy? Well, there’s always the good and the bad. Below, I have explained the pros and cons associated with the easy-breezy simplicity of a wick system so you can get an accurate idea of what to expect.
The benefits of the WHM
No need to hand water; the wick performs this job.
You’ll have more free time to spend with family or other hobbies.
Wick systems are unbelievably easy to set up for a beginner.
Costs are minimal; you’ll only need around $10-$20.
The cotton wick can be sourced and bought online.
WHM works really well outdoors during the summer months.
The drawbacks of the WHM
Heavy-drinking and mature water-hungry plants can require more maintenance.
Over time, the wick beneath the pots can gather nutrient salts.
Plants can quickly dry up if the reservoir is not topped up.
Stagnant water can produce aerobic bacteria, causing pathogens.
You must monitor the reservoir when kept outdoors; do not allow it to become too cold or hot.
How to set up a wick hydroponic grow?
For those who can’t quite afford a nutrient film technique system (NFT), deep water culture system (DWC), or dripper kit, the next best option is to order some nylon braided wicking rope, a plastic or fabric pot and a bucket or container to sit the pots on. Next, you will need an inert soilless hydroponic growing medium (that contains no nutrients, like rockwool or clay pellets) as these have excellent wicking ability and water retention.
What exactly will I need to buy for a Wick System?
Nylon/cotton braided rope
Wick material should have the same consistency as a mop head; you’ll find nylon braided rope in multiple sizes and lengths. When ordering the nylon or cotton rope, using a thinner size, such as 1 cm in diameter for smaller pots and 2 cm in diameter for pots larger than 10 liters, is a good idea.
White Nylon Rope from jijAcraft, which is perfect for a wick setup
Plastic / fabric pot
Each pot will require one wick so for those keeping life as simple as possible and growing one plant, you only need one plastic or fabric pot. Use a knot to let the wick pass through the pot or allow both ends of the wick to hang down into the water.
Explanation of a wick system using a single pot
Bucket / tub
Your bucket or tub holds your nutrient solution and keeps it in permanent contact with the wick. Keep the bucket or tub directly beneath the pot so you can either sit the pot on top of the bucket or use strips of plywood to create a frame for the pot to sit on with the wick hanging down into the water.
Hydroponic inert mediums you can use with a wick hydroponic setup
One factor strengthening the argument that a wick system is a form of hydroponics is its use of an inert growing medium. Hydroponic wick systems use highly porous substrates like coco, rockwool, perlite, and vermiculite. These are soilless growing mediums, meaning they will contain no nutrients at all.
Coco: Made from the hair of coconut husks and treated with salts, coco is a soft, porous, and grower-friendly substrate. It is often mixed with perlite at a 70/30 ratio for the best drainage and aeration properties.
Rockwool: Synthetically made and created using heat and a spinning process. Rockwool is a highly popular choice for growing cannabis using hydroponics. It can hold up to 18 times its weight in water.
Perlite: An amorphous volcanic glass known for its high water retention and capillary action efficiency, Perlite is lightweight, cheap to buy and adds a serious amount of air into a growing medium.
Vermiculite: Created using heat expansion, vermiculite is a great addition to any growing medium thanks to its ability to retain water. This is another cheap-to-buy substrate and is well-recommended for low-quality dry soil, which struggles to retain water.
If you want to get started right away with a wick setup, we recommend to get some of our seeds from our seed deals. That way, you can start your grow as early as next week!
My personal mix for a wick hydroponic grow
As a big fan of all things hydroponics, my personal mix for a wicking hydroponic system is 50% coco nitrate and 50% perlite. You cannot go wrong with this ratio; your plants will drink like crazy.
Can I use the wick method with organics?
Fear not, all you organic growers who are loyal to the cause. The short answer is yes. However, the organic growing medium used must have plenty of perlite inside. Drainage and capillary action are the keys to success with wick system hydroponics.
The wicking method concept is universal and can be applied to both soil and inert mediums. However, using wick systems for organic pots may be less productive than other hydroponic avenues. Still, it is also an excellent way to water soil-grown plants while away on holiday or any other long-term break.
How to maintain and care for your plants using a WHM setup
There really is not a great amount to do, thanks to the low maintenance and simple style associated with a hydroponic wick system. However, there are a few things to keep in check to ensure your plants remain in the best shape possible.
Watering frequency
Considering there is no need to hand water your pots, your only responsibility on the watering side of things is to check the water level.
The length of your wick should reach all the way down to the bottom of the bucket, so it is essential to regularly fill your reservoir with fresh water or a newly mixed nutrient solution.
Water temperature
You do not want the reservoir to become too cold or too warm. The ideal range is between 65 and 86 degrees Fahrenheit (18 to 30 degrees Celsius).
Be careful during the hotter summer days, when the ground temperatures can significantly increase, causing the reservoir also to heat up.
How does WHM differ from other hydroponic methods?
For starters, your initial budget is around $10-20, and there is no need to buy an aquarium water pump or air pump. There is also no need for electricity or any moving parts.
One of the main differences when utilizing a wick system is the ability to be away from your plant for a short or long time. This is only on the basis that your reservoir is fully topped up before going away, or at least a trusted neighbor or friend can do you the honor of topping the reservoir back up on your behalf.
The amount of time it takes to assemble the wick and pot takes minutes, and there is zero noise created once your system is fully set up and ready to rock. As mentioned earlier, you could call this style of growing a homemade hydro hybrid.
Three mistakes to avoid with the wick hydroponic method
Before you head out to the local hardware store and purchase all you need, there are a few variables to consider. As basic and straightforward as the WHM is, mistakes can occur; I have highlighted some below.
Short wick lengths
Do not cut the wick too short. It needs to touch the bottom of the bucket, and you should make sure it’s long enough to eliminate the chance that the wick runs dry.
Algae in the reservoir
Algae begins to grow in the reservoir when exposed to sunlight or HID lighting. Do not let algae build up, and give your bucket a washing out and cleaning with hydrogen peroxide before filling it back up.
The water level of the reservoir is not going down
This can occur if the growing medium holds too much water. This often comes down to poor aeration, drainage, and capillary action. Avoid this problem by avoiding low-quality, cheap soil.
My top tips on wick hydro
Top tip #1 – Try using a wick system with multiple plants; you only need to create a multi-level structure. This can be a set of wooden planks, a wooden pallet, or a set of metal wire frames on top of each other. The wick can hang below the frame and into a large-sized water tub beneath, allowing you to replicate this method on a large scale.
A multi-level setup for a wick system
Top tip #2 – It is best to use braided cotton or nylon rope for the wick. Braided rope will be the best option. It is cheap to buy, allowing you to cut the length as long as you want.
Top tip #3 – WHM works incredibly well in greenhouses, especially during the more demanding summer months. Implement this method of growing outdoors to save hand watering and provide more free time.
My final thoughts
I think the wick hydroponic method of growing cannabis is cheap, effective, and the best method for first-time growers. It is easy to assemble and can be replicated on a large scale or with a high volume of plants sitting above a large container (50–100 liters)
When it comes to calling the wick method a form of hydroponics, it’s a far cry from the complexity and maintenance levels of aeroponics, Deep Water Culture, or other systems. However, a hydroponic wick system is a very clever way to water plants when your schedule demands your attention elsewhere.
Not only can adding a wick rope to the base of your pots help maintain the optimal moisture levels around the root zone. It also prevents algae from forming on the top layer of the growing medium. This is always a bonus, as all nutrients are absorbed from the ground up.
If you are looking for the thrill of a high reward and can handle the heavy maintenance of typical hydroponic systems, I would suggest picking up Robert Bergman’s Grow Bible. And then ordering yourself a DWC bucket, NFT system, Aeroponic system, or for the more advanced and confident a reverse deep water culture system (RDWC). Otherwise, the WHM is simple, practical, and a great step up the hydro ladder!
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