Hi All
Within my many searches I've come across a way of container growing that could be of some interest.
The EarthTainer designed by Ray Newstead is easy to build and replicate for little cost. This container is self-contained with a 10 gallon water supply and can go several days without replenishment. This container-based system combines the traditional soil-based growing cycle with elements of hydroponic moisture delivery to the plants for sustainable, organic gardening.
The EarthTainer employs a bottom-up, automated watering approach based on the principle of cappilary action. The water stored in the lower reservoir is wicked up into the soil. As moisture meets the roots the plant will drink as much as it needs to achieve optimal growth and productivity.
Now, I have a question...Will wicking work for the ladies? And if so, what if an air-pump and air-stone were incorporated into the reservoir, producing a more oxigenated water supply? Any answers to this question would be greatly appreciated
The link I will provide will take you to another site but will be worth a look. On this page are videos with construction guides to assemble the system. Thanks for looking and PLEASE check this out http://earthtainer.tomatofest.com/ ......Peace

I've been watching something very similar to this on another website. google OBBT for a ganga version. When you see it, it all makes sense. Some have a trial grow going right now.

=cebe

I like it, no pumps, low maintenance. I think I'll make a couple & see if they fly.

Ya, Looks Like A Nice Simple Set-Up..Should Have Great Success With Them..

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Thank you all...Cebe,Vegas and Hatch for your feedback! I still wonder though, if incorporating an air pump and air stone into the reservoir would help things out? Thank You...Peace

Keeping it clean would be a major problem with soil. If you're leaning that way , you might as well go with DWC buckets, the only difference is using an inert medium like expanded clay. 5 gall. buckets are perfect and the minor varieties in designs are endless.

that type of reservoir pot works great if you have the right medium. they tend to stay very wet so you need to use a course, perlite, vermiculite, bark, mix so that it gets enough oxygen. i use some small pots like that to root cuttings in perlite - they are called oyama pots - for african violets. i get roots in about 10 days using those pots.

Thank you ZigZag and durf...I did think about the mess that would have to be going on in the reservoir and without taking the whole thing apart it would be impossible to clean. I may put one together and try it with some tomatos just for s***s and giggles. The next best thing to herb is fresh garden grown tomatos...Peace

And btw Zigzag Thanks to you I am leaning towards a DWC system. A little scary for me, for I have always grown in soil. Soon I will be starting an indoor grow, still have some work to do in my grow room, but when it is up and running I plan to start a growing journal in a new thread...Peace

I thought of that too, you'd probably want to tear it apart and give it a good cleaning after one or two grows. Probably a lot of scum would start growing in the water reservoir. I'm going to use a large trash bag to make an inside liner so when it's time for a cleanup just pull the bag liner out & throw it away, then I'm half done. A black trash bag would help keep light from getting through the lighter colored plastic tub and helping the scum grow too.

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The inventor seems to have done a lot of research and experimenting to get it working just right while keeping it inexpensive.
Why would an air stone be needed?

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You are probably right Vegas about the air stone, enough experimentation has probably already been done. And btw, the black trash bag liner sounds like a good idea, making the reservoir easier to clean...Peace

sounds like an ingenius idea. very efficient as well. low maintenance. maybe that's what i need as a beginner. hmmm.

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I Was Looking Back At That Link, & If There Is Going To Be Any Standing Water In The Bottom For Any Length Of Time???,,& I Feel There Will Be, But I Would Definitely Add Air-Stones To The Bottom Of The Res..

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Thank you Hatch!.....Peace