A wicking garden bed is among the popular methods used in farms today. This is because they are efficient for growing houseplants. However, there is a major problem with improving the soil content of the wicking beds.
One of the challenges is how to add fertilizer to the wicking beds. The problem is that wicking beds feed the plants from the bottom.
The dos and don’ts of fertilizing the wicking bed
Understand the type of fertilizer to use
Before understanding how it is good to understand which fertilizer works best for wicking beds.
First, you should know that wicking beds have a closed system. This means that even accessing the wicking bests is procedural. It may be through the provisioned gardening pipes.
This means that the best fertilizer to use is the liquid type. You can only access the bottom of the bed through these pipes. Soluble fertilizer is recommended to ensure you can add the content through water.
Using organic fertilizer
There is no doubt that organic fertilizers are the best for wicking beds. One of the major advantages of using this method is that the bed prevents fertilizer loss.
This means that you may as well start over the wicking bed with good compost and organic matter. It means you will not have to add extra fertilizer to the soil.
The organic content can sustain the nutrient provision to the plant until they mature. However, it may also depend on the type of plant. Some plants require more nutrients than others.
Among the plants in wicking beds may need more nutrients, including the tomatoes. This means that the nutrient content may need refilling.
Add fertilizer content when refilling.
One of the best ways of adding fertilizer to the wicking beds is when refilling them. The contents of the wicking beds may require regular refilling to maintain the soil health.
The idea is to ensure that you have enough content to add fertilizer to the wicking bed when refilled.
Do not use inorganic fertilizers.
It is advisable not to try inorganic fertilizers when fertilizing the wicking beds. Experts recommend using compost teas or worm teas instead. This is considered excellent, especially for fruiting plants. It is good for soil conditioning.
Using Mulch method
Adding mulch is a great way of adding fertilizer to the wicking garden bed. This is great because it protects the topsoil of the wicking bed. It means that the nutrient and moisture content is retained in the soil. Mulch also helps in reducing the heat of the wicking bed.
Experts also reveal that mulching helps add microbial action in the wicking beds. However, it is also good to consider the type of mulch that you use for your wicking bed. Ensure that you understand whether the plants need mulching.
Avoid over-fertilization
One of the biggest threats to fertilizing the wicking beds is over-fertilization. This is especially true when using inorganic fertilizers for your wicking beds. It is a huge threat to your plants because it can increase the acidity soil levels in the wicking beds.
Adding fertilizer to the water reservoir
One of the best ways of fertilizing the wicking beds is by adding fertilizer to the reservoir. This is especially when using inorganic fertilizer for your beds.
But some experts have advised against this approach. They argue that this can increase the acidity in the roots. It is considered bad for root health, especially for plants with shallow roots.
Some researchers have indicated that adding fertilizer to the soil is the best alternative. This is putting it in the reservoir can lead to wastage.
It is also good to avoid a lot of fertilizer sitting on the bottom of the reservoir. This is because some fertilizers are insoluble and not good for the plants.
Flushing excess fertilizer
It is good to note that wicking beds retain a lot of fertilizer. This is especially when the demand for nutrients is not high among some plants. That is why there is a need to identify the best ways of flushing out excess fertilizer.
There is a need to create drainage holes in the wicking beds that flush out excess fertilizer. This is possible by adding water to the contents in the wicking bend. It reduces the build-up of fertilizers in the beds.
There are also other alternatives, including using the overflow outlet. This is a good idea for professional gardening.
Overall, fertilizing the wicking beds is not a common routine. Many farmers prefer adding nutrient content when making the wicking bed. The only time that many farmers consider adding fertilizer is when the soil health is noted as poor.
However, looking for adequate information about fertilizing the wicking bed is important, especially for the house plants that may require more nutrients as they mature.