Has anyone else noticed this? Do you leave them in or yank them out; does it all depend on the type of plant, or what? This is a Philodendron scandens. I'm trying a new thing where I don't repot a plant as soon as I bring it home, (picked up that tip here in the forums, thank you!), but something about a damp rope sticking in the bottom of a plant makes me nervous. I brought home a fittonia a while back with this wick set up. At the time, I left the wick and all in it's original pot, and added water to a saucer I put underneath. Said fittonia did not fare well at all! (Now, that could have been from something else I did wrong and not the wick.)
Just curious what the masters have to say about all this. What do you guys do, personally, when a plant comes with this wick thing?

This is something I've not seen before, from a grower or nursery.
I have at times set up a wick system when going on vacation, but yet to see one on a new purchase...
Think I'd be tempted to pull it.

I've noticed this new setup from Exotic Angel at Lowe's. It's an interesting concept, but I'm not sure it is necessary or worthwhile. The only Exotic Angel plants I've seen have it, are the ones at Lowe's. It doesn't really make much sense for them to have it, as people are hired and paid at Lowe's specifically to care for their houseplants. The employees could give a way more specified and optimal watering to a plant than a rope could. On top of that, it's really offputting to pick a plant up and have a dirty, wet rope slap your hand. When I purchased my syngonium Maria, it had the rope, and I removed it immediately. It's just a really gross thing to have dangling. It also won't allow the plastic pot to sit flush with your surface. Then again, I removed said plastic pot immediately because said plastic pot is ugly.

Overall, it's an interesting and intriguing idea, but may prove to be kinda worthless.

I use it for my peace lily. It's my first peace lily that I haven't made suffer somehow over/underwatering. I like it for some plants!

It sits suspended in a pot partially filled with water.

Hamwild said:It sits suspended in a pot partially filled with water.

I stand corrected. They are useful for plants that constantly want water.

Your peace lily is so healthy! Mine is outside right now and getting water once a week when I remember it exists.

CrazedHoosier said:

I stand corrected. They are useful for plants that constantly want water.

Your peace lily is so healthy! Mine is outside right now and getting water once a week when I remember it exists.

This is only like my fifteen attempt.

Hamwild said:



This is only like my fifteen attempt.

I got mine at Lowe's in the clearance section. I think I had one when I was a kid, but I can't remember. I guess this is technically my second, but with how I am, I'll be on my fifteenth soon, too. The giant peace lilies and the variegated ones, are so cool! I'd love to have either.

Thanks for your opinions, guys. I think I may pull it out for now.
I may try it with a peace lily when I try again with that plant. (Just killed my third peace lily!)

I think it can be hard to pull out (there's a plastic piece on the inside of the pot where the thread goes through). I just left it on the other houseplants I have that had it.

I would pull it personally

Wick systems can be quite effective for extending the period of time between waterings. They are usually set up with a water reservoir below as @CrazedHoosier has shown. It is the most basic of all self-watering systems and the least expensive.

Wick systems work best with plants that prefer soil that stays moist, such as a Peace Lily, but not very well with succulents that need soil to get quite dry.

To be effective, the wick should be pushed through the bottom drain holes with one end dangling in the water reservoir. The key is how far into the rootball you push the other end of the wick. That will determine how far up into the rootball the water will rise.

Unless you have a specific need to extend the interval between waterings, it is probably best not to use the wicks.