Danita said:
>> I have some perma-nest trays that have the humidity grids that can also be used to create a reservoir when using capillary matting.
Since those must work as supplied, that eliminates one concern I thought of. How do you know that some of the holes in pots or plug trays won't wind up over a "hole" in the grid, so that the capillary mat is not pressed firmly against the soil mix?
It must not be a problem, because clearly the commercial version already works.
I wonder if the Perma-Nest system has trays with holes at the same spacing as the grid, and they just stay lined up right?
Or nice BIG holes in the trays, to assure good contact no matter how they are aligned?
Or a thick, stiff mat that presses against the soil even if the grid is not directly supporting it right under the hole.
Or maybe it isn't a problem at all! I thought it was important to use a thick and fuzzy mat with plenty of "loft", and a fairly uniform surface under the mat to provide even pressure assuring good contact through every cell's hole or slit. But I never noticed a cell drying out early.
I should make a point of withholding ALL top-watering and spraying for a few weeks to make sure my cotton flannel in 1020 trays really does touch even "difficult" cells with narrow slits.
But I missed starting spring seeds this year, altogether!
