papaya grown in pots (wicking system)

Discussion in 'Planting, growing, nurturing Plants' started by jikwan, May 12, 2017.

  1. jikwan

    jikwan New Member

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    hi,
    sometime in the near future id like to try a 16 sq metre vegetable garden using
    wicking garden beds
    but first i want to start with growing a few papaya trees using big pots/containers
    that are sealed at the bottom and are connected by pipes to transport the water
    and keep the water level at about 3cm
    the height of the pot would be about 35cm
    my concern is after some time the roots would make their way to the bottom of
    the pot where the water is. would the contact with this very wet soil that is always
    there damage the plant? a bit like waterlogged. i know that some plants dont like
    too much water
     
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  2. 9anda1f

    9anda1f Administrator Staff Member

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    Hi Jikwan,
    Not knowing much about papaya, I found this bit in the wikipedia article: "It prefers sandy, well-drained soil, as standing water will kill the plant within 24 hours."
    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Papaya
     
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  3. jikwan

    jikwan New Member

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    hi, 9
    wow thats serious.
    the reason i want everything contained in wicking beds
    including the fruit is to minimize fertilizer wastage
    lets say i pour some compost tea over the plant and it sinks
    down evenly and if there are roots thry will absorb the tea
    where there are no roots the tea keeps sinking down unused
    then it rains and that unused tea gets pushed down even further and further till all those particles end up deep down where no roots go and eventually gets washed into groundwater caverns,wasted
    the same with cow manure----a lot of it will miss the roots too
     
  4. chamni

    chamni Member

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    HI JIKWAN
    according to reply of ADMIN.That is true papaya dint like waterloged it kill them quickly.one thing by growing papaya,gardener will cut half of the main root(see how long of root) then papaya gonna change to bisexual.just follow this website it could be easy to understand.
    https://sgstrawberries.com/2016/06/13/dwarfing-a-papaya/
     
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  5. jikwan

    jikwan New Member

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    hey chamni, first time i even heard of the concept. i might even try it.
    whats interesting is when you do any work on the plant/transferring to new pot etc
    is the time when its done. do this work within a few weeks and everything will be ok
    but do it after a few months will cause delay in growth or worse

    im definately not going to seal the bottom. instead, i plan to make one hole for drainage
    at the base of pot and it will drain into a horizontal pipe and my precious nutrient-rich
    fluid gets transported to a collector container where i can re use thewater
    you might think that im a bit too much concerned about wastage...........
    im attempting to devise a super economical, efficient system where in places where
    its mostly desert can use my system. their problem is they have no fertilizer scources
    the wicking container saves water too
     
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  6. chamni

    chamni Member

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    make thing economical that great,reuse is greather.
    Let try and maintain you work,hope you success.
    there are the system called "irrigation clay pot" where suitable for desert place that you can search in the website.
    good luck
     
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  7. jikwan

    jikwan New Member

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    i did take a look and it makes sense and im sure it works
    it would take up a lot of valuable space in a wicking bed
    a pot inside a pot? its going to take p too much space and
    also the added expense

    my design so far is to use 3 gallon square tins. the tins
    prevoiously held cooking oil so i have to put them on a hot
    fire to burn the epoxy BPA inner lining
    cut the top off and put a piece of white plastic sheet on it with
    a hole for the stem of the plant to come through
    some small amount of rainwater could get in
    put a hole in the bottom and a vertical pipe would be
    connected to a horizontal pipe and then directed to a tank
    when the tank is full the water will be pumped to an
    elevated tank
    rainwater doesnt get in
    very little evaporation
    zero waste of water and fertilizer particles
    the leaves can be sprayed manualy or by sprinkler
    the pyramid base will be 6x6 metres
    a lot of cans! i can get them free
    pyramid frame i use plastic water pipe--very cheap

    its taking shape
     
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