Hook 'Em Up!

Step 6: Hook 'Em Up!

So you've hung everything up, despite your wife or your neighbors and you're giddy with anticipation. Time to hook it up.

Cut and connect a length of hose from the reservoir stop valve to the quick-connect tee connector on the first planter." Don't make the hose too short. It's good to have a little room to raise, lower or move the reservoir or planters.
Connect each planter to the next in series.
Put water in the reservoir.
Stare at it and wonder if it's working. Water moves through the wicks slightly faster than paint dries. In a couple days, you will be pleasantly surprised to see your plants are still alive and happy and you will be able to relax.

Troubleshooting:
When I first hooked everything up, I noticed some air bubbles gathering under the wicks. I worried that they would block the water from being absorbed by the wicks. Punch a small hole just above the bottom of the wick. Squeeze the area around the hole until water comes out. Patch the hole. Teflon ribbon does the job very well.

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ondoratmo says: Mar 30, 2012. 7:29 AM

great!!!
I wanna ask you something about the sprinkling.
is it an automatically sprinkling or you must open the faucet from water reservoir??
thanks before.

Motta says: Nov 1, 2010. 11:17 PM

This is just GREAT!

WickedSpindle says: Jul 5, 2010. 2:56 PM

Wow this looks amazing, and I love the instructable, very thorough with tons of picture tags. I love it. I think I will make these for the next our next house when we change duty stations! I'm so excited. Thank you!

blaskos says: Aug 9, 2009. 4:27 PM

Do you have a total price that this costs. What you did looks awesome and i just want an idea or ball park range so i can figure it out. Im thinking about trying this or doing a hydroponics set up, do you have any suggestions which would produce more fruit for tomatoes? Also, it will be in my basement since its coming to winter time!

velvel (author) in reply to blaskosAug 11, 2009. 10:33 AM

I built it gradually in iterations over a few years, so I don't have an exact price tag. For sure under $100. Hoses and PVC pipes are cheap. Connectors and caps can get expensive - $2 here, $5 there - it all adds up. From what I understand, hydroponics generally yields better volume but has smaller margins of error. Soil is much more forgiving. Good luck!

hybridracers says: Jun 26, 2009. 5:34 AM

I kind of wish you had actually did the step on this instructable as you wrote it. I find myself confused with the wick, aeration hole and that stuff. I tried to use some 2 liter bottles but I dont think they work for even small tomato plants, too small of a container. Maybe strawberries though.

velvel (author) in reply to hybridracersJun 26, 2009. 6:22 AM

I'll try to get more materials this weekend and elaborate some steps.

velvel (author) in reply to velvelJun 26, 2009. 7:30 AM

Actually, I don't think I'll have time to buy the parts. I'll make some detailed diagrams. Stay tuned. (I'll message you when I have them up). Thanks for the feedback. (That goes for everyone else, too!)