rossomendblot's 2025

[Labradors]

@Jambow Same here. I've had an Earth Box on my front step, planted with annuals for years. Water accumulates at the bottom, and I get swarms of flies (which I'd have called Fungus Gnats, except that they are bigger). Plants don't do well in that!

[rossomendblot]

Interesting. I've been using this design of wicking container for a few years and haven't noticed any fly issues. I wonder if the holes in the Earthbox aeration screen allow too much of the potting mix to fall into the reservoir? With this design the holes in the sides of the reservoir containers are too small to allow potting mix in, and any larger holes are blocked off with weed membrane. That's also why I like to use something inert like gravel, molar clay or perlite in the reservoir since it reduces the risk of anaerobic conditions versus organic media.

[JayneR13]

That's entirely possible. The design of the Earth Box also uses potting soil as the wicking material. Some is packed into two corners of the box for this purpose. Also the drain is actually quite small for the size of the box. That's why I drilled holes into the bottom. While I've never noticed fly issues, the water accumulation causing wet feet has been consistent over the years, and not just with this design. I've also tried various Monkey Pots, which stack vertically. Same issue with water accumulation. Additionally, the two topmost pots are really too small to grow much other than greens or herbs. In another design, the way the pots stack wastes entirely too much growing area in addition to the water issue. Considering my limited space I grow vertically wherever I can, but not with these. Your design might be worth exploring further however.

[Tim DH]

Hi Ross,
With ref to: 'Are those peppers in 100% clay pebbles?' ... Yes peppers, and yes clay pebbles but only a surface dressing.

With ref to: 'First fruit set of the year' ... I'm a little ahead of you! Its been a crazy spring here, I've a few plants setting their second trusses! My first fruit set of the year award goes to a new F1 (Latah X Quedlinburger Furhe Liebe) I post quite a bit about creating F1s on the OSSI forum if your interested.

Tim DH