For my first grow, I am transplanting seedlings into 5 gallon smart pots with 
OF as my main medium.
This will be an outdoor grow. With the "light, aerated" consistency ofOF and the extreme aeration of the smart pots...throw in some intense sun and constant breeze, I can expect these plants may easily dry out simply due to the total aeration effects so to speak. Continuing the demands, I also don't want them to depend on daily watering over the top. So to address these water consistency and watering convenience demands, I am putting wicks through the bottom of every pot so they can each sit on their own 5 gallon reservoir and water themselves, hopefully...
What can I add to my soil to increase the soil's own wicking action to assist the wicks and make for more thorough self-watering of soil and help in the overall water retention of the soil...without any negative effects? The plants will be able to be watered once every other day so I don't need anything that can hold water through drought-like conditions...but due to what I described above, I think some extra water retention wouldn't hurt.
I've read a ton about vermiculite, perlite, coco, peat, clay...what would be best for my circumstances?
THANKS FOR ANY OPINIONS!!!
OF as my main medium.This will be an outdoor grow. With the "light, aerated" consistency of
OF and the extreme aeration of the smart pots...throw in some intense sun and constant breeze, I can expect these plants may easily dry out simply due to the total aeration effects so to speak. Continuing the demands, I also don't want them to depend on daily watering over the top. So to address these water consistency and watering convenience demands, I am putting wicks through the bottom of every pot so they can each sit on their own 5 gallon reservoir and water themselves, hopefully...What can I add to my soil to increase the soil's own wicking action to assist the wicks and make for more thorough self-watering of soil and help in the overall water retention of the soil...without any negative effects? The plants will be able to be watered once every other day so I don't need anything that can hold water through drought-like conditions...but due to what I described above, I think some extra water retention wouldn't hurt.
I've read a ton about vermiculite, perlite, coco, peat, clay...what would be best for my circumstances?
THANKS FOR ANY OPINIONS!!!
