E-Buckets

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behillman Plantersville, TX(Zone 9a) Oct 14, 2010

I had tried using a 3 gal.bucket which sat inside a 5 gal bucket. My tomatoe plant was doing beautifully. Until.......I poured some standing water from an old bucket into my plant, & the next day, it was wilted & dead I guess. I immediately noticed the bucket under the tomatoe was full of water. I guess my tomatoe plant drowned. What do I need to do to keep from killing my plants. I guess I have to very carefully watch so that the second bucket does not fill up with water. What do you guys do who are experienced with this bucket thing.

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KathyWid Clover, SC Oct 14, 2010

Behillman,

Since your tomato plant wilted suddenly, it sounds like bacterial wilt. When bacterial wilt attacks, foliage doesn’t become yellow and spotted. Rather, the plant wilts and dies quickly with little warning.

Bacteria work their way up through the plant’s roots or stem, most often where plants have been cut, injured or weakened by transplanting, cultivation, insects, or other diseases. They clog water-conducting tissue in the stem. Water and nutrients can’t reach branches and leaves, starving the plant. The plant dies.

In your case, the bacteria could have been transmitted from standing water through the plant's tissues.

Here's more on bacterial wilt: http://www.tomatodirt.com/bacterial-wilt.html

Hope this helps!

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Gymgirl SE Houston (Hobby), TX(Zone 9a) Oct 14, 2010

Behillman,
Does your lower bucket have a DRAIN/OVERFLOW hole drilled approximately 1/4-1/2" below the bottom of the top bucket? If it doesn't, please drill one, so your reservoir does not fill up with water. The space at your overflow hole, between the water level and the potting soil, is very necessary for aeration/oxygenation and so you potting mix isn't constantly sitting in water.

Only your wick is constantly sitting in the water...lmk.

Linda ^^_^^

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