Hi All,
I just tried to put wicks,#24 Mason cord,in some of my plants.I cut them,soaked them in a little warm soapy water and the ends unraveled.I tried pulling them through established plants with all different sizes of crochet hooks,same result.I finally dumped a few pots out,put a dry string in and watered.That works,but I would have to repot every plant and it's very messy and the strings get dirty.
Any ideas before I give up and hand water?
Lynn
Help! Wicking Frustration.
to keep them from unraveling,burn the ends,i use a candle to cut my string, still use the soap trick,also you might have a bad batch of string,the crochet hooks are a good idea
Someone during the fall said they used braided cord 'cause it doesn't unwind . . . I haven't seen any here, but I keep looking.
Wow Lynn--dunno--the mason string/crochet hook thing works well for me most of the time--Sometimes I use a large darning needle instead. Not sure why your twine is unraveling---maybe try a different size?(#)
Ibrabec, here's a tip for you.
An old needlepoint trick to thread needle:
squeeze end of thread between thumb and index finger. gently push eye end of large darning needle over squezed fingers until end of thread is thru the eye of needle. I used to do a lot of needlepoint, and this is the only way I was able to thread the needle.
Hope this helps.
personally i have used so many different threads, sting, cord, they all kind of stink, the best i have found so far is regular yarn which i always have on hand & it works better than any of the cords i have bought.
bonnie
Thank you all so much!! I am going to try again tomorrow.I got totally frustrated and gave up today.
Jim,
I told my DH I thought it would work if I melted the ends a little and that could be the trick for me!
Nichole,
This cord is pretty braided.It comes from the hardware store.
Jan,
Thanks,I do have large darning needles.
Digger,
Thanks for the threading tip.
Bonnie,
I have plenty of yarn,too.
Sorry to have to list all of you seperately,but that's the only way I can keep everybody straight in this feeble head of mine LOL.
Lynn
Nichole,
You said braided cord.I misread.Mine is twisted.I have never seen braided either.
Lynn
Mine is twisted, too . . . but from what I remember, that person said they used the braided since it doesn't unravell as much . . . if I ever find some, I'll let you know where!
Thanks,I would love to know! Burning the ends worked pretty good today though,as did a size D crochet hook.For Solo cups with tiny holes, I used a size 2,but the hook on it is so small I really had to be careful not to snag the cord.I also dug out a darning needle just in case.
I find it easier to thread from the bottom to top using the darning needle. It doesnt disturb the roots too much. When I first strike the leaves, I don't wick them. Once they have lots of mouse ears, I thread the wick from the bottom. When it's time to pot them into their own pot, it's much easier because the pot is empty. You'll have to find what works best for you. I was a compulsive needlepointer when my children were growing up. It kept my sanity (five children-four of them two years apart), so I'm used to using the needle.
Different kinds unravel and some don't. The one I now use is from Ace Hardware.........expensive for a #24 roll is 4 bucks but it doesn't unravel........Ken in Boerne, Texas showed me how to take a wire or paper clip that isn't very big, use the pliers to bend a little hook and pull up from the bottom.......like people were telling you..........
does anyone use old strips of pantyhose as the wick? That is what my mother always used growing up, and I guess until now, I just figured that is what everyone used...
-T
Great dome sites Jim!
Gail,
It is the exact cord you use.Maybe I got a bad batch.The paperclip idea is a good one.
Digger,I dug out my old darning needles.I may need them yet.
I'm afraid to do more today.The wind knocked out our power and my house got down to the mid fifties.It's back on now,but I think I need to wait until the plants warm up before I disturb them.
Lynn
I had to restring my windchimes and didn't know how to get the cord thru the chime tubes. The lady at the craft shop show me some "needles" that people use for beading and they are flexible enough to form a tight loop to hold the thread, but strong enough to go thru the tubes. It worked very well, and so I tried it while wicking and it made it so simple! She showed me how to cut a long piece and pull it all the way thru and cut off at the bottom of the cord attached to the needle. That way, I could do several without having to "rethread" the needle like piece of metal. I think they were called Beading Threaders. Next ime you are in a Wal-Mart look at the craft aisle for the beads and they have them too. Lou
Thanks,Lou.That sounds great!
Lynn