Oasesbox self watering planters

REMF33

Has anyone else boght these and had any success with them? I bought a few the other year, and I'm afraid they seemed to kill off my curcubits (or would have if I had not removed them) and tomatoes did poorly. I think this may partly be because there's no way near enough room for compost, but also, given how quickly the curcubits began to fail, possibly because the roots end up sitting in water? (Although this also happens, in the end with the very successful Quadgrow). Anyway, I forked out money, and don't want it to entirely go to waste. I could just drill holes in the green bits and use as ordinary planters. But before I do, any suggestions as to how they might be put to a use closer to the one intended? They could work well with coriander, which seems to drink water by the pint each day. And I have a mint plant in one which is clearly thriving without any doctoring.
I was thinking along the lines of putting a strip of capillary matting through the hole, then semi blocking the hole with a crock or some such.
Of course, the failures could be just something I did wrong as they seem to get good reviews. They claim you can grow peppers and tomatoes in them... https://oasesboxgardening.co.uk/the-greenhouse-guru/

margaret.ozog

Just bought these. Any helpful hints?

REMF33

Not much to add other than what I said above, I'm afraid. I gave up on mine. Something that doesn't need a lot of soil and doesn't mind wet roots, I guess. I might have a go at growing watercress if one if mine are still in tact.
If you want self watering pots for tomatoes, peppers, aubergines etc., Quadgrow are a much better bet.

Allotment Boy

Yes I have Quadgrow pots and I'm very pleased with them.  I  was going to suggest watercress too!

Lyn

If they’re about 10 -  12” square they’ll be fine for tomatoes if you drill holes in the bottom and take the black bit out.

REMF33

That's not really the point of them though, Lyn Rather expensive tomato pots if used that way. While I don't trust their suggestions, maybe lettuce would work? I don't know. I have never grown lettuce (I think it's a bit pointless )

Ah but look at this:

https://oasesboxgardening.co.uk/2023/01/03/planting-your-oasesbox-with-a-grow-bag/

Cumberson, imo, and a bit ugly, but worth a try?

REMF33

There is no way, though, (imo) that the water reservoir would last 2-3 weeks with fully grown tomato plants in them in the height of a sunny summer. Quadgrow make similar claims, and in my experience, they need refilling every two days. Mind you, I do let my tomatoes go somewhat rampant If you pruned them back to a few cordons and not much foliage then it might work.

Lyn

I know that’s not the point,  but the point is,,, they are not fit for the purpose,,,

REMF33

@lyn that wasn't a criticism, more of a wry reflection on money perhaps not well spent by me. I have contemplated doing the very thing you suggest with mine. Mine have  been mine languishing in the garden now for some time, though, so it's less galling. They are nice sturdy pots...
However as Margaret has just splashed out hopefully she will find a way to make them work as they should.
I have seen videos of people growing Basil over a water reservoir. Maybe that will work.
The main problem for the Oasis boxes is that there is insufficient capacity for compost. The water reservoir aspect is probably not the flawed aspect of the design. Maybe one could put a bottomless pot or half pot on top, but it might be a bit precarious.
Clearly mint worked for me...

Lyn

If I used them here, with the amount of rain we get they’d be overflowing.  I can’t grow basil outside here,  maybe they do like to be wet but I always grow it indoors. 

REMF33

I usually keep my basil indoors too. They will survive outside, but tend to go tough quickly.
Reminds me, I must sow some!