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Self Watering Clone Tray
I’ve been experimenting with DIY self watering clone trays:
Trial 1: Rack (Fall 2025)
I cut four holes into the bottom of cylindrical containers and put the wicking string in in an X pattern, just like the ACI bases.
I placed them on top of the broiler rack and the water in the broiler tray.
This set up worked OK, but the holes on the broiler tray were rather small to fit the string through, so every time I move them around, it was a battle. Also, with the plants sitting on top of the broiler tray, it was a pain to lift it up and fill it. It wasn’t very easy to pour the water through the slots in the tray.
Also, the plants did not care for the cylindrical containers.
Trial 2: Mat (Current)
This time I use the more fluted yogurt containers. I decided to use a mat rather than a tray. I started with thick wash cloths. They were too thick, they tried to absorb the water away from the plants. Next, I tried a thin dish towel. On a scale of 1 to 5 of dish towel thickness I would give it a 2. This is working well. It absorbs enough water so that it is not just pooled in the bottom of the tray, but it’s not thick enough to steal the water from the plants.
As an added bonus to this system, the tray of water helps a lot with the humidity in the prop tent.
I am still thinking about adding a rack, a cooling rack with bigger slots for the strings. But this simple set up is working so well I haven’t felt inspired to tinker anymore at the moment.
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6 Replies
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Very creative with making your own auto pots! I like the broiler pan idea too, but mine gets regular use for roasting veggies with bacon on top 🤤
Love seeing new ideas for using stuff around the house!
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Thanks Botanic!
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This is awesome! Is the wash cloth all the way down in the tray of water?
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One of the good things about this little system is it’s machine washable! And I have two of the same towels. So I took the dirty one out and put the new one in and took pictures as I put it back together: seedling mat, broiler tray, towel, 2 c water, plants
Right now I do have the clones just sitting on the towel. When I first pour the water in (about two cups a day is what I’ve been giving them now) it will pool up for a little bit, but usually within a half an hour or so it has been absorbed and they are not sitting in water.
I’ve just been filling the tray mostly when I fill the humidifier. I have been letting the water sit and warm up after it comes out of my RO because it has been coming out so cold.
I think this setup works well currently because I have really low humidity. If I was worried about too much humidity, I think I’d have to make some changes, at the very least I think I would raise the plants up on a rack with their strings dangling underneath into the water rather than having them directly sitting in the water.
The one thing I can definitely say is that I am better off watering and humidity wise right now with this little system than without it.
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And I can tell they are growing, these pictures are nine days apart.
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So freaking cool! 😎
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