# Wick system

> A wick system is a passive watering method in which an absorbent cord draws water or nutrient solution up from a reservoir into the medium by capillary action.

- Canonical: https://genetixbay.com/knowledge/glossary/wick-system.html
- Also written: wick watering, wick hydroponics, wicking, wick-fed, self-watering pot
- Glossary category: Systems and media · Evidence: Grower practice
- Status: Draft: awaiting expert review · Updated: 2026-10-31
- Licence: CC BY-SA 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/), attribute "GenetixBay cannabis glossary"

A wick system is the simplest passive hydroponic or self-watering arrangement: a cotton, nylon or felt cord runs from a reservoir up into the growing medium, and capillary action moves solution to the roots as they dry the medium out. Self-watering pots with a reservoir in the base work on the same idea.

## In practice

Wicks suit small plants, [seedlings](https://genetixbay.com/knowledge/glossary/seedling.md), herbs and light-drinking setups, and they need a light, airy medium such as a peat-perlite or coco-perlite mix. Large cannabis plants in peak flower can use several litres per day, more than most wicks deliver, so plants may wilt in hot weather. Salts accumulate at the surface because water moves only upward; [flush the medium](https://genetixbay.com/knowledge/glossary/root-zone-flush.md) from the top occasionally. Use synthetic wicks; cotton can rot.

## Don't confuse with

- **Bottom watering**: water is placed in a tray and soaks up through the pot base; no wick.
- **Ceramic sensor watering**: a valve that opens on demand from a gravity-fed line.

## Related terms

[Bottom watering](https://genetixbay.com/knowledge/glossary/bottom-watering.md), [Ceramic sensor watering](https://genetixbay.com/knowledge/glossary/ceramic-sensor-watering.md), [Kratky method](https://genetixbay.com/knowledge/glossary/kratky.md), [Reservoir](https://genetixbay.com/knowledge/glossary/reservoir.md)

## Read more

- [Bottom-watering, soak trays and wick (self-watering) systems](https://genetixbay.com/knowledge/systems/bottom-watering-wick.md)