Quick verdict
A 110 by 25 inch sheet of 3 mm black felt that soaks up water from a reservoir and feeds it to every pot standing on it, so a bench of seedlings waters itself evenly from below. Cut it to size, trail one end into a tray of water and the mat does the rest for days. It is reusable, cheap per square foot and works for seed trays, pots and self-watering planters. Algae grows on it in light, so expect to rinse it.
Strengths
- Waters a whole bench of pots evenly from below
- Large 110 x 25 inch sheet cuts to any size
- Three millimetre felt holds plenty of water
- Reusable season after season
- Works as a wick strip for individual planters
Weaknesses
- Grows algae in light; needs rinsing
- Pots need good drainage holes in contact with the mat
- Mat must stay in contact with the reservoir or it dries out
The overall YardToolLab Score is out of 100. Section scores are out of 10.
A Bench That Waters Itself
A greenhouse bench of seedlings needs water every day, some pots more than others, and overhead watering soaks the ones that were already wet. A capillary mat solves it. Lay felt on the bench, trail one edge into a reservoir and stand the pots on it; the felt stays wet and each pot draws water up through its drainage holes as it dries. Adnee’s mat is a 110 by 25 inch sheet of 3 mm black felt that cuts to fit any bench or tray.
This review is based on the listing specifications and on how felt capillary mats perform for bottom watering generally. We have not used this mat ourselves and the brand is a generic importer.
Setup
Cover a bench or large tray with plastic, lay the mat on top, and drape one edge over into a reservoir below the bench level: a trough, a gutter or a storage box. Wet the mat thoroughly to start the wick and set pots on it. As long as the reservoir has water, the mat stays damp and the pots look after themselves for days. Owners going away for a week fill a large reservoir and return to healthy plants.
Evenness
Each pot takes only what it uses, so a thirsty tomato and a slow-growing herb on the same mat both end up right. Seedlings in trays wet evenly from below without the surface compaction and damping off that overhead watering causes. Three millimetre felt holds enough water to buffer hot afternoons.
Contact
The method depends on contact: pots need drainage holes that touch the mat, so lift any with raised feet or set them in a shallow layer of grit. Plastic and terracotta both work. Pots with a saucer break the connection.
Algae and Care
Wet felt in light grows green algae within weeks. It does no harm but looks poor and can smell; rinse the mat under a tap every few weeks and let it dry occasionally between crops. Covering exposed mat with a sheet of plastic or more pots slows algae considerably. The felt lasts several seasons with that care.
Other Uses
Cut strips as wicks for individual self-watering planters, line seed starting kits that use a reservoir, or stand houseplants on a piece in a tray while on holiday.
Who Should Buy It
- Greenhouse owners with a bench of pots to water.
- Seed starters wanting even bottom watering.
- Anyone who travels and leaves plants behind.
Common Owner Complaints
Algae and a mat that dried out when the wick lost contact. Rinsing and a deeper reservoir solve both.
Alternatives to Consider
Branded horticultural capillary matting is thicker and sold by the metre at higher prices. Self-watering 1020 trays build the mat and reservoir into one unit. A drip system on a timer suits larger greenhouses.
Verdict
For bottom watering a bench of seedlings and pots cheaply and evenly, this big sheet of felt does the job and leaves plenty for wicks. Keep the reservoir full, rinse off the algae and the bench looks after itself.
Full specifications
Adnee 110 x 25 Inch 3 mm Felt Capillary Self-Watering Mat FAQs
Felt draws water along its fibres by capillary action. Pots standing on wet felt draw water up through their drainage holes as the soil dries, so each takes what it needs.
Lay the mat on a waterproof bench or tray, drape one edge into a reservoir of water below bench level and set pots on the mat. Keep the reservoir topped up.
Green algae grows on wet felt in light. It is harmless but unsightly; lift the pots and rinse the mat every few weeks, or cover exposed areas.
Only if they sit in standing water. On a mat with free drainage, soil draws just what evaporation and roots remove, which is the point.
