FINAL EXTERIOR BROCHURE 171120 - Flipbook - Page 237
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tanker irrigation
• Wick: Tanker Wick are geotextile strips fitted to every Tank
and are the heart of the system. As they are manufactured
tanker – research proven
Accessories
from a special combination of woven plastics, they will never
deteriorate when left undisturbed. However where frequent
replanting of planters is necessary, for example, hanging
baskets and containers planted with bedding plants, it may
Wick
become necessary to replace the wicks after a number of years.
This can easily be carried out for all the Water Cell systems and
wicks are supplied for each unit size precut to length. Modular
systems, due to their design, are much less likely to require new
wicks but if eventually this does become necessary then the
“ In summary, planters
containing Tanker systems
will save you half your costs
of watering while providing
a more attractive, healthier
plant with a much stronger and
better developed root system.”
Tanker was invented some 25 years ago
units can be returned to us for refurbishment.
and at least two installations from that
period survive and are still functioning
perfectly today. However, to further prove
• Dip Sticks: Tanker Dip sticks are flexible capillary rods that can
be put down the filler tube and pulled out to show the exact
the effectiveness of the system, and in
depth of water in that tank or planter. For use where water level
particular its potential to dramatically cut
indicators cannot be used and particularly suitable for large
the costs of watering seasonal exterior
tree planters. Custom sizes available.
Dip-stick
displays, Tanker has recently been the
subject of intensive research at the
world renowned University of Reading
• Floats: Polystyrene floats suitable for use with the flexible filler
Horticultural Technology Unit.
pipe only. Cut to size. Supplied FOC with new flexible filler pipe
installations where requested.
Float for flexible tube
planted interior office plant displays and
window boxes and exterior planters. In
the end of a run or to convert a network unit into a Solo tank.
every case identical control units were
Supplied FOC with every new Network installation.
set up without Tanker being fitted.
All the units were watered whenever
• Flexible pipe: Available in up to 50m lengths, this is both the
connecting pipe between Network Tanks and also an optional
Stopper for
network systems
the soil moisture content fell below a
predetermined point as measured by use
of a Theta probe. The exterior planters
filler tube instead of the rigid pipe system. Appropriate lengths
were assessed for 70 days and the interior
are supplied FOC with new Solo and Network systems where
for 5 months before a destructive analysis
required.
Flexible filler
or
Connecting pipe
per metre
Top: Roots systems: left – without Tanker; right– with Tanker
Bottom: Tanker fitted window boxes - Day 56
The trials were carried out on typically
also on contractor style hanging baskets,
• Stoppers: These are used to seal the ends of Network units at
Above: Interior planter
clearly showing superior plant
development in Tanker (bottom)
fitted planters after 70 days
of trials.
Reading summer 2004 on hanging baskets, window boxes, patio planters &
interior displays.
• The use of Tanker systems in all situations tested halved the number of watering visits
required to maintain the plants.
• The amount of moisture in the soil was always more controlled with Tanker systems
present – they were less likely to be either very wet or very dry – promoting better
plant development.
• The plants in the Tanker watered units looked visually more pleasing than those in the
control units having a better, more compact growth pattern.
was carried out to look at the root systems
• The root systems of the Tanker grown plants were far better developed than those
and the fresh weights of the plant material
that were top watered only. In exterior trials, the roots reached the bottom of the
in each. The results are shown in the panel
planters and formed dense masses while also being thicker and fleshier.
opposite and conclusively prove that
fitting Tankers will both save money on
maintenance and improve plant quality.
Proof Positive
A summary of results of trials
conducted at the University of
• Interior trials using Tanker or top watering alone proved that Tanker watered units
required at least 30% less water and still produced a better display.
