Abstract: Method of making a soil support for a plant container having a water reservoir beneath the support. The support is made by providing a fabric of water-absorbent fabric which is carried by support members. To hold the fabric in place, at least one fabric region is deformed and held in deformed state by a support member. In a preferred arrangement at least two spaced regions are deformed so as to stretch and tension the fabric between these regions and the regions are retained in deformed state by the support members and maintain the tension. In practice, support members are made by plastics injection moulding. The injection pressure deforms fabric extending across mould cavities and the plastics hardens to retain the deformed shape.

Abstract: A soil support for a plant container having a water reservoir below the support in which water-absorbent fabric in the support carries water to the soil base from the reservoir. To provide uniform watering to the soil, the fabric is provided with pathways to distribute water as evenly as possible throughout the fabric. These pathways are defined by regions of non-absorbent fabric which channel the water along the absorbent pathways. In a practical construction, interstices in the fabric are blocked, as with injection moulded plastics, to make the non-absorbent regions. Also, a main absorbent pathway, which is separated from the soil, is provided along longitudinal edges of the fabric to encourage water flow along the whole length of fabric before the water is brought into soil contact.