you have lechuza pots in germany : they are self-watering. they use a bottom layer of fired clay that roots grow thru (the top layer is soiless mix). you can also grow in pure lechuza pon (that's clay pellets). there was a guy i followed with astounding pics of Aroids in lechuza pots.
you can read up about them, the principals that they used.
here's his flickr aroids album:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/...
so i adopted this idea: i mix my own light jungle mix and wrap the inside of the pot with coir matting to allow for extra air (very easy to pop-out to check how the roots are doing, no mess at all) and i add a braided rope with acrylic core on the outside of coir circling the bottom of the pot and rising up to the top. the rope wicks the water solution to the mix. it's passive hydro set-up but roots are anchored in the soiless mix.
