I use those too for small pots and fine acrylic yarn. usually I wrap several times around sharp top of skewer and then insert it all the way thru the soil from bottom holes. Then I unwrap the tip and hold it, while I pull the skewer out.
It's fail proof: otherwise if you don't see the wick on top it might be somewhere stuck low. You can always pull it down if it is too high.
For thick rope I scotch tape it to the top of chopstick and push it thru , then cut the tape …it works when u insert into the middle or side of mix or just on the side of the pot .
So why are you not successful?
Why wouldn't It wick? It fails to wick or it wicks too much?
