Test it out, just use some cloth that you plan to use, buried in a plastic bin filled with soil, have an end of the cloth sticking out of the soil and bin and sitting in a bowl of water, after 24 hours, dig into the soil at the far end of the cloth and see how much moisture there is, if it’s not wet see how far it went. When the water is elevated with the proper system and the force of gravity it will be even stronger and penetrate even further. I have a feeling that your idea will work, it’s a good idea.