SIP thread -- (Sub-Irrigated Planter)
- Thread starter Humanrob
- Start date
CollieWeed
Member
Hi guys, so, I have setup my SWC but I don't think it's wicking?
It been 5 days since I filled the bottom of the bucket, but it's still full has not moved, I'm using Growstone as a wicking agent, and have about 25 to 30% Growstone in my soil mix.
I know the the stones work, I used them in my last grow in a tote with pots on top of stones. Seedling looking under watered!
It been 5 days since I filled the bottom of the bucket, but it's still full has not moved, I'm using Growstone as a wicking agent, and have about 25 to 30% Growstone in my soil mix.
I know the the stones work, I used them in my last grow in a tote with pots on top of stones. Seedling looking under watered!
ttystikk
Well-Known Member
Grow stones won't wick any more than hydroton will.
It needs to be a wettable soil or soilless material.
Any pics/info of your tote setup?
CollieWeed
Member
Thanks, @ttystikk, I got this email today after 4 days of waiting for a response from them. Please let me know if this is BS, or I'm just using it wrong. Thanks,
Do Growstones allow for capillary water rise (wicking capacity)?
Yes. Growstones wick up water up to 13 to 15 cm above the water level. Since capillary rise is driven by pore size and structure, the pore size inside each aggregate and between each aggregate, determines how high water can rise in Growstones. The smaller the aggregate (stone) size, the smaller the inter-aggregate pore space and the higher the capillary rise.
greg nr
Well-Known Member
So are you believing an email or your own lying eyes?
ttystikk
Well-Known Member
Having built my own SIPS, worked with grow stones and with other substrates, I think they're full of shit.
I'm having excellent results with Tupur, but that's a coco based mix that does an excellent job of wicking moisture.
CollieWeed
Member
Thanks, @ttystikk, what you suggest I do? I have the stones at the bottom of bucket in a cup, would need to remove dirt to get to the stones. And my plant is already 6 days old
ttystikk
Well-Known Member
If you want it to work, it has to be the right configuration. Your call, but I'd yank the thing out and make it right, quick before the plant suffers any further.
CollieWeed
Member
Thank you very much sir! for your quick reply!
That's exactly what Imy gonna do, one more question?
Can I just use my organic soil mix as a wick? Or was planning on coco coir?
ttystikk
Well-Known Member
You could mix the two and I'm pretty sure that would work very well.
Lucky Luke
Well-Known Member
ttystikk
Well-Known Member
Recirculating Deep Water Culture.
Plants grow in water with little or no substrate. The root ball is always underwater.
The water itself is circulated among the sites where the plants grow and a container that pumps and chills it. In this way the nutrient water is cooled, agitated, oxygenated and moved past the rootball, providing the plants with everything they need at all times, thus encouraging explosive growth and heavy yields.
Skylander
Well-Known Member
Skylander
Well-Known Member
I followed a YouTubers design and beefed it up a bit.
I'm just using a basic design I found on YouTube. I cut the lid around the edges inside the tote and drilled holes in the lid to include a hole big enough for a 1 gallon pot in the center. Note when you do that it leaves a plastic piece that you will use later to secure your plastic cover or in my case a black plastic bag. I used 1 gallon pots for my spacers. You will need 5 per tote to include the one you will use as a soil wick. I put a 1 gallon pot in each corner of the tote. I placed the lid on top on the pots and lined inside of the bucket with landscape fabric (my preference). Prevents soil from dropping into the res if you have big gaps after all the cutting. I drilled a 3/4 hole at the end of one side the tote and a small over flow hole right above it 2 inches below my soil line. To find your soil line just use a 1 gallon pot/spacer as a guide. I used a rubber insert and L fitting from a ebb and flow system I have. I attached a small piece of clear tubing long enough to reach your soil line. I took a permanent marker and drew a line at drain hole level.. I didnt like the design with the big fill pipe coming out of soil. You ever get a gnat problem you with never win with that design. Thats it. Fill with soil and top off your reservoir and you're good!
Last edited:
meangreengrowinmachine
Well-Known Member
what up SIP heads long time... any of ya still active and at it? just about to soak a few beans for 24 hours and get my green thumbs back in the game! How are everyones grows going??
Humanrob
Well-Known Member
I'm setting up for what I hope will be the first of two winter runs. I'm going to be crowding my tents a bit on the first one, popped too many seeds, so I won't have room for SIPs this run. Also, I'm not sure how I'd do SIPs with plants that are not sex'd, that seems to be a wrench in the machine for me. Still hoping to do a SIP/non-SIP comparison run next round using some clones.
meangreengrowinmachine
Well-Known Member
i dont think i will ever NOT do SIP's they are just so low maintenance. I never did pre sexing anyway so i would be taking the same risk but i used fem seeds or clones. I mean if you are already planning on using too much room.. mid as well crowd with sips and cull the males after flip and then fill in the rest with training. Also I have been trying to catch up and have had my first harvest with SIPs.. i agree on the little branched ... i bet this could be solved with some hard core pruning... I just have a hard time pruning my plants.. just kinda let them do their thing and use the popcorn for hash or whatever all smokes the same after the grinder (-;
meangreengrowinmachine
Well-Known Member
this is the best design i have found