SIP thread -- (Sub-Irrigated Planter)

TheTinkerer

TheTinkerer

Active Member
So, in these large 20+ gallon sips made of totes, do you ever clean the reservoir?
I mixed up some super soil, it’s been cooking for two weeks. I’d like to try no till, sub irrigated, but I’m not sure if I should use large fabric pots sitting on trays of perlite, or build a tote sip. I worry about something getting funky in the res and it being impossible to clean. Any comments?
 
meangreengrowinmachine

meangreengrowinmachine

Well-Known Member
TheTinkerer said:
So, in these large 20+ gallon sips made of totes, do you ever clean the reservoir?
I mixed up some super soil, it’s been cooking for two weeks. I’d like to try no till, sub irrigated, but I’m not sure if I should use large fabric pots sitting on trays of perlite, or build a tote sip. I worry about something getting funky in the res and it being impossible to clean. Any comments?
Click to expand...
I am actually going to start ADDING funky stuff to my rez lol EM-1 to be exact. I did just do a clean on and I think it is a good idea to do after each run. Mine are the smaller inntainer version though and it is easier to get the soil portion out of the rez.
 
TheTinkerer

TheTinkerer

Active Member
I like the idea of the roots being able to grow into the water, but in a no till situation with planters at least 15 gallons, I think I’ll feel better avoiding a built in reservoir. My plan A is to use 15 gallon or larger fabric pots filled with super soil, and put those on top of mortar pans filled with perlite and water. If something goes bad with the water pan, I can lift off the fabric pot and deal with it.
I guess I just needed to talk myself out of the net pot into reservoir type planter. I’m chicken.
 
meangreengrowinmachine

meangreengrowinmachine

Well-Known Member
TheTinkerer said:
I like the idea of the roots being able to grow into the water, but in a no till situation with planters at least 15 gallons, I think I’ll feel better avoiding a built in reservoir. My plan A is to use 15 gallon or larger fabric pots filled with super soil, and put those on top of mortar pans filled with perlite and water. If something goes bad with the water pan, I can lift off the fabric pot and deal with it.
I guess I just needed to talk myself out of the net pot into reservoir type planter. I’m chicken.
Click to expand...
lol I just followed the inntainer method that is posted earlier in the thread since it was already something proven to work years ago. No need to re make the wheel imo. and those are built with the wick all the way in the water and they work GREAT for me! But many many ways to do things and you do what works for you! :bigjoint:
 
TheTinkerer

TheTinkerer

Active Member
meangreengrowinmachine said:
lol I just followed the inntainer method that is posted earlier in the thread since it was already something proven to work years ago. No need to re make the wheel imo. and those are built with the wick all the way in the water and they work GREAT for me! But many many ways to do things and you do what works for you! :bigjoint:
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I tried searching the thread for innertainer but I didn’t find any designs. Any suggestions on finding?
 
Jesusgrowsmygrass

Jesusgrowsmygrass

Well-Known Member
ShLUbY said:
RO water, clonex bottle nutrient solution, and ful-power (probably don't even need the ful-power). for my cloner, it's a 5 gal bucket that holds 3 gal of water when loaded full. I run clonex nutrient at 20ml per gallon, and ful-power at 20ml per gal. comes out at perfect pH every time. no water changes for an entire clone run. just make sure the water doesn't get warm from the pump. point a fan at the bucket if you have to.
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I cloned for my very first time with a EZ cloner 120, I went 64 for 64 on getting roots and planted! After doing research I found the miracle for cloning CHEAP!!!

Instead of using CloneX solution in the reservoir, I use pool chlorine (small amount). It is cheap as hell and works awesome. Also make sure your reservoir temperature doesn't get too hot. I ran my pump one minute on 3 off.
 
Jesusgrowsmygrass

Jesusgrowsmygrass

Well-Known Member
I thought I would share some pics of my very first SIPs, they are similar to others but are built from costco 27 gallon totes and have a builtin pvc subframe with a 8" net pot for wicking. The second PVC tube will be for a level indicator.
20190318_205342.jpg 20190319_091927.jpg 20190319_234812.jpg

Also about the wicking process, how long does it take for the soil to wick up the moisture to the top, do I need to EM1 on the first fill up or will the water be sucked up from the res quickly where I don't have to worry about it? EM1 is currently activating and has about a week left. Using the concentrate gets expensive, I figured out I would probably need 24 oz of EM1 (I'm guessing the reservoirs hold about 6 gallons) just to fill the reservoirs the first time.
 
meangreengrowinmachine

meangreengrowinmachine

Well-Known Member
Jesusgrowsmygrass said:
I thought I would share some pics of my very first SIPs, they are similar to others but are built from costco 27 gallon totes and have a builtin pvc subframe with a 8" net pot for wicking. The second PVC tube will be for a level indicator.
View attachment 4303723 View attachment 4303724 View attachment 4303725

Also about the wicking process, how long does it take for the soil to wick up the moisture to the top, do I need to EM1 on the first fill up or will the water be sucked up from the res quickly where I don't have to worry about it? EM1 is currently activating and has about a week left. Using the concentrate gets expensive, I figured out I would probably need 24 oz of EM1 (I'm guessing the reservoirs hold about 6 gallons) just to fill the reservoirs the first time.
Click to expand...
I am not sure on the EM-1 amounts but hmm I better activate mine as well each of my rez's is about 4 gallons. As far as the soil goes the inntainer outline I read says you need to moisten your wick after you add the soil to it and start with nice moist soil as well so the wick starts and then have some kind of cover crop or lid. I am also going to start adding a layer of grokashi to the top under my mulch as well. Nice looking SIPs man! and love the 100% clone... I need to get my cloning tech down ugh lol
 
meangreengrowinmachine

meangreengrowinmachine

Well-Known Member
update on the the Bodhi Bing SIPs! I decided to scrap the 2 late transplants.. it appears their root system never recovered and they are easily being over shadowed by these large (WOW am I hoping these are all ladies lol) I topped them once and will be topping once maybe twice more. Added grokashi under the straw mulch and 4 ounces of EM-1 to each 4 gallon rez and topped them all off. not sure when I will pop them into flower but when I do, I am thinking of still using my 600 watt hps in the middle of the room and a 250 watt 5 CXB 3590 cree fixture on each side. Will someday upgrade to all LEDs. Some flower pics some time soon here. Hope all is well for everyone and welcome all you new folks to the SIP thread!
 

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meangreengrowinmachine

meangreengrowinmachine

Well-Known Member
Jesusgrowsmygrass said:
I thought I would share some pics of my very first SIPs, they are similar to others but are built from costco 27 gallon totes and have a builtin pvc subframe with a 8" net pot for wicking. The second PVC tube will be for a level indicator.
View attachment 4303723 View attachment 4303724 View attachment 4303725

Also about the wicking process, how long does it take for the soil to wick up the moisture to the top, do I need to EM1 on the first fill up or will the water be sucked up from the res quickly where I don't have to worry about it? EM1 is currently activating and has about a week left. Using the concentrate gets expensive, I figured out I would probably need 24 oz of EM1 (I'm guessing the reservoirs hold about 6 gallons) just to fill the reservoirs the first time.
Click to expand...
here is the inntainer instructions if you are interested. Not something that I made up something that has been around for a long time.. the bottom of page 11 talks about how the wick works.
 

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Jesusgrowsmygrass

Jesusgrowsmygrass

Well-Known Member
meangreengrowinmachine said:
here is the inntainer instructions if you are interested. Not something that I made up something that has been around for a long time.. the bottom of page 11 talks about how the wick works.
Click to expand...
Thanks, I missed that the first time and the second and third :wall:, Instructions at bottom for the people like me.

I might have to downsize the wicking pot size from 8" to 6" after reading the instructions but still not sure because my totes are 2x as big.

Or maybe throw some grow stones (I have lots of gs-2 grow stones on hand) on the side of the wicking basket in-between the baskets and burlap (maybe in its own burlap "pouch") to shrink the area of the wicking? I know the grow stones might wick themselves but it could shrink the wicking amount, but also would it be needed?



Instructions I missed...

Step 2. Fill the wicking basket with Grow Media at this time. Pack firmly into the basket until water seeps up into the top of the mix. Make a 1” to -1/2” high “cupcake” mound of the Grow Media above the wicking basket opening and thoroughly wet. This is VERY important to maintain wicking as the Grow Media settles in the wicking basket over time.

Step 3. Continue adding layers of the Grow Media thoroughly saturated with moisture, then stop when the Grow Media is within 4” from the top.
 
meangreengrowinmachine

meangreengrowinmachine

Well-Known Member
Jesusgrowsmygrass said:
Thanks, I missed that the first time and the second and third :wall:, Instructions at bottom for the people like me.

I might have to downsize the wicking pot size from 8" to 6" after reading the instructions but still not sure because my totes are 2x as big.

Or maybe throw some grow stones (I have lots of gs-2 grow stones on hand) on the side of the wicking basket in-between the baskets and burlap (maybe in its own burlap "pouch") to shrink the area of the wicking? I know the grow stones might wick themselves but it could shrink the wicking amount, but also would it be needed?



Instructions I missed...

Step 2. Fill the wicking basket with Grow Media at this time. Pack firmly into the basket until water seeps up into the top of the mix. Make a 1” to -1/2” high “cupcake” mound of the Grow Media above the wicking basket opening and thoroughly wet. This is VERY important to maintain wicking as the Grow Media settles in the wicking basket over time.

Step 3. Continue adding layers of the Grow Media thoroughly saturated with moisture, then stop when the Grow Media is within 4” from the top.
Click to expand...
I think that if your totes are that much larger you should be able to get away with the 8" net pot.
 
Jesusgrowsmygrass

Jesusgrowsmygrass

Well-Known Member
I guess there is one way to find out...

Go big or go home.

There might be something said about the height of the tote too (14" tall, soil line around 9-10") and hydraulic forces at work against the wicking (complete BS knowledge FYI, but a guess).
 
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