SIP thread -- (Sub-Irrigated Planter)

Chunky Stool

Well-Known Member
My SIPs had a definite funky smell after last run even with running EM in there. This time around I'm trying to decide at what strength that EM should be for my rez which if filled all the way was several gallons iirc - but I normally just refresh with 2 gallons at a time here & there when I remember to check with my dipstick. Last time I topped off with 2 gal I used a full cup of activated EM but wasn't sure really how strong that would be given the bottom feed/wicking nature and the goal being both plant health/benefits and knocking down any funky odors.
I'm no SIP expert -- but I stayed at a Holiday Inn once!
(I kill me :eyesmoke:)

But seriously folks... I've had lots of experience with root rot and GFF always helps.
1576791082106.png
Use 1 tsp /gal as a preventative or 2 tsp if you've got problems.
It will help.
 

Greenthumbs256

Well-Known Member
I'm no SIP expert -- but I stayed at a Holiday Inn once!
(I kill me :eyesmoke:)

But seriously folks... I've had lots of experience with root rot and GFF always helps.
View attachment 4439741
Use 1 tsp /gal as a preventative or 2 tsp if you've got problems.
It will help.
Since my very first sip I've never had a single problem with this, I honestly cant tell you why, but never once have I had any issue
 

NewGrower2011

Well-Known Member
That's good to know on the acidifying part, didn't realize that. I did go moderately heavy on my osf this time so hopefully that helps. Next go I might do a tiny bit of gypsum and dolo to refresh things - just need to figure out the balance between the 2 as I've heard of varying ratios. That and get a soil test after this run so I know what I'm working with and what's actually needed. For me I wiped out my N last time completely so this time I'm curious what will be left in the gas tank as I did use neem, karanja, insect frass and alfalfa/feather meal. A good mixture of goodies for N sources.
 

meangreengrowinmachine

Well-Known Member
Since there has been some talk on here about boards I was wondering if anyone has experience ordering from LED depot. I was looking at the HLG600 but they are currently out of stock looks like they are taking pre orders for them for first week in Jan. safe to pre order or should I just order something from Kingbrite (never done any business on Alibaba so skeptical) and hope for the best?? @Tim Fox @Greenthumbs256
 

Tim Fox

Well-Known Member
Since there has been some talk on here about boards I was wondering if anyone has experience ordering from LED depot. I was looking at the HLG600 but they are currently out of stock looks like they are taking pre orders for them for first week in Jan. safe to pre order or should I just order something from Kingbrite (never done any business on Alibaba so skeptical) and hope for the best?? @Tim Fox @Greenthumbs256
Have you looked at the spider Farmer quantum board s they really interest me they use the better Samsung's, and ad ir?
 

Greenthumbs256

Well-Known Member
Since there has been some talk on here about boards I was wondering if anyone has experience ordering from LED depot. I was looking at the HLG600 but they are currently out of stock looks like they are taking pre orders for them for first week in Jan. safe to pre order or should I just order something from Kingbrite (never done any business on Alibaba so skeptical) and hope for the best?? @Tim Fox @Greenthumbs256
I reccomend kingbrite 100%
 

Tim Fox

Well-Known Member
Since there has been some talk on here about boards I was wondering if anyone has experience ordering from LED depot. I was looking at the HLG600 but they are currently out of stock looks like they are taking pre orders for them for first week in Jan. safe to pre order or should I just order something from Kingbrite (never done any business on Alibaba so skeptical) and hope for the best?? @Tim Fox @Greenthumbs256
Weren't you using cobs ?
 

meangreengrowinmachine

Well-Known Member
Weren't you using cobs ?
yeah I have 10 cxb 3590s but seems like it is getting very hard to find those state side ( again I have thought about doing this also via alibaba and king brite). I was going to transition the 10 cobs (and more if needed) into a veg only area.. use my old giant vented hood and 600 watt hps (for now ) for my moms and then use the hlg 600 for a 5x5 ish flower area.. atm I have some bodhi regs (as well as some CDB strains for the wife) just getting up there so I will be waiting picking some moms from them and move them to SIPs.
 

Chunky Stool

Well-Known Member
I do use that same GFF but being a fungicide I didn't know if it'd impede the good stuff we want. But in the past I do use it here & there preventatively for gnat control primarily. Definitely way better than the watered down variants.
I grow hundreds of annuals for my wife & friends/co-workers. Some plants grow faster than others but I treat them all the same.
In other words, some of them will end up overwatered -- it's inevitable.

Before I started using GFF as a preventative, I lost ~15% to root rot.
Now I lose about 5%, but I think those plants just suck and needed to be culled.

I ain't got time for shitty plants... :finger:

BTW I've heard that cannabis thrives in a mostly bacterial soil, but you've still got to have fungi to break down bone, so IDK for sure.
Works for me... :eyesmoke:
 

NewGrower2011

Well-Known Member
So a few weeks into flower and wanting to give the gals a little 'love potion' but finding it hard to get access to do any top-dressing as I have trashbags draped over/interwoven to make my 'rain cap' and with water in the rez they're a bit of a burden to move around (never made my dolly's - doh!).

What could I do by adding to the rez itself? Last time I topped off I added some calmag and fulvic since I was pretty confident those would wick up into the beds and the plants would benefit. Now I'm wondering of the other goodies I have on hand which would work via wicking and which must be watered in/top dressed. I.e. I have some NFTG goodies like Athena's Amina's and their sucrose/dextrose deals. That and some PhotoSynthesis+ I could add a dash of.

What are the do's & do not's for adding to the rez beyond plain RO water. Specifically looking for those 'oh crap don't do that' type of deals - i.e. anything that would make the rez turn nasty/stinky. I do still add some activated EM when I top off so that should help on some fronts.

Otherwise I need to fight moving them around and getting to where I can top-dress; The plants that were the way over-vegged clones don't have much vertical height at all between the covers and the bottom of their canopy so I have to be very cautious about getting anything on the plants and then being able to get those trashbags/raincap back in place.

Thoughts?
 

meangreengrowinmachine

Well-Known Member
So I bit the bullet and ordered a rapid led cxb 3590 cob kit for a 5x5 12 cobs mmmm this thing should do some great work! Will then be using my current 2 bars (5 cobs of the same variety each) for vegging. Then maybe will use my 600 watt hps for moms until I can finally replace that with all leds as well. Pics are just little veggies that need to be sexed still but will get some in soon! Happy SIPing folks!
 

Imbald

Well-Known Member
So a few weeks into flower and wanting to give the gals a little 'love potion' but finding it hard to get access to do any top-dressing as I have trashbags draped over/interwoven to make my 'rain cap' and with water in the rez they're a bit of a burden to move around (never made my dolly's - doh!).

What could I do by adding to the rez itself? Last time I topped off I added some calmag and fulvic since I was pretty confident those would wick up into the beds and the plants would benefit. Now I'm wondering of the other goodies I have on hand which would work via wicking and which must be watered in/top dressed. I.e. I have some NFTG goodies like Athena's Amina's and their sucrose/dextrose deals. That and some PhotoSynthesis+ I could add a dash of.

What are the do's & do not's for adding to the rez beyond plain RO water. Specifically looking for those 'oh crap don't do that' type of deals - i.e. anything that would make the rez turn nasty/stinky. I do still add some activated EM when I top off so that should help on some fronts.

Otherwise I need to fight moving them around and getting to where I can top-dress; The plants that were the way over-vegged clones don't have much vertical height at all between the covers and the bottom of their canopy so I have to be very cautious about getting anything on the plants and then being able to get those trashbags/raincap back in place.

Thoughts?
That's a very good question that I've been curious about myself.
So much so that I recently emailed Build-a-soil the question.



"I have a question hopefully you can help me with.
I am growing with sub irrigated planters. (Sips) and was considering adding Thrive.N - Organic Amino Acid to my reservoir. Would it cause problems with my reservoir or does it need to be added to the top of the soil?
Thanks, *****"

"Good morning *****,
Zach B. here with B.A.S. You do not want to add anything to your reservoir, aside from EM-1 or EM-5. To utilize feed products like that, or even aerated compost teas, you will need to water from the top, and/or foliar feed. Adding things to the reservoir will cause undesirable anaerobic conditions with those inputs.

Thank you for contacting us and choosing BuildASoil. Please don't hesitate to reply to this email, or give us a call at 855-877-764 if we can be of any further assistance. Happy Holidays to you and yours!!"
 
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