SIP thread -- (Sub-Irrigated Planter)

meangreengrowinmachine

Well-Known Member
Hello all this is my first time recycling ffof soil so far since last grow I've given them 444 about a cup and a half with the last top dressing being about 3 weeks ago now other than that I haven't given them anything else aside from two waterings with some tm7 im in a 15 gal sip pot and have done some lst
So I'm not sure if my pots are over wicking or deficient or toxic in some form and help is much appreciated. I'm thinking its maybe a magnesium deficiency or potassium toxicity but not sure. Plant seems to wilt top looks a bit yellow and sickly I get the rusty vanes and then the leaves begin to yellow from top to base and curl but dont seem to drop off right away

Feb 16View attachment 4483136View attachment 4483137View attachment 4483138
Feb 19View attachment 4483144View attachment 4483139View attachment 4483142View attachment 4483143View attachment 4483145
Did you get this under control or try maybe the plant problem area? What lighting are you using? Since I have switched to LEDs I cannot get my soil to ever contain enough useable calcium and magnesium and I always supplement the rez water.
 

Brandon137

Well-Known Member
Did you get this under control or try maybe the plant problem area? What lighting are you using? Since I have switched to LEDs I cannot get my soil to ever contain enough useable calcium and magnesium and I always supplement the rez water.
No not yet I've tried adding calmag to rez with no noticeable change so I've cut all cover crop in hopes that it may be over wicking. I'm running a 315w cmh my other plant looks fine it is in about 20g of soil and it seems a bit dryer so I'm hoping it's just over watering issue I'll ride it out and see what happens. This is also my first grow in sip pots I'm still quite new to growing so maybe I just bit of a bit more than I can chew lol
 

raggyb

Well-Known Member
No not yet I've tried adding calmag to rez with no noticeable change so I've cut all cover crop in hopes that it may be over wicking. I'm running a 315w cmh my other plant looks fine it is in about 20g of soil and it seems a bit dryer so I'm hoping it's just over watering issue I'll ride it out and see what happens. This is also my first grow in sip pots I'm still quite new to growing so maybe I just bit of a bit more than I can chew lol
Keep with it because these SIPs seem pretty easy. It does look like it could be overwatering to me but I havent myself experienced that becuase things are wet as shit in these but they don't seem to mind but I havent been doing this that long. How big is your wick? It looks store bought so again i don't think it would be the wrong size. also wondering are your additives organic?
 

greg nr

Well-Known Member
Keep with it because these SIPs seem pretty easy. It does look like it could be overwatering to me but I havent myself experienced that becuase things are wet as shit in these but they don't seem to mind but I havent been doing this that long. How big is your wick? It looks store bought so again i don't think it would be the wrong size. also wondering are your additives organic?
Wet as shit?

Hasn't been my experience. The soil is moist, but not soaked or wet.

I've never had any root issues due to too wet soil.
 

raggyb

Well-Known Member
Wet as shit?

Hasn't been my experience. The soil is moist, but not soaked or wet.

I've never had any root issues due to too wet soil.
Wet by my standards. Never dries out thats for sure. Mine uses a fabric pot on top and the fab pot does breath which may help with a bigger wick. The outside of the fab pot feels quite moist but not necc all the way to the top. been bubbling the water. The plant grows well.
 

Brandon137

Well-Known Member
I believe it was a root rot or some type of root issue as the plant came up from the soil with very little pull this is the wick it's a yogurt container that I drilled 1/8" holes into it's about 4 or 5 inches tall and I left a 1" air gap I believe the rez holds about 4 gallons of water if I remember correctly I set them up about a month ago and havent even topped them up since 20200118_073910.jpg20200118_074211.jpg
Here's her sister in recycled soil as well treated about the same 20200223_070511.jpg
 

raggyb

Well-Known Member
I believe it was a root rot or some type of root issue as the plant came up from the soil with very little pull this is the wick it's a yogurt container that I drilled 1/8" holes into it's about 4 or 5 inches tall and I left a 1" air gap I believe the rez holds about 4 gallons of water if I remember correctly I set them up about a month ago and havent even topped them up since View attachment 4486790View attachment 4486791
Here's her sister in recycled soil as well treated about the same View attachment 4486793
I'm a little confused what's going on, like where is your res? But the cup with only one little hole is not right. I mean it seems like it could work but it's not according to the instructions. You should drill about 200 little holes like that all around the cup. Or better yet get net pots like this for whatever diameter - https://www.amazon.com/inch-Pots-Super-Heavy-Design/dp/B073WJ78MM?SubscriptionId=AKIAILSHYYTFIVPWUY6Q&tag=duckduckgo-d-20&linkCode=xm2&camp=2025&creative=165953&creativeASIN=B073WJ78MM

Not sure why it matters but it seems like it lets more air into the wick.
 

meangreengrowinmachine

Well-Known Member
I'm a little confused what's going on, like where is your res? But the cup with only one little hole is not right. I mean it seems like it could work but it's not according to the instructions. You should drill about 200 little holes like that all around the cup. Or better yet get net pots like this for whatever diameter - https://www.amazon.com/inch-Pots-Super-Heavy-Design/dp/B073WJ78MM?SubscriptionId=AKIAILSHYYTFIVPWUY6Q&tag=duckduckgo-d-20&linkCode=xm2&camp=2025&creative=165953&creativeASIN=B073WJ78MM

Not sure why it matters but it seems like it lets more air into the wick.
More air and more water. I very much second this. I think that might work for a while but I have doubts about long term wicking capabilities.
 

Brandon137

Well-Known Member
How often have u been watering the 20 gal sip? Have u been foliage spraying too?
Yes I was spraying just once and a while
More air and more water. I very much second this. I think that might work for a while but I have doubts about long term wicking capabilities.
The wick has tons of holes it's a bin nested in another the 4 containers at corners are just to support the other bin and keep the wick off the floor of the rez a bit sorry for the confusion I fill the rez from the gap between the two bins. Are you guys saying I should drill bigger holes in my wick ? I think the soil was to moist even at the top it was some what moist without cover crop also should point out plant was quite small when I planted it into the bin about 3 sets of leaves
 

meangreengrowinmachine

Well-Known Member
Yes I was spraying just once and a while
The wick has tons of holes it's a bin nested in another the 4 containers at corners are just to support the other bin and keep the wick off the floor of the rez a bit sorry for the confusion I fill the rez from the gap between the two bins. Are you guys saying I should drill bigger holes in my wick ? I think the soil was to moist even at the top it was some what moist without cover crop also should point out plant was quite small when I planted it into the bin about 3 sets of leaves
Ah ok from the pic it kinda looked like you had just the one little whole in each of the cups.
 

Brandon137

Well-Known Member
Ah ok from the pic it kinda looked like you had just the one little whole in each of the cups.
Yes I can see the confusion now lol I'm going to try and reset it up tonight with a bit more soil in it about 20g like the other bin that seems to be doing just fine how wet should the soil be at surface and let's say about 1-2" deep I feel like with the cover crop I probably could have squeezed out some droplets at about 1-2" deep which I feel is to much?
 

greg nr

Well-Known Member
Aaaah sips... ya gotta love em needless to say I have been a bit busy and have not looked after these as I should have... any other growing way these would probably be dead.... but with SIPs rbey are thriving! View attachment 4487910
Yeah, I can, and do, leave mine all alone for a week at a time and they are fine without me. Probably happier without all the attention. ;)
 

meangreengrowinmachine

Well-Known Member
Yes I can see the confusion now lol I'm going to try and reset it up tonight with a bit more soil in it about 20g like the other bin that seems to be doing just fine how wet should the soil be at surface and let's say about 1-2" deep I feel like with the cover crop I probably could have squeezed out some droplets at about 1-2" deep which I feel is to much?
That does seem a little too wet to me... I only have 1 net pot as a wick in all my SIPs it is a 5 inch net pot. If you have FOUR large yogurt containers all mostly drilled out that seems like it might be much more of a wick then a 5 inch net pot. Keep in mind though that I used a five inch net pot on my 18 gallon and my 5 gallon sips and both seem fine so... maybe i am off base...sorry if I am not a lot of help i just followed the basic pdf posted on here long ago for mine.
 

Brandon137

Well-Known Member
That does seem a little too wet to me... I only have 1 net pot as a wick in all my SIPs it is a 5 inch net pot. If you have FOUR large yogurt containers all mostly drilled out that seems like it might be much more of a wick then a 5 inch net pot. Keep in mind though that I used a five inch net pot on my 18 gallon and my 5 gallon sips and both seem fine so... maybe i am off base...sorry if I am not a lot of help i just followed the basic pdf posted on here long ago for mine.
Ok sounds good I'll set it up again make some tweaks and go from there and no apologies necessary after reading this hole thread I've learned a lot from you and manny others just wish I read the hole thing before building it lol the horse before the carriage I guess lol
 

meangreengrowinmachine

Well-Known Member
Ok sounds good I'll set it up again make some tweaks and go from there and no apologies necessary after reading this hole thread I've learned a lot from you and manny others just wish I read the hole thing before building it lol the horse before the carriage I guess lol
That is awesome to know that I have helped someone in here! I have lurked and learned so much from the site and this thread in particular its great to know I can give something back to the community!
 

MustangStudFarm

Well-Known Member
Aaaah sips... ya gotta love em needless to say I have been a bit busy and have not looked after these as I should have... any other growing way these would probably be dead.... but with SIPs rbey are thriving! View attachment 4487910
Yeah, that was a nice recovery lol! I was going to say that you might have too much sodium from the kelp(previous pic), but they look just fine now!!!
 

MustangStudFarm

Well-Known Member
@meangreengrowinmachine I'd also evaluate the NFTG soil offerings - looks pretty promising and the standards they (claim) to self-impose on how they make both their soil and coco seems to be promising. Their #4 soil is something I've bought and examined and looks pretty good to me.

I'd consider a variant of both A & B -- buy some #4 for the goodies it brings to the mix and as a 'refresher' -- then amend lightly to get things to a modest 'super soil' level and let it cook.

I'd definitely do a soil test if playing around with re-amending so you aren't flying blind. A 'before' test will tell you what you need to be adding and if you can afford to I'd do a before/after to make sure it's not too hot afterwards.
I ended up buying a 4-pack of Soil Savvy kits for $100 even. Not a huge savings but it also helps that I don't have to wait for shipping because they are on hand. Man, the turnaround time for the soil tests are getting longer. I used to be able to send in a test and have results 7 days after mailing it, but not anymore. I just had some HappyFrog tested straight from the bag, just to see what I'm dealing with but it's been over a week since I mailed it.
 
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