Updated: Monday, March 16, 2015 I keep seeing growers having trouble with Sub irrigated planters (SIP). While noob's thread linked below is VERY informative and without a doubt defines Keeping It Simple, sometimes we just have to do more. Whatever your reasoning may be, I have found these to be a great way of allowing our plants to have more control within our indoor gardens. As such, I figure this post could help some find ways of utilizing this method in more of your own way or with what you may have on hand. For the informational portion of SIP's and how to really keep it simple... http://forum.grasscity.com/organic-growing/1151159-noobwannbs-self-wicking-smartpot-ghetto-setup.html Google "capillary action" for more as to how and why (update with some literature maybe?) I understand there are pictures in noob's thread but thought maybe a post more geared to pictures alone would make it easier. Especially since, like I stated, people seem to be having problems anyway. If this post could use more or less by all means do say so. I am a doer. Not a teacher. Here's my latest. Though minimally cared for to be honest but that's the point for some. http://imgur.com/kuptBWs Just a normal nylon bag that you can get at the grocery store. Nothing special. I'm counting on you other innovators for the good ones.
Here's some shots of the old trays I made from 2x6's and panda paper. Worked very well until spring/summer rolled around and humidity shot up.
Very nice Gimik! Just discovered thomasjefferson's tent floor. lol. Came at a good time for me. Both of you guys have what I've been trying to piece together in my head. Glad I did this now. These two below are good for single 6" containers. Add perlite short approximately 1/4" incase you over water. Again, nothing special. Cheap, readily available tends to be my theme, I try to keep things classy though. http://imgur.com/a27Curx I'm going to step out now because I know eventually (already really) I'll be engulfed with astounishing Ooo's and Ahhh's. And shame
I've gone through a couple of iterations, but here is what I'm doing now. Most of my plants are either in a 5 gal. smart pot within a 7 gal with perlite in the bottom, which then sits in a tray, or they are in 7gal pots sitting in a tray with perlite. Those are cat litter pans and one of my wife's under-bed storage boxes. It has wheels and can hold three 7 gal. smart pots. I actually prefer the 5-in-7 arrangement since I can pick up the 7 and have no perlite falling everywhere. But then too, having 7 gallons of soil vs 5 is pretty nice too.
I've gone through a couple if versions myself to finally settling on my original design with a 35 gallon geoplanter and 2 net cups filled with hydrotron that elevate and and supply the wick to the planter. The advantage is I can get into the res with my hand and scoop out any left over roots after harvest. The pots are run no-till with comfrey/ewc mulch somewhere along their run. I do use SST's (coconut/barley) bi-weekly. I let the pots loose moisture a few days before application. I feel the bottom of the pots to gauge. Wet=wait to apply. Damp is good to go. I split a 5 gallon bucket of SST between 2-4 planters depending on whats going on. Here is a TOxNL5H after a cloning and going straight into the planter for 60 days of LST then rolled into flower at 1' above soil.
I found some of my pictures from a couple years ago. These were the best ones I've ever ran to this day. Self-explaintory. View attachment 1130176 View attachment 1130181 and this one...same coffee cans from a previous post of mine; same page. View attachment 1155347 View attachment 1199307 View attachment 1209653 View attachment 1210230
No doubt I was lazy about the light. I really couldn't do ANY damage to this home, even if I were to repair it and it be unknown/unoticable. Definetly wasn't worth it. But it was definetly laziness Those last three pictures I posted have an amazing story behind it. I'm going to keep from clogging this post too much though. Working on a journal shortly. I'll get it in there some time because it's worth it IMO. Your all about some peppers aren't you?
Man just saw your invite. Little late to the party but here are a few pics of my latest SIP tray... like G' said, I have been having troubles with high RH at lights-off, so I haven't been able to use it much, unfortunately. I'll add a gallon or two of water directly under the plants, but not filling it completely like is described in noobwannaB's thread It is 11/32" osb, a couple 2x3's, 14.5 mil pond liner, and perlite + lava rock. Custom fit for my 4'x4' SJ tent. I need to re-work my ventilation and I think I will be able to actually use it the way it was meant to be used lol.
I use little white dishwashing pans from the big box store for my 5 gallon smarties. These things kick ass. Don't think I will ever retire them lol. I use a mxture of lava rock, perlite and dyna-gro dyna rok in these... This is a mom plant overgrowing my veg space lol. SIP + good soil = healthy moms
I've got 5# smarties in these: http://www.homedepot.com/p/Plasgad-Black-Medium-Concrete-Mixing-Tub-887101C/205451550?MERCH=RECPIPHorizontal1_rr205451585205451550N Big enough for 2 five gallon smarties, or one much bigger, 10? 20? only time will tell... Lava rock and perlite are my wicking materials
Walmart has underbed storage bins that's perfect for these sips. The sizes vary but one I found was damn near the same size as my floor on my tent. ðŸ‘👠hell yeah I will be gettin these
I would have to agree with you.. I have seen a few on the bottom of my smarties but nothing dramatic. Now they are popping out everywhere like mad. It's awesome to see how great this method really works!
Here's my sip..er. it's a 35x17x7 understorage bin from walmart. I draped weed block fabric over the bin and my smarties to help block the light from contact and to help smart pot self mulch by blocking light and exposure to the top surface of my soil. Less gnats I've noticed and no need to get a top layer of mulch onto your soil.
Great thread! I've been experimenting with these also. I'm doing great with 5 gal smarties, but struggling with 15s. It's nice to see everyone's ideas! Thanks igrowlikeme!
Finally I found this thread lol. I have been experimenting as well and one plant is exploding and the other one is at a stale mate. I bought pond liner and was planning on doing my whole flower room and veg room as a big bed of perlite. Both rooms are about 4x7, I want to have at least 8 plants in the flower room all on the same SIP. Do you guys see any issues with this? Also how do you keep your heavy plants from sinking into the Perlite lol
The only issue I could see is humidity, but with good exhaust, that should be kept in-check. I've got my SIP filled mostly with lava rock with about 2-3" of perlite on top of that, the pots sink down but maybe only 1/2".
I use all sizes from 3gal, 5gal, 7gal and 10 gal smarties so far seen no sinking other than about 1/2" or less and I use a understorage bed containers filled with all perlite