SIP thread -- (Sub-Irrigated Planter)

I am with you, do not let the res run dry, maybe that's why he doesn't have more videos of his sips?, Idid find more and newer videos from him on vimeo, and he was growing in largelarge fabric pots
 
I wonder if there are limitations to the practical distance water can wick? I've been playing around with some designs, and I figured out a way to make a sip pot with a pot sitting on top of a 3.5 or 5 gallon bucket, and the wick extends down to the bottom of the bucket. The advantage is that the bucket can be filled to within an inch of its capacity, which would allow for less frequent watering... if the water can wick that distance.

My intention would be to use these in my outdoor, and dig a hole and drop the bucket in up to the overflow hole to keep the water cool and out of the sun. If it works, it would allow me to go away this summer for at least 3-5 days at a time, I would imagine. So far I have a five gallon pot over a 3.5 gallon bucket, and a 10 gallon pot over a 5 gallon bucket.

Most of the designs I've seen mass produced have low wide reservoirs, but I don't know if that's for practical reasons (like less likely to tip over, and for indoor uses less height restrictions), or if there are physics issues with the distance water will wick?
 
hyroot said:
Have you thought of building a large soil bed sip or using kiddie pools to make sips.

For root growth. Wider is better. Roots grow out sideways more than downwards.
Click to expand...

The kiddie pool idea is interesting, but I'm not ready to work at that scale yet, I still haven't even experienced the success of a small sip. The root directional growth is a good point, a tall narrow res might not work as well with the plants natural tendencies.

I think I might have to just try this and see how it goes. This summer it might not be with cannabis though, looks like I'm already set to grow my limit, might be with veggies.
 
I went ahead and started the ones I discussed before, using cloth pots sitting on top of the res that will allow the res to be fill almost all the way. I suppose this is a long term test, since I won't be ready to drop these into the ground with plants in them for about 6 more weeks... and then the subsequent weeks and months (through harvest) will tell the whole story.

In case its not obvious, the all black one is the 5 gallon pot over a 3 gallon bucket, and the orange HD bucket is the 10 gallon pot over a 5 gallon bucket.

sip_5over3.jpg sip_10over5.jpg
 
I am excited to watch this test,
my earth box is scheduled to arrive tomorrow evening,, kinda excited
 
@hyroot

What is your thoughts on comparing blumats in fabric pots compared too the SIP method? Both seem to be aimed at automating watering via different methods.

Assuming rols and water are the only things being used.
 
here is a couple of pictures of my earthbox sip ,, arrived yesterday , gosh it fits in my grow cab so well, perfect size and height, leaves me all the same grow space i had before, but now using sip ,, sweet
 

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Tim Fox said:
I found another commercially made SIP , they sale them at home depot for only 20 bucks
http://www.homedepot.com/p/CITY-PIC...em-and-Casters-in-Terra-Cotta-2340D/202563845
Click to expand...

Looks very similar the Earthbox, which implies that no one has applied for a patent on these things. Competition is good, $20 seems like a great deal (I'm sure I've spent more than that on parts making mine). According to the HD website, my local store has 18 in stock, next time I'm there I'll have to check them out.
 
Humanrob said:
Looks very similar the Earthbox, which implies that no one has applied for a patent on these things. Competition is good, $20 seems like a great deal (I'm sure I've spent more than that on parts making mine). According to the HD website, my local store has 18 in stock, next time I'm there I'll have to check them out.
Click to expand...
let me know what you find out when you see them at home depot, gosh for 20 bucks I may plant more vegies in the back yard,
 
One nice thing about this design is that it looks like you can see into the res so that you can know when its full without actually having water run out -- nice when its indoors. I went with a system using a tube to show res water height.

fill_level_indicator.jpg
 
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