I love this thread and bodhi's seeds!
A few people asked, so here's how I built these Sub Irrigated Planters (SIPs):
The inspiration came from
@Humanrob and
@SomeGuy and
@hyroot from the Sub-Irrigated Planter (SIP) thread.
Here's what I got in 'em:
4" perforated drain pipe
4" drain pipe end plug that fits on the end of the drain pipe pieces
3.5" hole saw
18gal rubbermaid roughneck container and lid
2' lengths of 2" dia sch40 PVC pipe
2-1/2" hole saw
7gal root pouch cloth pot with handles (did 5gal last time, and it was fine but 7gal is better)
Drill your two holes through the lid. Go slow and steady or else you'll make a mess.
Expand/stretch out your 4" perforated drain pipe, and cut it about 2 nodes above the edge of the container with the lid on.
Use scissors to make a cuts down those first 2 nodes around one interior end of your drain pipe, and dimple the other end for your cap. That cap will go on one end (don't leave big gaps between it and the pipe) and the other crinkle-cut end will fit up through the lid of the rez.
Make sure to clean anything that's new or used. Spray them with tapwater and rub down with a clean cloth, then rinse a bunch.
Let 'em dry out fully. Here in the desert, it doesn't take long upright - maybe two hours with the breeze and sun.
Take your 7gal pots, poke a hole in them right in the middle of the pot, and use it and scissors to cut a small 3" + through which you'll fit the crinkle-cut end of the drain pipe. Don't make the + too big.
Put that end of the drain pipe through the bottom of the bag. It should be a very snug fit, pushing the ribbed flaps below the bag, and making sure it's the pipe fits snugly in the hole, nodes deep . What guy doesn't like a tight fit? Your ladies do, too.
Stick the assembly into the rez, and clamp the lids down. Be easy, as the ribbed pipe can bend if forced. You want it straight down, so the end is resting comfortably against the bottom. Fill this pipe with coco to a mound at the top. Don't move it too much and prematurely spill your coco into the rez - fill gently and take your time - it's worth doing right the first time.
The last thing is to transplant your ladies, add water to within about 1-2" of the bottom of the lid (about 13-15 gal of water) and then add a plastic cover on the top around the stem to make the pot wick. It's critical to transplant, add water to nearly the top of the rez, then add a little water to wet the soil in the cloth pots, and add the evaporation barrier at the top of the pots.
You can add an airstone down the fill pipes, but it's not required unless your room stays above 73F. I've read it adds explosive growth when used, so I'll be trying it out this time. Here are a few that took 30min to clean, cut and assemble this morning
