SIP thread -- (Sub-Irrigated Planter)

ilovereggae

Well-Known Member
If you want to run much EM1 in your reservoir, double up on the dolomite lime. It will cause your soil to run on the low side on PH. EM1 has a very low ph value. Lime will help raise it back up closer to 6.5.
Been there, done that.
thank you.

I think im going to try to skip the EM1 and airstones at first after the initial feedback. I feel like with the Jr it wont be as much of an issue anyway since I will be topping off more frequently.

im planning on re-running some BAS LOS light mix that i ammended with some DTE Vegan mix and worm castings. A month before I start I will probably add a dose of recharge to the tote the soil is in and let it get going again. Hopefully I wont need to add lime as my ph was pretty perfect last I checked it.

Im actually not in a rush atm, taking time to rebuild and dial my space in first so all of this is just prep.
 

bbggkk1177

Well-Known Member
Yes I Did. There isn’t much soil being used as a wick but I’m not sure. Should I dig out a handful of soil and check the moisture? When I stick my hand in it feels airy and moist, really doesn’t feel too wet at all. What rh do you guys like in veg? I was using a vpd chart but the humidity just seemed high so i adjusted a bit to see what happens. I am at 75f and 60rh right now.
 
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meangreengrowinmachine

Well-Known Member
Some pics of some males I did not pre sex very well I guess lol also got 100 gallons of soil cooking! My goal is to have 200 gallons in rotation between flowering plants vegging plants and soil re amended and cooking for next run. I think I have a good system going looking at these roots!
 

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bbggkk1177

Well-Known Member
I sucked 5 gallons out of the reservoir today (basically full) so i am hoping i find out if it was getting too much water soon. When I felt the soil it felt moist but it absolutely did not feel overwatered. It'll be funny if it was actually underwatered, but I just seriously can't imagine thats the case either.
 

meangreengrowinmachine

Well-Known Member
Yes I Did. There isn’t much soil being used as a wick but I’m not sure. Should I dig out a handful of soil and check the moisture? When I stick my hand in it feels airy and moist, really doesn’t feel too wet at all. What rh do you guys like in veg? I was using a vpd chart but the humidity just seemed high so i adjusted a bit to see what happens. I am at 75f and 60rh right now.
I use only pure pete moss in all my wicks and also have a packed mound of Pete moss over the top of the wick before I put soil in, and well you see the results above :-) I hope all works out for you man!
 

GrownAtHighAltitude

Well-Known Member
I use just straight soil in the wicking corners and don't fuss with it too much. I actually grew another crop in all 4 Earthboxes a few months ago, harvested everything, and then promptly let the boxes full of soil and water freeze hard in the garage for a month or two.

I just added water to the top and bottom, dug out the old root balls, ammended the top of the soil a little bit, then popped in my new plants.

Everything fine. :-)

My soil is a coco base with perlite, compost, etc. Normal stuff.
 

bbggkk1177

Well-Known Member
Just so I can learn once I actually resolve the problem I went and scooped out some soil to look and feel it. Granted it's from the top half of the container but if this is over watered then I don't know anything.

PXL_20210108_153720646.jpgPXL_20210108_153646980.jpgPXL_20210108_153851835.jpg
 

meangreengrowinmachine

Well-Known Member

weedstoner420

Well-Known Member
no drip at all. 75 degrees and 55rh currently but it was 65rh when the drooping began
So I switched over to SIPs partly because I suck at hand watering, so take this with a huge grain of salt. But those pics look more underwatered to me, more of a floppy/limp look than the swollen/turgid droop from overwater. I've read that when you can squeeze a handful of soil and one or two drops comes out, that's where you want to be. Seeing if it gets better or worse with the res emptied sounds like a good test though.
 

bbggkk1177

Well-Known Member
So I switched over to SIPs partly because I suck at hand watering, so take this with a huge grain of salt. But those pics look more underwatered to me, more of a floppy/limp look than the swollen/turgid droop from overwater. I've read that when you can squeeze a handful of soil and one or two drops comes out, that's where you want to be. Seeing if it gets better or worse with the res emptied sounds like a good test though.
Man I had read that too and I wanted to water it so bad to find out lol, but I didn’t want to be that guy. also since there is moisture in the soil it means my wick is working. I guess I may find out soon.
 

Tim Fox

Well-Known Member
plants have been in the SIP for one week, they are still adusting to the SIP and the hot soil, my grow box isnt very tall, especially with all the equipment up top in the box, when you account for the exhaust fan, and the hieght of the sip,, i have about 4 feet of usable height, so training is neccasary, or an early flip,, I am doing like my last grow and today I laid them over about half way up, train wreck on the right snapped a little to hard, and broke thru the stem,, so it may heal it may not,, and if it doesnt heal its no biggie because i would just cut it off and proceed with standard mainlining,, sunset sherbet on the left bend over nice, and will be just fine,,, the spots on the leaves show up in the pics, but dont really show up to your eyes, I am keeping a close watch, i have seen powdery mildew several times and it wipes off if you drag your finger over it, this does not, they came from the cloner this way,, i have some green cure if needed,, and I may spray them at lights out in a couple ofIMG_7648.JPGIMG_7649.JPGIMG_7650.JPGIMG_7648.JPGIMG_7649.JPGIMG_7650.JPGIMG_7651.JPGIMG_7652.JPG when they snap out of the training ,, pics
 
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