SIP thread -- (Sub-Irrigated Planter)

Robar

Well-Known Member
I don't post a lot of pics but wanted to jump on and let everyone know that the blue orca haze girls I have going in my sips are just lovin it! I have large hands and compared to my hands some of the big fans look the size of a soft ball glove! Plants are healthy and happy and going strong. I'm sold on the sips and plan on clearing out a lot of my pots and making more sips.
 

Nugnewbie

Well-Known Member
I wasn't sure where to put this post, but being that my plants are growing in SIPS, I decided here would be ok. So, I am on week 5 of vegging these 4 Black Garlic, 2 in each of City Pickers SIP. I am trying to prepare for flower and am also needing to amend as like I said am on week 5 and should amend according to directions approximately once per month. I mixed up a Coots mix type soil to begin with. I intended on amending just prior to flipping to flower with 50% Gaia Green 4-4-4 all purpose, and 50% Gaia Green 2-8-4 Power Bloom at recommended 15ml per 4L (1 tbsp per gallon) of soil.

What I would like to do because top watering in a SIP isn't really the best, is to brew a ewc, compost, and perhaps kelp meal tea, and water my dry amendments in with the tea so I am only watering from the top once. I am not sure if there is any issue with doing it this way, and so I am posing this question to the people who grow in SIPS.
 

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Hollatchaboy

Well-Known Member
I wasn't sure where to put this post, but being that my plants are growing in SIPS, I decided here would be ok. So, I am on week 5 of vegging these 4 Black Garlic, 2 in each of City Pickers SIP. I am trying to prepare for flower and am also needing to amend as like I said am on week 5 and should amend according to directions approximately once per month. I mixed up a Coots mix type soil to begin with. I intended on amending just prior to flipping to flower with 50% Gaia Green 4-4-4 all purpose, and 50% Gaia Green 2-8-4 Power Bloom at recommended 15ml per 4L (1 tbsp per gallon) of soil.

What I would like to do because top watering in a SIP isn't really the best, is to brew a ewc, compost, and perhaps kelp meal tea, and water my dry amendments in with the tea so I am only watering from the top once. I am not sure if there is any issue with doing it this way, and so I am posing this question to the people who grow in SIPS.
Welcome, and yes I believe this was a good place to post. How big are your sips? What soil? Once the plants get big, they start to eat. A LOT! Lol. You may need to feed more or more often.

I top water all the time. If you're watering in a tea, just let the res run dry, and let the soil dry a bit. Then water in your tea. They fill the res, minus what you added in volume of tea, with water. I'll add like 500ml of whatever (i.e. readily available nutrients) if the res is full. Doesn't seem to hurt. I wouldn't do much more than that with water in the res though.
 

myke

Well-Known Member
Big plants will run out of N just after stretch,gaia 444 is 3% water soluble N, 284 is only .5 %.
Big plants I give my 9ish gallons of soil 4-5 tablespoons a week,yes a week.Instructions say 1 tablespoons per gallon a month but were not growing a small petunia ,we grow trees lol.

Top water I use one full solo cup over a trench of gaia ,this way daily I can top water it in if I have to.
 

Hollatchaboy

Well-Known Member
Yup but ill spread it out before I do the next.I kinda just go half way between stalk and edge.
Ok I see. I've been spreading it out over the entire surface, but i'm doing no till though and I want nutrition through the entire container.

My last harvest turned out pretty damn good. I had quite a bit more larf than I wanted though.
 

myke

Well-Known Member
Ok I see. I've been spreading it out over the entire surface, but i'm doing no till though and I want nutrition through the entire container.

My last harvest turned out pretty damn good. I had quite a bit more larf than I wanted though.
Trench is so i can top water over every second day.Just makes it quicker.
 

Nugnewbie

Well-Known Member
No problem top watering in the Gaia. I’d go 444 until week 2-3 of bloom then do a 50/50 bloom/veg.
Ok, yeah guess N still more important. Will go with that plan.
Welcome, and yes I believe this was a good place to post. How big are your sips? What soil? Once the plants get big, they start to eat. A LOT! Lol. You may need to feed more or more often.

I top water all the time. If you're watering in a tea, just let the res run dry, and let the soil dry a bit. Then water in your tea. They fill the res, minus what you added in volume of tea, with water. I'll add like 500ml of whatever (i.e. readily available nutrients) if the res is full. Doesn't seem to hurt. I wouldn't do much more than that with water in the res though.
My SIPS are home depot City Pickers planter and hold 2 cu ft or approx 15 gallons of soil. The reservoir holds about 2 gallons of liquid. I have been lurking and reading these forums for a while now. I started a grow in March of this year and managed to overwater the living sht out of all my plants when battling heat and lack of humidity and suffice to say it didn't end well. That is when I started reading and discovered SIPS on this forum. It makes watering so easy. I actually haven't amended the Coots type soil I mixed up. This will be first top dressing. I haven't had the plastic off yet.
 

Hollatchaboy

Well-Known Member
Ok, yeah guess N still more important. Will go with that plan.

My SIPS are home depot City Pickers planter and hold 2 cu ft or approx 15 gallons of soil. The reservoir holds about 2 gallons of liquid. I have been lurking and reading these forums for a while now. I started a grow in March of this year and managed to overwater the living sht out of all my plants when battling heat and lack of humidity and suffice to say it didn't end well. That is when I started reading and discovered SIPS on this forum. It makes watering so easy. I actually haven't amended the Coots type soil I mixed up. This will be first top dressing. I haven't had the plastic off yet.
Remember, you wanna feed before they need it with living soil. You'll need time for the amendments to break down. The soil will deplete quick so stay on top of your schedule. :bigjoint:
 
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