SIP thread -- (Sub-Irrigated Planter)

[Shiggity]

I'm not exactly sure how it works, if I add d.o. to the res water, that doesn't add more oxygen to the soil by wicking up oxygenated water?

The oxygen at the bottom of the soil will help the bottom of the soil. But if the soil is wet it is hard to get oxygen exchange to the center of the SIP. That’s why I added the vertical channels. Now there is oxygen available to all levels of the soil. Each one is less than a gallon so it doesn’t affect soil volume that much. But it enables all levels of soil to have direct access. Remember the grow where you were having issues with yellowing? The leaves didn’t show any other deficiency. Just nitrogen. That mean nitrogen was off gassing as N2 and nitrous oxide N20. Nitrogen makes up 78% of our breathable air. It’s very volatile. If you had yellowing your soil didn’t have enough oxygen.
These channels are my contribution to the SIP a community.

 

[Hollatchaboy]

The oxygen at the bottom of the soil will help the bottom of the soil. But if the soil is wet it is hard to get oxygen exchange to the center of the SIP. That’s why I added the vertical channels. Now there is oxygen available to all levels of the soil. Each one is less than a gallon so it doesn’t affect soil volume that much. But it enables all levels of soil to have direct access. Remember the grow where you were having issues with yellowing? The leaves didn’t show any other deficiency. Just nitrogen. That mean nitrogen was off gassing as N2 and nitrous oxide N20. Nitrogen makes up 78% of our breathable air. It’s very volatile. If you had yellowing your soil didn’t have enough oxygen.
These channels are my contribution to the SIP a community.

Ok, kinda makes sense now. When I noticed the yellowing, I tried Neptune's Harvest fish fertilizer.... it helped a lil, but I needed to use the soy aminos to stop the yellowing in its tracks. Even then, I still had to keep adding high N. I'll try the air channels after I diy a sip. I don't have a large volume of soil right now, and I don't want to subtract any more.

 

[Shiggity]

Ok, kinda makes sense now. When I noticed the yellowing, I tried Neptune's Harvest fish fertilizer.... it helped a lil, but I needed to use the soy aminos to stop the yellowing in its tracks. Even then, I still had to keep adding high N. I'll try the air channels after I diy a sip. I don't have a large volume of soil right now, and I don't want to subtract any more.l

I would do a smaller volume air channel. Take 1.5” pvc and drill a ridiculous amount of 1/2” holes in it then Cover with landscape cloth

 

[Hollatchaboy]

I would do a smaller volume air channel. Take 1.5” pvc and drill a ridiculous amount of 1/2” holes in it then Cover with landscape cloth

Hmmm.... now that's an idea. I might try that.

 

[GrassBurner]

On my small sips, it looks like a 60/40 split of roots coming through the shelf as far as air pruned and going into the res. Have 1 air stone per container, with this pump claiming 1700gph of air. It does pump the hell out of air, but 1700gph through an 1/8" tube sounds a little far fetched

 

[Hollatchaboy]

On my small sips, it looks like a 60/40 split of roots coming through the shelf as far as air pruned and going into the res. Have 1 air stone per container, with this pump claiming 1700gph of air. It does pump the hell out of air, but 1700gph through an 1/8" tube sounds a little far fetched
View attachment 5045215

View attachment 5045234

I have one of those, and I agree. No way it moves that much air, but it does move a lot of air. Loud as hell too.

 

[Shiggity]

On my small sips, it looks like a 60/40 split of roots coming through the shelf as far as air pruned and going into the res. Have 1 air stone per container, with this pump claiming 1700gph of air. It does pump the hell out of air, but 1700gph through an 1/8" tube sounds a little far fetched
View attachment 5045215

View attachment 5045234

I think your SIP having a small gallon volume would not need an air channel. Again we are not talking about root oxygen but soil oxygen. Your volume ensures that the oxygen can get to all areas.

 

[GrassBurner]

Do roots pull oxygen into the soil? I've always wondered in these setups

 

[Xsan]

anyone running 40 gallon bins, what brand are you using? I currently have whatever the lowes brand is but getting ready to order more bins and just curious if anyone has found one brand to be better than the other?

 

[GrassBurner]

I like the rigidity of the Craftsman totes.

 

[Hollatchaboy]

Do roots pull oxygen into the soil? I've always wondered in these setups

Good question.

 

[Shiggity]

I don’t believe roots will pull oxygen. Mycorrhizae will aggregate soil and that helps with oxygenation but I don’t think it’s enough.

 

[Hollatchaboy]

I think your SIP having a small gallon volume would not need an air channel. Again we are not talking about root oxygen but soil oxygen. Your volume ensures that the oxygen can get to all areas.

With the earthbox, bas suggests when running no till, to let the res run dry before refilling. I normally have to let it get a lil drier than that cuz it usually happens when I'm at work. I believe that's when the soil gets oxygenated, in the eb. Does that sound feasible?

 

[Hollatchaboy]

I don’t believe roots will pull oxygen. Mycorrhizae will aggregate soil and that helps with oxygenation but I don’t think it’s enough.

I think worms help aggregate too?

 

[Bignutes]

I’m not having yellowing in my sips this go around, I did on previous runs but this run in the seventh week of flower it’s holding up well, I attribute it to fertilizing more often. Plants grow more vigoursly and thereby need a higher nutrient application imo which may explain the premature yellowing especially trying to go organic which is tougher to dial in. My wick only has holes in the bottom so it is always submerged in water.

 

[Hollatchaboy]

I’m not having yellowing in my sips this go around, I did on previous runs but this run in the seventh week of flower it’s holding up well, I attribute it to fertilizing more often. Plants grow more vigoursly and thereby need a higher nutrient application imo which may explain the premature yellowing especially trying to go organic which is tougher to dial in. My wick only has holes in the bottom so it is always submerged in water.

Looks good. What do you feed and what's the schedule now?

 

[Bignutes]

I feed a 2-3-7 every 3-4 days. Could use more but I don’t want it contaminating much reservoir

 

[weedstoner420]

With the earthbox, bas suggests when running no till, to let the res run dry before refilling. I normally have to let it get a lil drier than that cuz it usually happens when I'm at work. I believe that's when the soil gets oxygenated, in the eb. Does that sound feasible?

I'm using the Growbox, which is similar to Earthbox. I think the soil gets oxygen from below, like through the perforations in the tray that holds the soil. So the amount of air exposure is almost the same no matter how full the res is, it only changes at the wicks.

In doing no-till, do you worry about dead roots in the water after harvest? Do you add anything to the res to help break them down?

 

[Hollatchaboy]

I'm using the Growbox, which is similar to Earthbox. I think the soil gets oxygen from below, like through the perforations in the tray that holds the soil. So the amount of air exposure is almost the same no matter how full the res is, it only changes at the wicks.

In doing no-till, do you worry about dead roots in the water after harvest? Do you add anything to the res to help break them down?

No, I believe vegan inputs in the res are ok, so I think the roots just break down and get consumed. I didn't keep the res watered the whole time the cover crop going. I've mostly just watered in from the top. I did started adding water to the res here and there recently though just to make sure it's moist for my transplant.

 

[weedstoner420]

No, I believe vegan inputs in the res are ok, so I think the roots just break down and get consumed. I didn't keep the res watered the whole time the cover crop going. I've mostly just watered in from the top. I did started adding water to the res here and there recently though just to make sure it's moist for my transplant.

Nice, I gotta watch that build a soil series....