SIP thread -- (Sub-Irrigated Planter)

CrunchBerries

CrunchBerries

Well-Known Member
weedstoner420 said:
That sounds like a hempy bucket to me.

Dry amendments may be expensive (debatable), but in my mind it's worth it to pre-load the soil with them. I use 2 pre-mixed dry fert blends, because I can't be bothered to source all the individual meals and flours and such. I fill my SIPs' reservoirs with plain tap water every 3-4 days, top dress a couple times during flower just for peace of mind, and that's it. Doesn't get much easier.

In my mind it's important to have the right amounts of medium and nutrients for the right sized plant(s). If you get that down, you don't even have to top dress, just add water to the reservoir. And once you get a feel for how fast they empty the reservoir, you can automate the watering with a timer and almost never even have to open the tent...
Click to expand...
But I like opening the tent! Ha!
 
CrunchBerries

CrunchBerries

Well-Known Member
Here is my current project of 2 Bodhi Strawberry Temple at 23 days flip. These have a loud lemon-pine smell and are heavy yielders.
86E74302-44E7-462B-B5D0-353E204EA169.jpeg4D5FA0DC-8DBB-4802-9C20-2C62D3D3B31C.jpeg5914AA6B-304C-4B44-AECA-8A52BC1C5CBB.jpeg
Also, here are the 27 gal SIPs I made last weekend. Super excited to get cracking with these in my new 5x5 setup. Thanks goes to @Nu-Be for kicking some ideas around with me. I know your silently watching and reacting. Ha! Think I’m going to try no tilling these and see how they fair.
30F3A9F0-0AD9-45A1-9001-CDE0BC265EC3.jpegFDBBB875-0F10-47BE-88B8-645BFA41E41E.jpeg
 
myke

myke

Well-Known Member
Around day 20 of 12/12. Sheets seamed to have worked. Gradually over the last week I see less and less gnats. Sheets stay wet as they sit right on the dirt now that I’ve added more with ea top dress. I sprinkled some citric acid in my top watering once last week but kinda a pia so I’ve quit that. I’ve added straight peat into the soil for next round so will see.
Instead of adding trellis I’ve just been moving the one I have up as they grow. Gives more room underneath. C73AD48C-8EBA-409C-BFA9-F543C34D50B6.jpegFF778FC8-462C-4395-98E9-A9B8A3A769CD.jpeg
 
Hollatchaboy

Hollatchaboy

Well-Known Member
myke said:
Around day 20 of 12/12. Sheets seamed to have worked. Gradually over the last week I see less and less gnats. Sheets stay wet as they sit right on the dirt now that I’ve added more with ea top dress. I sprinkled some citric acid in my top watering once last week but kinda a pia so I’ve quit that. I’ve added straight peat into the soil for next round so will see.
Instead of adding trellis I’ve just been moving the one I have up as they grow. Gives more room underneath. View attachment 5094961View attachment 5094962
Click to expand...
Lookin great bro!
 
CWF

CWF

Well-Known Member
I put my earthbox together today, and filled it with soil I've been "cooking" for 6-7 weeks. Then, I dumped it all out and did it again, because, as I stonedly realized after watching BAS set one up on one of his video, I put the screen in there upside down! :mrgreen: Thanks, dude.
 
Jcue81

Jcue81

Well-Known Member
Hey guys!

I’m switching from a 2x4 bed to 3 earthboxes. The earthbox instructions say the potting mix should be 70 -95% peat and not use compost. Watching the build a soil channel it appears Jeremy uses one of his soil mixes which has a decent amount of castings and amendments

I typically make my own soil using the coot recipe- should I seriously fill my earthbox with just peat and perlite? I understand I’ll be topdressing castings, gro kashi, etc but I’m tempted to mix castings in with my soil too.

Does anyone have an ideal earthbox recipe? Or am I overthinking this and just stick to what Alan suggests and avoid castings in my mix?

I appreciate any tips!
 
myke

myke

Well-Known Member
Jcue81 said:
Hey guys!

I’m switching from a 2x4 bed to 3 earthboxes. The earthbox instructions say the potting mix should be 70 -95% peat and not use compost. Watching the build a soil channel it appears Jeremy uses one of his soil mixes which has a decent amount of castings and amendments

I typically make my own soil using the coot recipe- should I seriously fill my earthbox with just peat and perlite? I understand I’ll be topdressing castings, gro kashi, etc but I’m tempted to mix castings in with my soil too.

Does anyone have an ideal earthbox recipe? Or am I overthinking this and just stick to what Alan suggests and avoid castings in my mix?

I appreciate any tips!
Click to expand...
Mine is 40/20/40,peat, compost/castings ,perlite.
Soil does stay wet so just be mindful of plant size and how much water.Ive only planted 2g size plants and they've started wicking right away. A small clone probably would be ok without any water in the res for the first while.
 
Hollatchaboy

Hollatchaboy

Well-Known Member
Jcue81 said:
Hey guys!

I’m switching from a 2x4 bed to 3 earthboxes. The earthbox instructions say the potting mix should be 70 -95% peat and not use compost. Watching the build a soil channel it appears Jeremy uses one of his soil mixes which has a decent amount of castings and amendments

I typically make my own soil using the coot recipe- should I seriously fill my earthbox with just peat and perlite? I understand I’ll be topdressing castings, gro kashi, etc but I’m tempted to mix castings in with my soil too.

Does anyone have an ideal earthbox recipe? Or am I overthinking this and just stick to what Alan suggests and avoid castings in my mix?

I appreciate any tips!
Click to expand...
I use bas 3.0 in mine, here's the ingredients... .

Screenshot_20220208-231449_Gallery.jpg

It has compost and worm castings in it. Id say you're good to add castings to your mix.
 
CrunchBerries

CrunchBerries

Well-Known Member
Jcue81 said:
Hey guys!

I’m switching from a 2x4 bed to 3 earthboxes. The earthbox instructions say the potting mix should be 70 -95% peat and not use compost. Watching the build a soil channel it appears Jeremy uses one of his soil mixes which has a decent amount of castings and amendments

I typically make my own soil using the coot recipe- should I seriously fill my earthbox with just peat and perlite? I understand I’ll be topdressing castings, gro kashi, etc but I’m tempted to mix castings in with my soil too.

Does anyone have an ideal earthbox recipe? Or am I overthinking this and just stick to what Alan suggests and avoid castings in my mix?

I appreciate any tips!
Click to expand...
Good on your for making the switch to SIPs!

I would say no to the peat and aeration. In the past I used bagged soil and OSF. Just use your Coots mix with 1 cup OSF per cu foot. I top dress 3ish times with Crustacean meal, Insect Frass, ground Barley, EWC, Compost, and lastly some Kashi. Once when I’m setting up the sip, once at planting and the last one at flip. Think of your sip as an engine, with the soil being the gas tank. You only have 15 gal tank, so don’t veg too long. Topdress will only carry you so far after your soil is depleted. Yes to EWC!

I keep my res full throughout the life of the grow, from the initial setup to close to harvest. I want the soil to have saturated, promote breakdown, and the life to get moving.

Are you using a microbial inoculate like em1, LABs or photosynthesis +? If not, I would give it a try! Bacterially dominate bottom, fungal dominate top, with a party in the middle!

If you haven’t already, check out Greens Probiotic thread on here. It’s the model I followed from the start and is a great jumping off point.
Hope this helps! If I didn’t answer your question, just ask. I am in the throes of a hippy speedball (French Roast and Sunshine Queen) and haven’t balanced out yet. So I might just be rambling. Ha!
 
Last edited:
Jcue81

Jcue81

Well-Known Member
CrunchBerries said:
Good on your for making the switch to SIPs!

I would say no to the peat and aeration. In the past I used bagged soil and OSF. Just use your Coots mix with 1 cup OSF per cu foot. I top dress 3ish times with Crustacean meal, Insect Frass, ground Barley, EWC, Compost, and lastly some Kashi. Once when I’m setting up the sip, once at planting and the last one at flip. Think of your sip as an engine, with the soil being the gas tank. You only have 15 gal tank, so don’t veg too long. Topdress will only carry you so far after your soil is depleted. Yes to EWC!

I keep my res full throughout the life of the grow, from the initial setup to close to harvest. I want the soil to have saturated, promote breakdown, and the life to get moving.

Are you using a microbial inoculate like em1, LABs or photosynthesis +? If not, I would give it a try! Bacterially dominate bottom, fungal dominate top, with a party in the middle!

If you haven’t already, check out Greens Probiotic thread on here. It’s the model I followed from the start and is a great jumping off point.
Hope this helps! If I didn’t answer your question, just ask. I am in the throughs of a hippy speedball (French Roast and Sunshine Queen) and haven’t balanced out yet. So I might just be rambling. Ha!
Click to expand...
Thanks so much for all the replies! I have a bottle of EM1. What is a good amount? Couple ounces a week?

What is OSF? Drawing a blank..

Do you dump and start over each cycle?
Is it possible to finish 11–12 week varietals in an earthbox?

Thanks so much everyone. Earthboxes will be here today. Clones are ready for transplant from their 1 gallon pots. Have the 1990’s Upstate NY Sour Diesel, Apple Fritter, and Wedding Pie.
 
CrunchBerries

CrunchBerries

Well-Known Member
Jcue81 said:
Thanks so much for all the replies! I have a bottle of EM1. What is a good amount? Couple ounces a week?

What is OSF? Drawing a blank..

Do you dump and start over each cycle?
Is it possible to finish 11–12 week varietals in an earthbox?

Thanks so much everyone. Earthboxes will be here today. Clones are ready for transplant from their 1 gallon pots. Have the 1990’s Upstate NY Sour Diesel, Apple Fritter, and Wedding Pie.
Click to expand...
I’ve started using LABs instead of em-1 as it has a more diverse array of life and it’s free, but you would use 1oz em1 to gal of water. I use some microbial inoculate at every watering. You can expand em1 so a couple oz’s can become a gal. It does take time though. I posted the best video I could find from Teraganix a couple pages back.

Oyster Shell Flour

In the past I would dump and start over, but my recycled soil reserves are such that I can use my recycled soil. I just made some 27 gal’ers and am going to try no tilling them instead.

If you have the 15 gal (2 cu ft) EBs I would say yes. May require a 4th topdress. My last grow went 72 days I think and they were trucking’ right along, happier than pigs in shit with only 3 topdresses.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top