My plants are 2 weeks into flower and are in 3 gallon fabric pots. I am watering about every 3-4 days now. I will be going away next month for 5 days and won’t have anyone to water my plants. I was wondering if I introduced sub irrigation now would it stress out the plants in any way. I plan on using 2 3 gallon bucket’s stacked for each plant and putting the fabric pot right into the bucket. Thanks for any info
Adding sub irrigation during flowering
- Thread starter jakamini
- Start date
weedstoner420
Well-Known Member
I would be concerned letting the whole bottom of the pot sit directly in water for more than a few hours (sounds like that's what you're talking about).
I've seen some people doing sub-irrigated stuff by putting fabric pots onto a bed of perlite a few inches deep, like in a flood tray, and filling that with water. That way the pots are not in direct contact with the water, it wicks through the perlite. Most of the traditional "SIPs" have only a small area in contact with the water reservoir.
I think the term is "swick" for what I'm referring to...
Edit: whatever you do, make sure you do a trial run or two with it before you go away.
Billy the Mountain
Well-Known Member
Option B:
A basic setup with a timer, pump, and drip emitters can be cobbled together for < $50
You definitely don't want to leave the pots submerged in water for an extended period of time
weedstoner420
Well-Known Member
That might be hard to retrofit in your existing fabric pots... here's a thread showing the method I was referring to; it's not that different from what you're talking about: https://www.rollitup.org/t/the-capabilities-of-a-simple-soil-and-a-1000w-de-bulb-with-sips.1042751/
And @kratos015 is an excellent gardener, if a bit long-winded
MtRainDog
Well-Known Member
When I ran a SIP setup, I used a net pot filled with perlite that sat in a res, and on top of that a fabric pot with dirt and plant. If you keep the water level about an inch or so below the top of the perlite, it will be enough for a fabric pot do do all the wicking. You could literally just set your fabric pot on top and let it do its thing.
Star Dog
Well-Known Member
I didn't see how many pots?
A capillary botch is easy and reliable, the matt cost around a fiver a mtr3 the rest most people will have at home.
Half of this isn't needed, basically a platform in a tray with some capillary matt draped over it will keep your plant watered.
If it's any interest
Plants do just fine standing in water, autopots are a good example of that and I've feed via saucers for months at a time.
Tomatoes do well to in saucers.
For 5-7 days I'd sit it in enough water.
You have time just now to put it to the test, i can tell you it'll be fine.
A capillary botch is easy and reliable, the matt cost around a fiver a mtr3 the rest most people will have at home.
Half of this isn't needed, basically a platform in a tray with some capillary matt draped over it will keep your plant watered.
If it's any interest
The UK Growers Thread!
thank you Don’t thank me just yet lol. make sure you know where is currently affected so you can track if it’s still progressing or whether it’s not to see if it’s helping. I’m just giving you what I would honestly try myself.
www.rollitup.org
Plants do just fine standing in water, autopots are a good example of that and I've feed via saucers for months at a time.
Tomatoes do well to in saucers.
For 5-7 days I'd sit it in enough water.
You have time just now to put it to the test, i can tell you it'll be fine.
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Hook Daddy
Well-Known Member
I am running sips now for the first time and so far like them. I just switched to 12/12 this week. If you think they take less water think again, my plants are drinking 1-2 gallons a day each. My res for each holds about 5 gallons but there’s no way I could leave them for 5 days without them drying up. I would go with a drip system on a timer or blumat, or make sure you have a large res.
Yes that’s exactly what I was thinking
Wow thanks for the heads up. I will try the sips next grow
altaran
Well-Known Member
This thread reminded me of these things.... https://acinfinity.com/grow-accessories/containers/fabric-pots/self-watering-fabric-pot-base-4-pack/?gclid=Cj0KCQjwqc6aBhC4ARIsAN06NmN4DcX8IDy5MKpoqDQbQY6lBdzgjmTi1dYikxhir4q_HWoYVlsHgk4aAgwREALw_wcB
I was wondering if any of yall ever tried these? Seems like the pre-built way of doing what you want to do.
I was wondering if any of yall ever tried these? Seems like the pre-built way of doing what you want to do.
These look pretty cool maybe I can set up a reservoir to these and pump water into them daily
altaran
Well-Known Member
After i posted this, I realized there is a post about them a few posts down. But yeah, Ive been thinking about giving them a try. Would be handy when you need to leave a few days, and seem to be easier and less costs than a blumat.
These look pretty cool maybe I can set up a reservoir to these and pump water into them daily
altaran
Well-Known Member
That would def allow the roots to dry out some between waterings, if you timed it right.