SIP thread -- (Sub-Irrigated Planter)

weedstoner420

Well-Known Member
Running my first grow with sips. I've got bas 3.0 in them and craft blend on standby. It's a 4x4 with a gavita 1700e

I have nice root growth down in the res, I can see them when I look down the feed tube.

Should I let the dry out before adding more water, or should I be topping up before then?
Looking good so far!

I haven't noticed much of a difference in the moisture level of the soil between keeping them topped up vs letting them go dry. I just let mine go dry cuz it's less work
 

weedstoner420

Well-Known Member
Is there no concern about the feeder roots in res dying off?
Maybe? I don't always let it get fully dry, just whenever is convenient for me to refill it when it's getting pretty low. And if it does go dry it's never for more than a day.

I'd guess the water roots can live off of a tiny skin of water in the bottom of the res, and they can always grow back if they die. Mine seem to stick around even if the res gets totally dry tho
 

cannabiscrusader

Well-Known Member
Running my first grow with sips. I've got bas 3.0 in them and craft blend on standby. It's a 4x4 with a gavita 1700e

I have nice root growth down in the res, I can see them when I look down the feed tube.

Should I let the dry out before adding more water, or should I be topping up before then?
Looking lovely, nice set up. I found even if my res is bone dry, the soil stays moist for 2 or so days still. I top them off every other day in mid flower, they drink about 5gal. Working on an automated watering system with the overflows piped to a condensate pump. Right now, I'm lugging 5 gal pails downstairs.


Don't forget to piss in your sip!
 

CadillacJack

Well-Known Member
Looking lovely, nice set up. I found even if my res is bone dry, the soil stays moist for 2 or so days still. I top them off every other day in mid flower, they drink about 5gal. Working on an automated watering system with the overflows piped to a condensate pump. Right now, I'm lugging 5 gal pails downstairs.


Don't forget to piss in your sip!
Your girls are drinking 5 gallons every 2 days? That's crazy. We're at about 2 gallons every 3 days.

I'm 4 weeks in veg from clone.
These girls are Lemon Tree from Archive.
 

GenericEnigma

Well-Known Member
Starting up again.

These pots sat covered with the soil staying damp for a few months. The old rootball was pretty well decayed. I recharged with a bit of compost and a dash of Jobe's, and refilled the reservoirs.

Got some - I guess F2s - from a project where I'm chasing some Chocolate genetics. (Hunting a male elsewhere.) The one on the left was labeled Northern Lights R1 Fem.

My soil is too strong, but they're starting to get roots into the water. And we all know what happens then.
 

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weedstoner420

Well-Known Member
Got plenty of weed atm so my wife requested I grow some tomatoes this winter. Got two beefsteak plants that are definitely going to take over the tent. They just started flowering, no fruits yet.

I think the saying is true, "if you can grow tomatoes, you can grow weed." So far I'd say tomatoes are trickier for sure.
PXL_20231119_022629484.jpg
 

GenericEnigma

Well-Known Member
I fucked up.

Started seeing deficiences: magnesium, calcium, potassium, sulfur. The leaf twisting was a dead giveaway.

The algae in my reservoirs hadn't given me any issues, even though this is the third run. But I think some fungus grew to eat the dead algae - and brought down the pH level of the water. So I cleaned the reservoirs.

Part of me wants to supply microbes via compost or a tea, but I worry those acids will not help the pH if that's truly my issue. Taking pictures to compare day-to-day. Crossing my fingers.

If they do not improve, I will try a flush. Soil still smells forest-y, so hopefully it will recover.

Still in veg, but these buggers are big now.
 

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Hollatchaboy

Well-Known Member
I fucked up.

Started seeing deficiences: magnesium, calcium, potassium, sulfur. The leaf twisting was a dead giveaway.

The algae in my reservoirs hadn't given me any issues, even though this is the third run. But I think some fungus grew to eat the dead algae - and brought down the pH level of the water. So I cleaned the reservoirs.

Part of me wants to supply microbes via compost or a tea, but I worry those acids will not help the pH if that's truly my issue. Taking pictures to compare day-to-day. Crossing my fingers.

If they do not improve, I will try a flush. Soil still smells forest-y, so hopefully it will recover.

Still in veg, but these buggers are big now.
Try em1
 

GenericEnigma

Well-Known Member
This is a good idea. I need to restart some brown rice probiotics anyway, and have all the materials gathered. I will try this before a flush - if there is no improvement.

Plants are still drinking, and new, tiny growth might look greener. I don't know how much, if any, greening I can expect from existing growth.

I am starting to think I will add lime at next soil recycle.
 
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