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NoobwannaB's Fabric Pot SIP method (works with hard pots too)

2 Legal Co

Active member
Veteran
Update:

Went away for the weekend, so the wicking system got it's first real test.

Worked out well, only for a couple days but dirt was still properly moist on my return today. Yeah!

My first run with Jilly Beans, so kind of winging it. lol ..... Looks like they may show sex soon (hope so). Tried to come up with some White Russian, but it didn't go as I'd hoped. Oh well, maybe next time, or maybe the around the cash deal with Serious Seeds. Hate sending cash in the mail, and SS is really proud of their seeds too.
 

noobwannaB

Member
Update:

Went away for the weekend, so the wicking system got it's first real test.

Worked out well, only for a couple days but dirt was still properly moist on my return today. Yeah!

My first run with Jilly Beans, so kind of winging it. lol ..... Looks like they may show sex soon (hope so). Tried to come up with some White Russian, but it didn't go as I'd hoped. Oh well, maybe next time, or maybe the around the cash deal with Serious Seeds. Hate sending cash in the mail, and SS is really proud of their seeds too.

Good to hear 2 Legal! And thanks for stopping by.

I've heard from lots of folks away for up to 2 weeks that found LIVE plants when they got home...that's always a plus ;) Depends on how big your res is, etc., but it CAN be done! I don't do it for the need, but rather the health of the plants, but I'm not gonna complain about less labor either.

I've heard some good things about SS...never tried them myself. Maybe next seed order, though that'll be awhile. Got a loooong list of beans wanting to be grown out, and when you only do a couple at a time (6 this round...temporary insanity) it take awhile.
---------------------------

On a side note, my Patio Kit on casters is working out REALLY well! I recommend them highly. I've got my 7 gal smarties (OG13 and Bubba Kush) in each one, and my CBD Crew Shark (7 gal) and Iced Grapefruit (3 gal) are sharing the other (I bought 3). The IG is going to be finished soon, so the Shark that just started bud formation can have it all to herself...not that she needs the space :( WEIRDEST plant I've ever grown, and I've taken 2 clones ...one a month ago and the other about a week ago and NO roots so far. This thing is not going to yield much...a real slow grower and buds are really small so I hope it at least does what it's supposed to.

Next grow I'm going to try one of these patio kits filled with SOIL...should be interesting.


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2 Legal Co

Active member
Veteran
noob

Mine only have about an 1", maybe 1.5"s, of perlite under them so maybe a half gallon, of reservoir in each.

I've still got a way to go to figure out what I can and can't do in my mini GH. It's only 6.5' or so at the peak and a shy 6' at the eves, so I could end up scraping the floor and digging a hole to put the bags in when they get taller. Only 3-3.5' as of yet.

Now I've got to get off my duff and make a curtain to do a black out. I'm wanting them to start bloom in 2-3 weeks max., as I've got plans for a trip this fall. Heading east to see the fall colors,,,, hopefully.

Waiting to hear how the 'patio kits' work for you.

By the way: The double 'homers' that I built 2 of and put tomatoes in, are working really well. They've got about 1.5 gallons of reservoir, and use potting soil to wick up. Neighbors are mystified how we've already got blooms on them already, but they were inside with the mj kids for over a month before moving outside to get 'real' light. We had a late spring here, and in Denver with the late morning frosts and all that.
 

Seaf0ur

Pagan Extremist
Veteran
I have to agree about the less work aspect...... I switched to 20 gallon SIP's and with the nutrient dense living soil.... I need a new hobby for all my free time.
 

2 Legal Co

Active member
Veteran
I have to agree about the less work aspect...... I switched to 20 gallon SIP's and with the nutrient dense living soil.... I need a new hobby for all my free time.

Are your pots/bags 20s, or are your reservoirs 20s?

If your are up to 20 gallons for the soil, do you use them like planting 'beds' or are you still singled. Thinking I may dig a trench in the dirt floor of the GH. I'll line it with pond liner to hold the perlite and water. Should make my watering cycles much longer next year. I'm trying to pick up experience from people on this thread, so I don't have to learn from the 'school of hard knocks'.

Nuff loafing, got to get the sewing machine out and make a blackout shroud/curtain. Should have done it while in Denver where I've got the big machine though. Just an old Singer 401 up here, so it takes much longer to get anything done.
 

Seaf0ur

Pagan Extremist
Veteran
20 gallon sips.... 5 inch of water underneath maybe 7 inch overall.... plastic totes with a thousand holes drilled about..... I'll have to dig up pics.

Thinking of moving to one single homemade smartpot that covers the room with everything in flower in the same no till....
 

Seaf0ur

Pagan Extremist
Veteran
alright, found em....

IMG_20130501_203726.jpg

IMG_20130501_203742.jpg

IMG_20130501_203811.jpg

IMG_20130501_203819.jpg

IMG_20130501_203901.jpg


Now I drilled about twice maybe three times the holes since the pics, filled the bottom on either side of the orange plastic sleeve with lava rock to support the weight..
 

noobwannaB

Member
alright, found em....

View Image
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Now I drilled about twice maybe three times the holes since the pics, filled the bottom on either side of the orange plastic sleeve with lava rock to support the weight..

App won't let me multi-quote (if that's even available in the forum?) so I quoted the one with the pics ;)

Why such a big wick cup?? Seems that would really cut down on the res area right there, but what do I know about traditional SIPs.

I thought about one giant tray awhile back but even with the 5 pot tray I had there were issues with accessibility (getting in there) and photo taking was a nightmare. Pulling out 3 gal pots wasn't a big deal but when I went with 7 gal I went with individual trays. A community 'bed' would probably do wonders for the soil...seriously well, but getting in there to remove leaves, etc would prove a challenge for me. Same reason I never went with any kind of scrog I guess.

I'd be interested in watching though! :)


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2 Legal Co

Active member
Veteran
I did something like the tubs that Seaf is showing, but with Homer buckets for a couple of tomato plants. I didn't use any perlite in them other than the soil mix.

They are doing well outside, just using the garden hose to fill the Res's once a week or so. The top of the dirt stays semi dry, but an inch or so down it's nice and moist.

Those tubs should be an absolute winner from the little I've done with the Sipping method. I'm liking it.

I'm looking at building a U shaped trough in the floor of the shed/GH with perlite to set the bags on. Maybe framing the trough with 6"s deep or so? What do you think Noob? Is that a plan?

i did get the shed on cinder blocks, raising the headspace up about 5"s as it turns out. Also took a bit of dirt out of the inside floor, gaining another couple of inches. But even with the eves open at the edges 3.5"s, the Temps are getting up in the 90s F.... so I added a mini swamp cooler. Yippeeee,,,, got the RH up to 25% last night. But space is getting tight as the plants grow, and I've only got 4 juvenile plante in there. Think I need a bigger shed!
 

noobwannaB

Member
I did something like the tubs that Seaf is showing, but with Homer buckets for a couple of tomato plants. I didn't use any perlite in them other than the soil mix.

They are doing well outside, just using the garden hose to fill the Res's once a week or so. The top of the dirt stays semi dry, but an inch or so down it's nice and moist.

Those tubs should be an absolute winner from the little I've done with the Sipping method. I'm liking it.

I'm looking at building a U shaped trough in the floor of the shed/GH with perlite to set the bags on. Maybe framing the trough with 6"s deep or so? What do you think Noob? Is that a plan?

i did get the shed on cinder blocks, raising the headspace up about 5"s as it turns out. Also took a bit of dirt out of the inside floor, gaining another couple of inches. But even with the eves open at the edges 3.5"s, the Temps are getting up in the 90s F.... so I added a mini swamp cooler. Yippeeee,,,, got the RH up to 25% last night. But space is getting tight as the plants grow, and I've only got 4 juvenile plante in there. Think I need a bigger shed!

Sounds awesome 2 Legal! You could dig down into the soil and line it with a nice thick plastic and have as big a trough as you're willing to dig. Just make sure there are no rocks or sticks to poke through the plastic.

My first koi pond/water garden was dug on a whim, so I dug the hole in the backyard, lined with some old blankets/sheets to avoid rough edges, then plastic on top of that...worked great until rocks started falling into the pond from the edges causing leaks. Eventually I had to spring for a pond liner, but that plastic got me through a couple of seasons. The perlite wouldn't be rough enough I don't think to actually puncture a good thick plastic...might even cushion it a bit. Take some pics when you get it done?? Sounds pretty cool....I'd love to have you 'share with the class' ;) If you'd rather not for whatever reason that's cool too....


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2 Legal Co

Active member
Veteran
I've got some rubber pond liner pieces left from a fountain I did some years ago. Don't know exactly how big they are however. If not big enough for the job I'll get some 'off the roll' at the nursery in Denver next time I go to town.

Did get the shade curtain/photoperiod curtain made this morning. I'll be trying to bloom them in a few days, so it was necessary. Probably won't get to the trough untill this fall after this run is done. It's a bit crowded in there now, and no place private to put them outside at this size. lol
 

Seaf0ur

Pagan Extremist
Veteran
Colorado clay is a pretty fun dig....
smiley_violent101.gif
I still think Texas bedrock was worse though....

Better get prepared
smiley_eatdrink048.gif
 

Seaf0ur

Pagan Extremist
Veteran
App won't let me multi-quote (if that's even available in the forum?) so I quoted the one with the pics ;)

Why such a big wick cup?? Seems that would really cut down on the res area right there, but what do I know about traditional SIPs.

I thought about one giant tray awhile back but even with the 5 pot tray I had there were issues with accessibility (getting in there) and photo taking was a nightmare. Pulling out 3 gal pots wasn't a big deal but when I went with 7 gal I went with individual trays. A community 'bed' would probably do wonders for the soil...seriously well, but getting in there to remove leaves, etc would prove a challenge for me. Same reason I never went with any kind of scrog I guess.

I'd be interested in watching though! :)


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

My favorite right now is a 5 gal sip in a 7 gallon res, bout 2-3 gallons in the res..... As far as the other its most of a 2 gal bucket as a wick in my 20 gallon tubs.... about 5" of water in the bottom, so I'd guess 3-4 gallons of water in the res.... wick bucket is full of lava rock so as to not anaerobe..... Haven't had an issue yet, but I see cleaning as a potential issue in a "no till" situation.
 

2 Legal Co

Active member
Veteran
NOTE:: The 'cotton duck' growbags I made are NOT a good idea.

Just now went to adjust one in it's Res. and it ripped..... so NO, cotton canvas is Not rot resistant enough for our purposes!!!! lol The plant in it was just a Zuke., and I did save it. PITA however.
 

noobwannaB

Member
NOTE:: The 'cotton duck' growbags I made are NOT a good idea.

Just now went to adjust one in it's Res. and it ripped..... so NO, cotton canvas is Not rot resistant enough for our purposes!!!! lol The plant in it was just a ZuK., and I did save it. PITA however.

Aww, that sucks 2 Legal...lesson learned though huh? :laughing:

My DIY smartie is still goin strong. I've picked that thing up more times than I like to recall. Should be harvesting that one soon...anxious to see what the root system looks like.
 

2 Legal Co

Active member
Veteran
Fortunately, not one of the 'girls'. I just filled the empty areas with perlite. I'll just mix it all together next batch.

Did get up to the 'chalk cliffs' and picked up a half Homer of Gypsum, mostly dust. Thought free amendments were a good idea.

The Grocery bags seem to be holding up well however.

Also think I may add a 'reservoir' to the system, with a hook up like a 'evaporative cooler', with a float valve, and a constant water supply. That way I'll be able to monitor it without jugs and buckets being involved. The tomatoes in the double Homer bucket SIPs are needing water everyday now is the inspiration. The Res. in that set up holds well over a gallon. Tomatoes are thirsty in this 100*F plus weather we're having.
 

noobwannaB

Member
Fortunately, not one of the 'girls'. I just filled the empty areas with perlite. I'll just mix it all together next batch.

Did get up to the 'chalk cliffs' and picked up a half Homer of Gypsum, mostly dust. Thought free amendments were a good idea.

The Grocery bags seem to be holding up well however.

Also think I may add a 'reservoir' to the system, with a hook up like a 'evaporative cooler', with a float valve, and a constant water supply. That way I'll be able to monitor it without jugs and buckets being involved.

Oh duh...you did say zuke didn't you?

Lots of folks at the 'other place' have come up with some pretty clever variations of automating this system...I'm always amazed at people's creativity.

Good to know about the grocery bag too..I have a few I was thinking about tossing. Maybe I'll 'recycle' instead ;)

ADDED: I should add that I'm excited to see what YOU come up with as well! :)
 
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