SIP thread -- (Sub-Irrigated Planter)

[Humanrob]

I'm doing two grows at the moment with so many differences between them its hard to draw any conclusions... but it is raising some questions.

Have any growers using SIPs found that with that almost exponential growth that comes when the roots hit the res, that the plants produce a ton of very thin weak branches?

I'm finding that the plants I'm growing in SIPs are making TONS very thin branches that can barely stay upright even with the support of a scrog (that they grew through during the stretch). It reminds me of "stress growth" on trees, when 'suckers' start to shoot out of the trunk. Overall the plants -- judged by the leaves -- seem healthy, its just the form they took is odd.

And the oddness became obvious in comparison, in my other tent where I'm just growing in 2 gallon cloth pots, the plants look like stout little bushes, strong stems, big fat colas, hearty -- albeit significantly smaller -- plants.

@SomeGuy , @hyroot , @Tim Fox --etc.

 

[ttystikk]

I'm doing two grows at the moment with so many differences between them its hard to draw any conclusions... but it is raising some questions.

Have any growers using SIPs found that with that almost exponential growth that comes when the roots hit the res, that the plants produce a ton of very thin weak branches?

I'm finding that the plants I'm growing in SIPs are making TONS very thin branches that can barely stay upright even with the support of a scrog (that they grew through during the stretch). It reminds me of "stress growth" on trees, when 'suckers' start to shoot out of the trunk. Overall the plants -- judged by the leaves -- seem healthy, its just the form they took is odd.

And the oddness became obvious in comparison, in my other tent where I'm just growing in 2 gallon cloth pots, the plants look like stout little bushes, strong stems, big fat colas, hearty -- albeit significantly smaller -- plants.

@SomeGuy , @hyroot , @Tim Fox --etc.

You just need to thin things a bit.

 

[meangreengrowinmachine]

what are you guys thinking is a good size for mom sips? just a 5 gallon bucket version should be ok eh? My 3 gallon fabric potted moms got to be about 6 foot 5 with just some really shtty old florescent lights... so thinking a 5 gallon bucket sip may even be over kill lol what you cats think?

 

[Humanrob]

You just need to thin things a bit.

I appreciate the thoughts. I did two big waves removing small branches. With the Chernobyl and especially the Cinex, they were all thin branches so I just removed about half of them. The Jack Herer is a bit beefier, but the rest are really wimpy. Tons of foliage, but no spine. Maybe it was just poor choice of strains or weak stock the clones came from. On the other hand, the ones in the 2 gallon fabric pots only got topped once and trimmed once, they just didn't need anything else. There are enough variables and differences between the grows that it could have nothing to do with the SIPs, I realize that. Just wondering.

 

[Tim Fox]

I had lots of branches this time around as well , I made so many changes this grow that it's hard to say if it was all the sip

 

[Organja]

I had lots of branches this time around as well , I made so many changes this grow that it's hard to say if it was all the sip

Maybe sips are best for Moms if they produce mega branching eh? This is interesting and I'll be sure to report on my sip as it goes...

 

[PDX Joe]

So, I modified the large 6.6 gallon Autopots. I created a bench for the growing medium with two wicks. This provides for an air gap between the water reservoir and grow medium. I used a piece of 1/4" thick food grade HDPE for the bench. The wicks are 2" ABS pipe and there are two additional bench supports made from 1.5" ABS pipe. I also drilled a hole just above the water line to admit fresh air into the air gap.

 

[PDX Joe]

I added the Autopot root sock to the bottom of the pot to prevent any coco or perlite flowing out into the fill valve and jamming it. The wicks were filled with 50/50 coco perlite mix. I covered the bench and wicks with two layers of weed cloth and then added the grow medium. I'm going to prevent roots from entering the reservoir. I also covered the pot with a plastic sheet. We will see how this goes. The plant I put into it was seriously root bound, so I'm not sure if it will recover for flowering.

 

[Tim Fox]

I added the Autopot root sock to the bottom of the pot to prevent any coco or perlite flowing out into the fill valve and jamming it. The wicks were filled with 50/50 coco perlite mix. I covered the bench and wicks with two layers of weed cloth and then added the grow medium. I'm going to prevent roots from entering the reservoir. I also covered the pot with a plastic sheet. We will see how this goes. The plant I put into it was seriously root bound, so I'm not sure if it will recover for flowering.

way cool,, good mods, thats a happy plant!

 

[Humanrob]

I added the Autopot root sock to the bottom of the pot to prevent any coco or perlite flowing out into the fill valve and jamming it. The wicks were filled with 50/50 coco perlite mix. I covered the bench and wicks with two layers of weed cloth and then added the grow medium. I'm going to prevent roots from entering the reservoir. I also covered the pot with a plastic sheet. We will see how this goes. The plant I put into it was seriously root bound, so I'm not sure if it will recover for flowering.

Very nice work on the improvements to the design! I'm looking forward to seeing the progress on that grow. If you don't have a grow thread for this one, feel free to periodically let us know how its going here. What strain is she?

 

[PDX Joe]

way cool,, good mods, thats a happy plant!

Unfortunately the plant doesn't seem to like the transplant. I suspect the Autopots are not a system conducive to an emergency transplant. I think maybe the roots at the bottom of the pot are too sensitive to the shock and I probably damaged them a bit with the move. I'm going to give this plant a few more days and if it doesn't perk up then it's gone and I'll reset. Oh well, I learned a lot on this first attempt. I think my biggest lesson is I need to shorten my veg time a lot. I think sticking with a month of veg would have been perfect. I was attempting to max out my SCROG, but that backfired on me. I think just growing a couple of healthy smaller plants and get them into flower ASAP would have made for an easier first indoor grow. Also, starting with the large Autopot would have given the roots more room and just less overall hassle. I figure it's probably good to make all these mistakes up front and then sort of understand my limitations.

 

[PDX Joe]

Very nice work on the improvements to the design! I'm looking forward to seeing the progress on that grow. If you don't have a grow thread for this one, feel free to periodically let us know how its going here. What strain is she?

Thanks. The strain is Barney's Blue Cheese. The plant had a nice growth pattern. But, I think I pushed my luck in veg trying to max out the plant and should have gone to flower a long time ago. Waiting for the larger pot set me back a couple weeks and the plant is really starting to suffer with the transplant. SIPS and Autopots are just not made for transplant... but I had to at least attempt it. The plant was super root bound. I have to keep in mind my light is only 250 watts of LED, so I may not be able to veg big plants and might need to focus on shorter veg times to keep the plants healthy and vigorous.

For my next grow I am going to use the large Autopots. I think I will run one plant with the modified Autopot and one plant with the original Autopot side by side and see what system works best.

 

[meangreengrowinmachine]

Unfortunately the plant doesn't seem to like the transplant. I suspect the Autopots are not a system conducive to an emergency transplant. I think maybe the roots at the bottom of the pot are too sensitive to the shock and I probably damaged them a bit with the move. I'm going to give this plant a few more days and if it doesn't perk up then it's gone and I'll reset. Oh well, I learned a lot on this first attempt. I think my biggest lesson is I need to shorten my veg time a lot. I think sticking with a month of veg would have been perfect. I was attempting to max out my SCROG, but that backfired on me. I think just growing a couple of healthy smaller plants and get them into flower ASAP would have made for an easier first indoor grow. Also, starting with the large Autopot would have given the roots more room and just less overall hassle. I figure it's probably good to make all these mistakes up front and then sort of understand my limitations.

I would wait it out man sometimes these plants will really surprise you.

 

[PDX Joe]

I would wait it out man sometimes these plants will really surprise you.

Yeah, I will give it chance. And I could maybe get a few good clones off it if it doesn't work out... instead of having to start from seeds again. Actually, I might try that anyway as a backup plan.

 

[ttystikk]

Yeah, I will give it chance. And I could maybe get a few good clones off it if it doesn't work out... instead of having to start from seeds again. Actually, I might try that anyway as a backup plan.

You gave it a big drink when you transplanted it, right?

 

[PDX Joe]

You gave it a big drink when you transplanted it, right?

Yeah, I gave it a drink. But, I used 1/2 strength nutes, just to dampen the medium and provide some food while the plant settles in.

 

[ttystikk]

Yeah, I gave it a drink. But, I used 1/2 strength nutes, just to dampen the medium and provide some food while the plant settles in.

I would have advised you to use normal strength nutrients and water until you see some dribble into the res underneath. Then, let it dry out until it's just getting moisture from beneath. It's been working very well for me here.

 

[Dirty White Boy]

Based on what? There is so many issues here to point out I'm almost about to puke or convulse.....does no one here read old school threads.....

 

[Jp.the.pope]

Based on what? There is so many issues here to point out I'm almost about to puke or convulse.....does no one here read old school threads.....

For example....

 

[PDX Joe]

Based on what? There is so many issues here to point out I'm almost about to puke or convulse.....does no one here read old school threads.....

Throw a bomb and walk away? You're welcome to add to the conversation. I read a lot... I wouldn't be on a social grow forum if I didn't. I'm sure at least half the stuff I do isn't the "best" or "right" way... just trying stuff out.