Excellent reasons to go with a system that needs watering less frequently! I have no expertise on SIP systems or even a complete understanding, even after reading the discussion on Bud's new thread!I am completely with you and likewise concerned. My options for even having some moms is quite limited and appear to need to be in my chosen space or not al all. This space is accessed with a short ladder. My disability is a vary random yet frequent vertigo that causes injurious falls- a lot. In my 40s but fall like great great grandad shed. On days I’m not at my best (literally half the time) I’m not safe going up the ladder. So I need the plants to not require daily attention if possible. I will if I can, but reality interferes frustratingly often. I know I will need to rein them. Am considering a tall SIP wicking foot, in a 4” perf pipe full of gravel, sand, experimenting with media and wick size as wick size has highest impact on moisture gradient in SIPs. Maybe lighting restricted… At any rate, your notice is gratifying, means maybe you can be helpful with this problem.
Also restricted by my lighting, no cash for others. It’s a 360 degree ‘corn cob’ shopLED of 100k lumen, about kelvin 5500 looks like. Arranged 360 degrees around the light, six plants fed with a kiddy pool they sit in atop their wicking feet. Pool panda Polly’s for evap.
Yes, I have similar concerns. Thought maybe chop an inch of bottom of root ball every few months…. dunno…
Creating a balance between fewer trips up the ladder and slow growth on the mother plant, safety is definitely the primary concern.