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Yesterday I built the 5 gallon SIP buckets following the instructions here.
Took about an hour (if you remove the time I spent fiddling about, smoking a doobie, and looking for the right tools).
The center hole for the "wick" is only about an inch and a half round - hope that is enough.
I used a grinder to notch the bottom that sits in the water. This should help airflow.
I read recently that airflow is important to the roots so instead of using the half inch PVC for the overflow I used 3/4 - same as the fill tube.
I'll put tiny fruit netting bags on both pipes to keep critters out. I used some blue painters tape to cover the bottom third of the buckets to help reduce algae growth. May not be an issue as the irrigation piping is black and not much water will sit outside of the donut.
Today I up-potted the SFV Gorilla OG and SFV OG into the SIP buckets. Took about an hour.
I used half FFOF and half used soil from last year (which was new FFOF). Also added lots of perlite - especially to the bottom third. I also added the GROW DOTS to the soil for timed-release nutrients. I placed about a third of the soil into the bottom of the bucket, thoroughly soaked the soil and lightly pressed it down into the center hole. Added another third and soaked the soil. Added the last third on top then transplanted. I ended up short of the soil I added DOTS to so I just added some of the used soil mix on top - about an inch. This puts the DOTS goodies lower so no biggie.
Here they are sitting pretty and dribbling a little out of the overflow.
I'm a little worried about the DOTS releasing nutes in a timely manner. I may need to add some liquid nutes and top water. We'll see if they start to yellow a bit again.
Oh and here is a gigantic hibiscus flower in the yard.
View media item 1902686
Freedom Isn't Free - today we remember our fallen warriors.
Took about an hour (if you remove the time I spent fiddling about, smoking a doobie, and looking for the right tools).
The center hole for the "wick" is only about an inch and a half round - hope that is enough.
I used a grinder to notch the bottom that sits in the water. This should help airflow.
I read recently that airflow is important to the roots so instead of using the half inch PVC for the overflow I used 3/4 - same as the fill tube.
I'll put tiny fruit netting bags on both pipes to keep critters out. I used some blue painters tape to cover the bottom third of the buckets to help reduce algae growth. May not be an issue as the irrigation piping is black and not much water will sit outside of the donut.
Today I up-potted the SFV Gorilla OG and SFV OG into the SIP buckets. Took about an hour.
I used half FFOF and half used soil from last year (which was new FFOF). Also added lots of perlite - especially to the bottom third. I also added the GROW DOTS to the soil for timed-release nutrients. I placed about a third of the soil into the bottom of the bucket, thoroughly soaked the soil and lightly pressed it down into the center hole. Added another third and soaked the soil. Added the last third on top then transplanted. I ended up short of the soil I added DOTS to so I just added some of the used soil mix on top - about an inch. This puts the DOTS goodies lower so no biggie.
Here they are sitting pretty and dribbling a little out of the overflow.
I'm a little worried about the DOTS releasing nutes in a timely manner. I may need to add some liquid nutes and top water. We'll see if they start to yellow a bit again.
Oh and here is a gigantic hibiscus flower in the yard.
View media item 1902686
Freedom Isn't Free - today we remember our fallen warriors.
