Beautiful work there Shed. 
@Carmen Ray has been wanting someone to do a side-by-side experiment with Swicks and SIPs so maybe here's her chance to see it!
If you do, I wouldn't wait to upcan the GM. There seem to be different rules for roots for these sub-irrigated containers and a regularly watered plant will have to transition its roots over to the ones it'll use in its new reality which will likely take a week or two, so might as well start the transition now.
I would try to get some soil in between the rootball and the reservoir even if you have torough up spread out the roots a bit wider/flatter to make room. And, if you wet the soil first before putting it on top of the reservoir container, less of it will fall through the small holes. Not a big deal if some does fall through, though.
These containers are kind of fun to grow in once they "catch" often making for bigger, healthier plants than those grown with the wet/dry cycle, probably because there's no pause in growth during the dry periods since those no longer exist. You've already seen some of that on your Swick plant.
The downside is you might have to reopen the renovation budget to widen the doorways as you schlep them in and out.
@Carmen Ray has been wanting someone to do a side-by-side experiment with Swicks and SIPs so maybe here's her chance to see it!
If you do, I wouldn't wait to upcan the GM. There seem to be different rules for roots for these sub-irrigated containers and a regularly watered plant will have to transition its roots over to the ones it'll use in its new reality which will likely take a week or two, so might as well start the transition now.
I would try to get some soil in between the rootball and the reservoir even if you have to
These containers are kind of fun to grow in once they "catch" often making for bigger, healthier plants than those grown with the wet/dry cycle, probably because there's no pause in growth during the dry periods since those no longer exist. You've already seen some of that on your Swick plant.
The downside is you might have to reopen the renovation budget to widen the doorways as you schlep them in and out.
How heavy is that going to be, with a full reservoir? My guess: about 30 lbs.
, thanks. CL
It's a bit hard to see on your void container, but I like to make holes as close to the top (bottom when installed) of that container as possible or put a layer of perlite on the bottom of the bucket, just so water can seep out a bit all the way to the bottom and so there's not a flush fit between the two.