Although Not Self-watering, SIPs are Simple!

via www.youtube.com

It's good to see this video demonstrating the use of an EarthBox sub-irrigated planter (SIP) indoors. That is what I'm doing with this "coffee plantation" planter.

There is one caution however. Read the comments in the post about testing soil moisture visually and with a soil probe. I would never add water to an indoor SIP without doing this.

The video illustrates what can happen when you think of these planters as "self-watering" and believe the claim that you cannot over water. While that may be true outdoors (even that is debatable), it is definitely not true when used indoors under significantly lower light.

GreenSolarDude mentions being bothered by fruit flies. This is a common mistake of misidentification. They are more than likely fungus gnats (Sciarid flies) and are a certain symptom of over watering. Fungus gnat larvae live in moist soil at the surface.

The top layer of soil is dry when sub-irrigation is used properly and the flies therefore cannot propagate.

There is another hint of a problem and that is the comment about using "any good potting soil". That is not true.

It is important to read the planter mix label and be sure there is no "top soil" listed in the ingredients. Do not use topsoil (aka native soil, dirt) in sub-irrigation. It is too heavy and does not provide good capillary action and aeration. This too can lead to fungus gnat problems and very likely poor plant health.

SIPs are easy to use, but some very basic information is needed for success, starting with forgetting the misleading term "self-watering". They are not self-watering or automatic. You can plug in your coffee maker and forget about it but not a SIP. SIPs are simple though, once you get it.

Comments

[David]

Thanks for all your insightful posts and information regarding SIPs. Perhaps you can help me better understand the self-watering issue. I was on the EarthBox site the other day and noticed they have a self-watering system that they say works. I visited the Roof Top Garden project site and downloaded materials there that teach you how to make your SIPs self-watering and automatic. Do they not really work as claimed? I thought about making my SIPs automatic watering but maybe it's not such a good idea. Thanks again for your time.

David