Sub-Irrigated Planter Box

Douglas_OW · June 11, 2014

I came across this project on Imgur:

http://imgur.com/a/yrkio?gallery

The pictures make it look pretty, and easy to assemble, but I suspect that in use you would end up with 4 inches of saturated mix/muck in the botton of whatever size container you used.
Perhaps if all of the plumbing bits were sealed, and the perferations in the black pipe were at the same level as the overflow, with the container mix in contact with those perferations, it would wick the water as intended.
It looks like a good start, but perhaps the design needs refinment?
Or, maybe stick with other proven designs.

Jim

ricman · June 11, 2014

Hello Jim,

In one of the pictures I noticed several bags of small rocks. It never showed in the pictures but if the rocks were poured in first and then the soil mix on top the water would wick up thru rocks to the the soil mix. I am not sure but I have seen several SIP's with this design feature.

Rick

JamesL · June 11, 2014

They did a nice job on the exterior.
Would agree that they are going to have some issues with aeration and wicking though.
Rocks- If they are using them in the bottom, going to have issues much sooner.

ricman · June 11, 2014

Pea Rock and or gravel are used in the water reservoir of many SIP designs with a weed barrier placed over the top of the gravel or pea rocks and then back filled with potting mix. A drain hole is typically located near the top level of the gravel or pea rock. The potting mix wicks up the water allowing the plants to absorb moisture as needed. At least that's the idea...

Rick

JamesL · June 11, 2014

Quote:

Originally Posted by ricman

Pea Rock and or gravel are used in the water reservoir of many SIP designs with a weed barrier placed over the top of the gravel or pea rocks and then back filled with potting mix. A drain hole is typically located near the top level of the gravel or pea rock. The potting mix wicks up the water allowing the plants to absorb moisture as needed. At least that's the idea...

Rick

Rick,
Yes, I know a lot of people do it, but rocks really have no place in container gardening, SIP or otherwise. In a standard container a bottom layer of rocks will create a perched water table effectively decreasing your container size. I am not sure what purpose it would serve in a SIP.
Can't tell from the photos if they were using the rock in the containers, but I imagine it was possibly used as a fill material between the watering tubes. An empty tube would be a better way to fill in the gap.

luigiwu · June 11, 2014

Look nice but I would recommend looking at the Larry Hall's rain gutter grow system - very similar but you don't have the mix sitting in water. I only garden this way (or else I have a totally brown thumb.)

This is my (shallow) raised bed using the RGGS ideas. The typical RGGS uses bins/buckets which is much closer to the example you are showing.

ricman · June 11, 2014

I am a big fan of Larry's rain gutter grow system myself. I have 8 of them with about 70 tomato plants going this year....props to Mr. Hall

Rick

luigiwu · June 11, 2014

Hey RICK! so glad to meet another 'gutterhead' over here!

ricman · June 11, 2014

Hey you too Luigiwu. Best of luck with the rain gutters, I love them and so far the results are excellent. I just picked a 12 oz Big Beef a couple of minutes ago!!

Rick

ricman · June 11, 2014

Hello James,

You are certainty entitled to your opinion about the gravel. I personally don't use that system or gravel or rocks. But a lot of people do and have excellent results. I think someone should use what works best for them...That's what I do.....Like the old saying goes "There's more than one way to skin a cat"

Rick

JamesL · June 11, 2014

Rick,
I have seen your garden pics, great stuff. Wasn't looking for an argument or suggesting you were doing something incorrectly. Merely sharing information.
Cheers.

ricman · June 11, 2014

Hey James not how I took it.......I have no problem with someone expressing their opinion. So trust me no hard feelings on my part....Good luck with the gardening...Rick

george sr · June 25, 2014

Moved

Myronr · January 9, 2015

I made a similar device for a large pot on my deck. I can pour 1.5 gallon of water in it, and it will be watered for weeks. Other pots have to be watered daily in summer.

Vespertino · January 11, 2015

Thanks so much for sharing this information!!!! I'm looking for a solution to my barren backyard without having to put in raised beds and rip out and reconfigure my sprinker system. I have nothing but grass (with the exception of two small planting beds next to the house) and I wanted to have something like raised beds along the inside perimeter of the fence all around the yard. The problem is that I have sprinkler heads all along the perimeter, and I would need some kind of raised growing area I could keep about 5 inches away from the fence to prevent moisture damage to the wood fence. Either one may work, the sips or the rail system. Anyone have a link with good DIY pics for the rail system?

June 11, 2014	#1
Douglas_OW Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: NJ z5 Posts: 281	Sub-Irrigated Planter Box I came across this project on Imgur: http://imgur.com/a/yrkio?gallery The pictures make it look pretty, and easy to assemble, but I suspect that in use you would end up with 4 inches of saturated mix/muck in the botton of whatever size container you used. Perhaps if all of the plumbing bits were sealed, and the perferations in the black pipe were at the same level as the overflow, with the container mix in contact with those perferations, it would wick the water as intended. It looks like a good start, but perhaps the design needs refinment? Or, maybe stick with other proven designs. Jim

June 25, 2014	#13
george sr Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Stanchfield, MN Posts: 41	Moved Last edited by george sr; June 25, 2014 at 08:41 AM. Reason: Moved

June 11, 2014	#2
ricman Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Ardmore,Oklahoma Posts: 172	Hello Jim, In one of the pictures I noticed several bags of small rocks. It never showed in the pictures but if the rocks were poured in first and then the soil mix on top the water would wick up thru rocks to the the soil mix. I am not sure but I have seen several SIP's with this design feature. Rick

June 11, 2014	#3
JamesL Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Long Island NY Posts: 1,992	They did a nice job on the exterior. Would agree that they are going to have some issues with aeration and wicking though. Rocks- If they are using them in the bottom, going to have issues much sooner.

June 11, 2014	#6
luigiwu Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: ny Posts: 1,219	Look nice but I would recommend looking at the Larry Hall's rain gutter grow system - very similar but you don't have the mix sitting in water. I only garden this way (or else I have a totally brown thumb.) This is my (shallow) raised bed using the RGGS ideas. The typical RGGS uses bins/buckets which is much closer to the example you are showing.

January 9, 2015	#14
Myronr Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: Council Bluffs, Iowa Posts: 42	I made a similar device for a large pot on my deck. I can pour 1.5 gallon of water in it, and it will be watered for weeks. Other pots have to be watered daily in summer.

January 11, 2015	#15
Vespertino Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: Southlake, TX Posts: 743	Thanks so much for sharing this information!!!! I'm looking for a solution to my barren backyard without having to put in raised beds and rip out and reconfigure my sprinker system. I have nothing but grass (with the exception of two small planting beds next to the house) and I wanted to have something like raised beds along the inside perimeter of the fence all around the yard. The problem is that I have sprinkler heads all along the perimeter, and I would need some kind of raised growing area I could keep about 5 inches away from the fence to prevent moisture damage to the wood fence. Either one may work, the sips or the rail system. Anyone have a link with good DIY pics for the rail system?