So last year I didn't get to make 5 gallon SIPs as planned.  This year, I have 13 ready to go, and planning to make a few more real soon.  Not sure if I should go ahead and up-pot or wait a little longer.  Having said that, I went ahead and up-potted one of my plants since it was waking up. 

• I'm using Pro-Mix BX, mixed with a little bit of worm castings and additional perlite. 
• I compressed the mix in the wicking chamber and soaked it. 
• I dampened the mix as I added it to the bucket
• Transplanted the tree and watered the top a little more.
• I then filled the bottom reservoir about half way to keep the wicking chamber wet.

• Should I keep any water in the reserve at all during this time? 
• Should I simply moisten the mix when I do the transplant and not add water to the reservoir until these stay outside?

Frank, it looks like our area is going to get zapped with cold weather again in a week or so.  I used 5 gallon SIPs last year.  Prior to putting the in he garage I did a little pruning on the roots that had grown through the upper bucket into the lower one (i.e. the reservior) and I dumped out the water the reservior.  Since then I have been adding a cup or so of water every 2-3 weeks over the top.  In your case, since the tree is not doing much growing and transpiring yet it might not be a good idea to have a lot of water sitting in the reservior.  I would only have a little bit there (or none) and monitor how moist the soil is.  If it seems to be getting dry and the plant is still not doing much you could just add a cup or two over the top.  Then when it warms up and the tree is starting to wake up more you could water to the lower reservior as you would normally.

I agree with Rewton about the watering.
Maybe because I'm lazy , but I prefer to start the fig shuffle with them still in small pots and once they show signs of waking choose which ones get to go into the 5 gallon SIPs.
Just find it quicker to move crates full of gallon pots around at first instead of so many 5 gallon pots.
I have never had trouble with the wicking action not working because it dried out.
Your soil mix sounds fine .
I'm sure you'll like the growth you get in SIPs

Gentlemen,

Thanks so much for your replies.