I've got drainage holes at the bottom of my plant's containers. In the heat of summer couldn't I just place them in a little pool of water with maybe a weak solution of kelp (or whatever fertilizer to keep them hydrated and fed) along with a sprinkling of mosquito dunks instead of constructing a sip?

Not knocking sips, I rather like the whole self watering ease but, I just don't have the time/resources on hand to construct a sip for all of my more than 50 plus plants.

Just looking for simple, affordable workable solutions.

What would you do in lieu of a sip?

That is how I water my young figs in the 1 gal pots, until their roots get stronger and can handle more.

during summer my containers sit in water pan. it bottom feeds in the heat of the day. during fall, i remove the pan.

Potatochips101,
The Wading Pool Garden pioneered by Dr. Martin Price at Echo Community in Florida is what you are describing... Note attached descriptions and Link. Also Youtube videos of Larry Hall's implementation, if you search his channel you will find more videos on the subject. Good Luck.

https://sites.google.com/site/wickgardening/home/wading-pool-basics

Very good. I will have to try it then.

I'm just not feeling the individual SIP thing either. My mother grew african violets and we always just used a wick over a communal water reservoir. I don't understand why this would not work with figs. It seems that simply putting a few small holes in the low part (the feet) of a 2-liter bottle and sitting the bottle in a tray with water would work just as well and would be a whole lot easier. I have been using the baby pool method for my large plants for a while and plants seem to thrive, especially when it's really hot out.

Why not go to Harbor Freight and buy their irrigation kit for $6 and you will be able to top irrigate like 20 plants. See YouTube for the instructions on how to assemble it. The ones that come with it are not so good.

Rich, I haven't found that top irrigation, even drip, works as well with potted plants as bottom watering. Pots can get hot in the sun and the evaporation or respiration is not replaced at the same rate it is used up with top watering. I just don't see why it has to be individual.

Milehighgirl,
For older callused fig plants bottom watering, whether in a communal SIP or individual SIP would work fine, but for young plants in their first few months the "wet feet" may lead to a high failure rates, because the cuttings and roots have not callussed and hardened.

RichinNJ's recommendation of the drip irrigation kit from Harbor freight, http://www.harborfreight.com/irrigation-drip-kit-46095.html , its a good, simple, serviceable fill system for individual sips or communal SIPs. I've used it and it works.
It could also be set as an automated "reservoir fill" when used in conjunction with a 3/4" hose end watering timer.

I don't think I made myself clear. My plan was to use Promix HP in my mini sips, but instead of using the top of a 2-liter bottle inverted into the bottom, why not just put holes in the bottom and put them together in a tray to water as needed?

SIPS are interesting but I kinda worry about the water inside souring (mildew/mold) due to being mostly closed in. In Alabama, standing water, though, means mosquitoes and gnats might set up. I've been dunking my plants in about 4" tub of water every 4-5 days to bottom water. Not exactly ideal, but it's working under controlled indoor growing conditions. Not sure what I'll do this summer, but expect my battle will be too much rain.

I suspect SIPS might have the benefit of not evaporating too quickly (like a tray) and might alleviate exposure to bugs for standing water ??? 

Milehighgirl,
I did understand your intent.
IMO, and from experience, fig cuttings will not grow properly with "wet feet". The chances of the roots and bottom of the cuttings rotting will increase when kept wet.

Okay, I appreciate all the input. I will continue with making my mini-SIPS.

The mortor mixing trays you find by the concrete supplies work well for bottom watering very tough and size is manageable. I can put (9) 1 gal pots in the smaller size and they work good to tote them in/out during the spring temperature shuffles. They are only about $5.50 for the size I use.

Strudeldog, That's a great tip. They are also more durable than kiddie pools and don't look so funky.

Just wanted to state I don't leave any pots in the tubs with water for an extended period.  I keep my one gals in the 6 pack trays that I get discarded from Big box nursery stores which keep them upright and ease handling and just dunk the whole tray. If I do leave in tub I just add minimal water that gets taken up and pour off the excess.

I have toyed with the idea of a communal SIP by having a stiff wire grid supported by brick/wood block sitting in the tub with the pots on the grid each with a wick into the water.  If I did I would drill wholes in the sides at a level  to keep rain water from flooding the pots   I find these tubs very useful for a variety of uses. Right now they are pot saucers for my citrus wintering in sun porch. The Citrus are in larger pots you normally can’t find saucers that fit.  Here are some further comments  http://figs4funforum.websitetoolbox.com/post/my-most-useful-item-for-growing-figs-6532410