Has anyone tried the SIPs at Home Depot?

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Shawn

Registered:1422739534
Posts: 66

Posted 1433537713 · Edited	Reply with quote #1

I saw these Newbury brand self irrigating planters at Home Depot today. Has anyone tried these for figs. The plastic seems a bit flimsy, but they are fairly inexpensive. You can not see tf from the photos but there is a opening at the top of the bottom tray part to add water. http://www.homedepot.com/p/Dynamic-Design-Newbury-16-in-x-16-in-Light-Terra-Self-Watering-Poly-Planter-NS1606LT/203629994#customer_reviews __________________ Shawn San Diego, CA Zone 10a Wishlist: Galicia Negra, Smith, Martinenca Rimada, Longue D'Aout (received thanks Gary), MBVS, CDD Blanc, Black Tuscan, Falls Gold Have (most are less than 1 year old): VdB, RdB, Celestial, Yellow Long Neck, Unk LSU TC, Magnolia, CDD Noir, CDD Grise, Maltese Falcon, Black Madera, Panache, Deanna, Peter's Honey, Vasilika Sika, Red Italian

baust55

Registered:1240892043
Posts: 497

Posted 1433551118	Reply with quote #2

Wal-Mart has a similar product, the large size is about 15" tall 17" in diameter $8.95 I have my six trees in smaller sizes of same pot They are nice pots . I am up potting them all to the 15"x17" soon. I might paint them first so they last longer . __________________ AUSTIN Read more mad non- scientist stuff ....check out my post on KITTY LITTER ! http://figs4funforum.websitetoolbox.com/post/kitty-litter-really-kitty-litter-7398708?pid=1287129765#post1287129765 "I grow fruit of the wine!" Zone 5 Fig trees I have : Hardy Chicago , Weeping Black , Ginoso , Excel , VEBT , and Genovese Nero . My Wish list: Panache, Florea,Desert King , RdB, Marseilles black vs, Vdb , Abruzzi, JH Adriatic , Nero 600 , MvsB, Malta Black,

Shawn

Registered:1422739534
Posts: 66

Posted 1433576139	Reply with quote #3

I will pickup a couple and give them a shot. James, Thanks for the idea of painting them to make them last longer. The plastic feels a little flimsy on the ones at HD. Is that how the ones at Walmart feel too? __________________ Shawn San Diego, CA Zone 10a Wishlist: Galicia Negra, Smith, Martinenca Rimada, Longue D'Aout (received thanks Gary), MBVS, CDD Blanc, Black Tuscan, Falls Gold Have (most are less than 1 year old): VdB, RdB, Celestial, Yellow Long Neck, Unk LSU TC, Magnolia, CDD Noir, CDD Grise, Maltese Falcon, Black Madera, Panache, Deanna, Peter's Honey, Vasilika Sika, Red Italian

Rewton

Registered:1291943117
Posts: 1,946

Posted 1433593361	Reply with quote #4

This type works well: http://www.walmart.com/ip/Mainstays-Self-Watering-Planter-Set-of-3-Ivory/12511406 I can't recall where I got mine but it wasn't Walmart. __________________ Steve MD zone 7a

luigiwu

Registered:1410096733
Posts: 87

Posted 1433604023	Reply with quote #5

my problem with all these commercial SIPs are that the reservoir are TINY. I rather make my own out of 5gallon buckets for a FRACTION of the price. __________________ New to figs! Container gardening in NY, Zone 7 Wishlist: Ronde de Bordeaux \| Violet de Bordeaux \| Negronne \| Valle Negra

figlegacy

Registered:1412213071
Posts: 96

Posted 1433606222	Reply with quote #6

Shawn, I bought the same ones from Home Depot (but in black, which was a mistake as they get to hot - the color you chose is better). They work well for me so far, but I had to make some modifications as they retain too much water. I had to remove the bottom lid/cover completely, then drill extra holes in the bottom, as well as on sides where it touches the bottom edges. Before making the holes I had them in these pots for a few weeks. Although they "appeared" to drain well when I watered them, I had a feeling they weren't, so I drilled the extra holes and sure enough more water came out and it smelled foul, as if it had been standing for too long. Otherwise, trees are growing well. It has been wet and humid here in NJ, and I don't know your climate and am no expert on this (this is my first year with figs,) but the extra drain holes seem to be working so far. Good Luck!

baust55

Registered:1240892043
Posts: 497

Posted 1433606397	Reply with quote #7

The plastic seems a tad flimsy . I bought some tan latex paint fro the oops mixed te wrong color shelf . I have some like the ones rewton posted but they switched to a different brand here that are not so tall . I will be trying the larger size is about 15" tall 17" in diameter $8.95 __________________ AUSTIN Read more mad non- scientist stuff ....check out my post on KITTY LITTER ! http://figs4funforum.websitetoolbox.com/post/kitty-litter-really-kitty-litter-7398708?pid=1287129765#post1287129765 "I grow fruit of the wine!" Zone 5 Fig trees I have : Hardy Chicago , Weeping Black , Ginoso , Excel , VEBT , and Genovese Nero . My Wish list: Panache, Florea,Desert King , RdB, Marseilles black vs, Vdb , Abruzzi, JH Adriatic , Nero 600 , MvsB, Malta Black,

Egghead

Registered:1430496432
Posts: 74

Posted 1433609657	Reply with quote #8

I got tired of that kind of plastic cracking after being out in the weather for a year or two. Interesting thought about painting them -- but won't that just bring the cost back up? __________________ -- Ione -- amazondoc on ebay -- http://www.eggheadhill.com (website coming eventually!) Lebanon, TN 6b/7a Figs (currently all babies): Atreano, Battaglia Green, Black Bethlehem, Desert King (Wellspring), Ischia Green (Wellspring), Janice, Kathleen's Black, Lattarula/Italian Honey (Wellspring), Letizia/Florea? (Wayside), LSU Black (PFTP), LSU Gold, LSU Purple, Lyndhurst White, Magnolia/Brunswick (Wellspring), Marseilles Black VS, Nero 600M, "North China"/Magnolia?, O'Rourke (PFTP), Olympian (Wellspring), Osborn, Panache (yay!), Peter's Honey, Petite Black Dwarf/Petite Negri? (Wellspring), Poppa John (PFTP), Red Lebanese (cuttings), Red Sicilian, Sal's (EL), Ronde de Bordeaux, Sicilian Black (Robin), Stella, Violette de Bordeaux (Wellspring) wishlist: Florea, Hollier, LaRadek English Brown Turkey, Rockaway Green, Smith, Vasilika Sika, Weeping Black, any Rimada -- and Jolly Tiger someday!

baust55

Registered:1240892043
Posts: 497

Posted 1433639852	Reply with quote #9

HEY EGGHEAD I got a 1/2 gal of super duper hi quality tan paint in THE "oops mixed the wrong color" section of Lowes for $5 . saved about $12 on the cost of the paint . So .......the six larger size 15" tall 17" in diameter SIP pots are now about $10 apiece with cost of paint added to each one . I am hoping they will last a long time . I will paint the outside and about 2" of inside lip . I will let you know in 5 or ten years ha __________________ AUSTIN Read more mad non- scientist stuff ....check out my post on KITTY LITTER ! http://figs4funforum.websitetoolbox.com/post/kitty-litter-really-kitty-litter-7398708?pid=1287129765#post1287129765 "I grow fruit of the wine!" Zone 5 Fig trees I have : Hardy Chicago , Weeping Black , Ginoso , Excel , VEBT , and Genovese Nero . My Wish list: Panache, Florea,Desert King , RdB, Marseilles black vs, Vdb , Abruzzi, JH Adriatic , Nero 600 , MvsB, Malta Black,

Egghead

Registered:1430496432
Posts: 74

Posted 1433642025	Reply with quote #10

Good idea, Austin. I may have to try that! __________________ -- Ione -- amazondoc on ebay -- http://www.eggheadhill.com (website coming eventually!) Lebanon, TN 6b/7a Figs (currently all babies): Atreano, Battaglia Green, Black Bethlehem, Desert King (Wellspring), Ischia Green (Wellspring), Janice, Kathleen's Black, Lattarula/Italian Honey (Wellspring), Letizia/Florea? (Wayside), LSU Black (PFTP), LSU Gold, LSU Purple, Lyndhurst White, Magnolia/Brunswick (Wellspring), Marseilles Black VS, Nero 600M, "North China"/Magnolia?, O'Rourke (PFTP), Olympian (Wellspring), Osborn, Panache (yay!), Peter's Honey, Petite Black Dwarf/Petite Negri? (Wellspring), Poppa John (PFTP), Red Lebanese (cuttings), Red Sicilian, Sal's (EL), Ronde de Bordeaux, Sicilian Black (Robin), Stella, Violette de Bordeaux (Wellspring) wishlist: Florea, Hollier, LaRadek English Brown Turkey, Rockaway Green, Smith, Vasilika Sika, Weeping Black, any Rimada -- and Jolly Tiger someday!

baust55

Registered:1240892043
Posts: 497

Posted 1433642621	Reply with quote #11

I wonder how many gallons of soil one of those 15"x17" Wally World SIP pots hold, once you subtract the water reservoir area ? __________________ AUSTIN Read more mad non- scientist stuff ....check out my post on KITTY LITTER ! http://figs4funforum.websitetoolbox.com/post/kitty-litter-really-kitty-litter-7398708?pid=1287129765#post1287129765 "I grow fruit of the wine!" Zone 5 Fig trees I have : Hardy Chicago , Weeping Black , Ginoso , Excel , VEBT , and Genovese Nero . My Wish list: Panache, Florea,Desert King , RdB, Marseilles black vs, Vdb , Abruzzi, JH Adriatic , Nero 600 , MvsB, Malta Black,

baust55

Registered:1240892043
Posts: 497

Posted 1433644990 · Edited	Reply with quote #12

here I will try and post a photo of the wal-mart. version I measure it 17.2"x1 5.4" $8.86 +tax They are made in USA by SUNCAST. The plastic/ polystyrene seems a tad sturdier than the HOME Despot version . just a guess . __________________ AUSTIN Read more mad non- scientist stuff ....check out my post on KITTY LITTER ! http://figs4funforum.websitetoolbox.com/post/kitty-litter-really-kitty-litter-7398708?pid=1287129765#post1287129765 "I grow fruit of the wine!" Zone 5 Fig trees I have : Hardy Chicago , Weeping Black , Ginoso , Excel , VEBT , and Genovese Nero . My Wish list: Panache, Florea,Desert King , RdB, Marseilles black vs, Vdb , Abruzzi, JH Adriatic , Nero 600 , MvsB, Malta Black,

baust55

Registered:1240892043
Posts: 497

Posted 1433721067	Reply with quote #13

QUESTION figlegacy ................When you said you drilled holes did you mean in the bottom of the upper pot ? or the snap on water reservoir ? __________________ AUSTIN Read more mad non- scientist stuff ....check out my post on KITTY LITTER ! http://figs4funforum.websitetoolbox.com/post/kitty-litter-really-kitty-litter-7398708?pid=1287129765#post1287129765 "I grow fruit of the wine!" Zone 5 Fig trees I have : Hardy Chicago , Weeping Black , Ginoso , Excel , VEBT , and Genovese Nero . My Wish list: Panache, Florea,Desert King , RdB, Marseilles black vs, Vdb , Abruzzi, JH Adriatic , Nero 600 , MvsB, Malta Black,

striveforfreedom

Registered:1322497326
Posts: 437

Posted 1433721959	Reply with quote #14

Since we really need a SIP for ALL of our trees and buying al these things gets pretty pricey quickly try this for those of us who are fans of thrift. I get at least 3-4 five gallons food grade buckets (used to hold pickles) that the manager of my local BK saves for me. They've been doing it for about a year now and I have buckets for all my projects that need them. Hope this helps someone. __________________ Vince Russo Norwalk, CT Zone 7A Wish list - Any cuttings of the Col de Dames would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.

zeitgeist

Registered:1428939457
Posts: 104

Posted 1455148792	Reply with quote #15

So with these SIPs, how often do you water? You are watering from the bottom so how do you gauge when to add more water? When the soil is dry a couple inches from the top? When the tree starts to wilt slightly? I don't want to water log them by adding water too frequently. Does anyone have a good way to tell when they need more water? Thanks Paul __________________ California Central Coast Zone 9 Wish List: Figo Preto/Black Madeira, I-258, Genovese Nero

dahlt

Registered:1384200021
Posts: 17

Posted 1455168026	Reply with quote #16

Quote: So with these SIPs, how often do you water? You are watering from the bottom so how do you gauge when to add more water? When the soil is dry a couple inches from the top? When the tree starts to wilt slightly? I don't want to water log them by adding water too frequently. Does anyone have a good way to tell when they need more water? There are two different designs of these pots at Home Depot and they look nearly identical. The one is basically just a normal pot with a built in saucer and you have to water it from the top. The other design has a small (1"x2"?) hole towards the bottom where you can add water. My thinking last year was that if I only ever added water at the bottom, as long as it hadn't rained recently, it would be hard for the soil to draw up enough moisture to get water-logged. I also would occasionally just dip a finger in to make sure there was water in the reservoir. The only problem I had was the one time I started filling it with water and a small frog leaped out! I'm not sure which of us was more startled. __________________ MS, Zone-8a In Pots: Black Mission, Royal Vineyard, Nero-600, Hardy Chicago In Ground: Unk. that came with the house Wishlist: LSU Purple, VdB, Olympia

ambermsam

Registered:1433352368
Posts: 84

Posted 1455198720	Reply with quote #17

Quote: Originally Posted by dahlt The only problem I had was the one time I started filling it with water and a small frog leaped out! I'm not sure which of us was more startled. This is such a cute story. I wish I lived in a climate for froggy friends __________________ Amber S.- Caretaker of Antigone's Mystery Fig. Northern California, zone 10a. limited time - will trade fig cuttings for non-fig plants

Rewton

Registered:1291943117
Posts: 1,946

Posted 1455210087	Reply with quote #18

Paul, the whole point of SIPs is that you keep water in the reservoir at all times. If it is set up with the appropriate type of soil the plant will not suffer from being too wet. You typically do not water from the top at all although mine are open to the elements so I do get rain water coming in from the top. __________________ Steve MD zone 7a

zeitgeist

Registered:1428939457
Posts: 104

Posted 1455210789	Reply with quote #19

Thank you dahlt. So basically you seem to be saying that you keep water in the reservoir at all times and there is no risk of overwatering. Correct? __________________ California Central Coast Zone 9 Wish List: Figo Preto/Black Madeira, I-258, Genovese Nero

zeitgeist

Registered:1428939457
Posts: 104

Posted 1455210844	Reply with quote #20

Ok, thank you Rewton. That answered my question. I appreciate it. That was my concern: that the plant could be overwatered. Thanks again, Paul __________________ California Central Coast Zone 9 Wish List: Figo Preto/Black Madeira, I-258, Genovese Nero

zeitgeist

Registered:1428939457
Posts: 104

Posted 1455213443	Reply with quote #21

One more quick question? How do you fertilize? Can you mix miracle grow with the water you are putting in the bottom? Do you need to periodically water from the top to flush the salts out of the soil? __________________ California Central Coast Zone 9 Wish List: Figo Preto/Black Madeira, I-258, Genovese Nero

snaglpus

Registered:1244258188
Posts: 4,072

Posted 1455218058	Reply with quote #22

When it rains all the salts will flush out. Make sure you have a good wicking soil or you will be sorry. __________________ Dennis Charlotte, North Carolina/Zone 8a

zeitgeist

Registered:1428939457
Posts: 104

Posted 1455231944	Reply with quote #23

Thank you snaglpus. I was thinking of just using bagged potting soil like miracle gro or something along those lines. Would that have enough wicking? __________________ California Central Coast Zone 9 Wish List: Figo Preto/Black Madeira, I-258, Genovese Nero

FicoParadiso

Registered:1447989012
Posts: 31

Posted 1455678050	Reply with quote #24

I started growing my collection with these. Great first year. Next year and all the time thereafter they are nightmare. They crack everywhere and the slightest move after one year and they will bust. I would recommend that you make your own using 5 gallon buckets, they'll last forever and much cheaper and have handles to aid in carrying around when needed.

Smyfigs

Registered:1443660141
Posts: 1,658

Posted 1455689128	Reply with quote #25

Frank, I am starting to use buckets for everything. In fact I just bought som 2.5 gallon buckets that i will use to make hanging pots for my tomatos. I am also using the blk buckets, drilling holes for air exchange and then putting another bucket underneath for the water reservoir. $4 for a sturdy bucket is a good price for me. And, they cone with a handle. I found blk on line at Home Depot. __________________ Meg-Hardiness Zone 10a Looking for... Socorro Blk Wuhan Jolly Tiger Lamperia Preta Herschtetten St. Jean Black Ischia "The best way to show my gratitude is to accept everything, even my problems, with joy." ~ Mother Teresa "Do not pass by a man in need for you may be the hand of God to him." ~Proverbs 3:27~ "He performs wonders that cannot be fathomed, miracles that cannot be counted." ~Job 5:4

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