I think your results will be spectacular as always Pete, I can't wait to see them growing in the summer time.

I'm planning on using a mix of Perlite and expanded shale.  I think the mix will be  somewhere between 3:2 and 4:1.  The expanded shale is primarily to add a little weight to the pot.  I will have supplemental support for the trees. 

Pete, what was the problem you found with Perlite?

James,
Aside from the weight issue and its inability to support taller crops without external support, Perlite by itself doesn't hold much water and dries out too quickly. It also does not contribute any other properties to the mix over time. Adding Pine Bark and Coco Peat should help to stabilize pH and increased root branching in the mix. The added organic components are also able to support more beneficial microbes. And since my application is actually bottom watering (SIP) and not a drip system, 100% Perlite would not have been feasible.

The guy from Eco Grow told me that he uses a bottom layer of perlite to wick the water up into the soil in his Eco grow pots. I'm not so confident in that but he said it works.

I wish I had a reasonably flat area to try something like this.  I'd have to spend several hundred dollars to build a deck to put it on.

Rich,
Depending on the size of the Perlite particles it should work... With smaller particles the "Soil Porosity" would increase, increasing the wicking ability, but the Perlite would be saturated in the "saturation zone" but would serve its purpose as a short wick. The Eco Grow planters also use Perlite to keep soil out of the reservoir of the planter and to help form the aeration platform.


James,
It actually takes very little level space to set up a system similar to the Water Farm-8. My system will be eventually set up indoors,  in-line, below an East facing window ~ 8' x 2' footprint. Outdoors, a couple pieces of 2x lumber sitting on cement blocks... Oh! , Just noticed your avatar and profile picture : )
 
BTW, you can have separate level controller buckets for different areas or group of planters and it would work quite well as an automated SIP watering system.

I like your buckets, the blue makes it look nice and clean with the white bucket in top, can't wait until you show the rest of the set up.

Chivas,
Thanks.
The white buckets are 5 gallons and 3-1/2 gallons. The blue buckets are from the same source that I have been using since the start of my fig adventure. I'm still waiting for the 10" net pot / bucket covers, they should be at the Grow Room store today. I can then start planting fig trees in the new "FigFarm-8". I have to find a source for the 3-1/2 gallon buckets because they are the perfect size and fit for the 5 gallon reservoir buckets.


The Current status of the 5 gallon hydroponic test buckets...
2 with 8" net pot / bucket covers...
2 with 10" net pot / bucket covers...
2 with 5 gallon nursery pots...
All planted with Coco Coir / Clay Pellets (Canna Aqua), @ 1-1 ratio.
4 with 5 gallon nurser pots... planted with Coco Coir / Sifted Pine Bark Fines / Clay Pellets, @ 1-1-1 ratio. For a total of 10 buckets connected to one (1) float level control bucket, plumbed as recirculating.
         .

I've also started fabrication of a second 10 bucket systems for figs, but it will use conventional 5 gallon SIPs and potting mix. The Hydroponic fertilizer will be a 50/50 mix of General Hydroponics MaxiBloom and MaxiGro.

Update: 4/28/2014

Current status of the FigFarm-10 Hydro test planters...
     .
Figs are currently forming on 4 of the 10 plants...
The cultivars from left to right are, Seedling BS, Violetta BR, VDB TC, Olympian TC, Unknown Lorna Dark, Black Italian TC, Unknown Tim Light, Stella BR, RDB Not OI and Olympian BR.

Update: 6/1/2014

Current status of FigFarm-10 Hydro SIPs
     .

The only cultivar that has been allowed to keep its figs is Unknown TimLight, all other formed figs have been pinched.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/144745362329424/?fref=nf
take a look at this facebook group, growing without pumps or solutions or hydroponic pellets. Amazing results with less cost.

Rain gutter grow system group page

Luise,
Thanks for Sharing that link, I don't have a Facebook account so I can't view the content, but there is lots of info on the rain gutter watering system on Youtube and there are a few forum members that are growing fig trees using that system, http://figs4funforum.websitetoolbox.com/post?id=6848168 http://figs4funforum.websitetoolbox.com/post?id=6964494.


Update: 8/2/2014

Most of the trees are 4' to 5' tall and had been moved outdoors.
The growth of this tissue Cultured Black Italian is typical of most of the trees in the SIP / Kratsky Hydroponic planters.
     .

Update... end of season.

The Hydroponic experiment was successful in producing edible figs. The one problem / observation that was encountered is that once the figs developed and started to grow they required a nutrient solution that was higher in Phosphate and Calcium. This was solved with the application of a Hydroponic "Bloom" fertilizer. Without the switch to the Bloom fertilizer (Lower Nitrogen ratio and increased P, Calcium and Magnesium) the developing figs were aborted (dropped).
.

I had also taken pictures of the Banana tree in fruit at The Grow Room in Nyack, NY. I had planned but was unable to return and take pictures of the tree ripened fruit.
 .

Rich,
Thanks for the picture...

I was planning on returning for a picture and a taste of a ripe bananas ; )

What is the NPK ratio are you using on the hydroponic for the figs?