<a href="http://www.siph2o.net">Sub-irrigated planters</a> (SIP) are simple devices that allow low-maintenance, low-water consumption container gardening.

A simple SIP has three major parts:

  • a container for soil;
  • a container for water; and
  • a wick that allows water to be drawn from the water container into the soil container.

The wick (typically made of fabric or polyester) draws water up into the soil through capillary action, where the plant roots absorb it at an appropriate rate for the plant.

Aeration holes in the soil container, combined with overflow holes in the water container, help prevent the soil from becoming too wet (which may cause the plant roots to rot.)

This diagram shows the major parts of a simple SIP made from a plastic pop bottle.

Illustration-pop-bottle-sub-irrigated planter.png


SIPs can be easily constructed from a variety of readily available (and commonly discarded containers) using simple tools. Commonly made sizes range from 1 liter pop-bottle SIPs to 50 liter-plus SIPs made from plastic storage totes.


For instructions on making SIPs from plastic pop bottles, visit:

http://suresimple.blogspot.com/2009/04/recycling-juice-and-pop-bottles-as-sips.html

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