Grow Mediums Advice for new Earthbox/SIP (sub-irrigated planter) indoor grower?

[WildBill]

When is the best time to add worms? I'm planning on getting the boxes filled with soil and then leave them in the tent to warm up 24-48 hours before direct planting seeds.

I'm thinking add the soil and worms, let it sit in tent for a day or so, then plant seed and add grokashi, em-1 and straw layer.

What I plan to do:
I'd put all the media in, add water(with EM1) and check wicking. Once wicking is established and the media is to the proper moisture level, I'd add the worms and just give them a little food, not necessarily bokashi. Either put the cover partially back on or lay down wet newspaper over the worm food, leaving an area open for planting. Direct plant, put my peanutbutter jar over it and wait. Once established, cut the cover for the seedling.

Water
Feed worms
Chop Hang Dry Jar
Smoke!

 

[sidfinch]

This is technically my third grow, first legit indoor and I now know a little bit more about SIPs after an attempt to use them.

I don't think you want the soil to be very moist in the first few weeks, if at all. I made the mistake of having too saturated of soil which ended up causing damping off in some fairly mature seedlings. It was a combo of using the reservoir too soon, the cover keeping moisture in, and some elevated humidity spikes.

This was in the earthbox jrs, I'm also using gro buckets (5 gallon bucket) but I think those faired better just because they're probably twice as tall as an earthbox so the soil wasn't nearly as saturated, and they didn't have the shower cap to keep moisture in. If I hadn't let them dry out a few days I probably would have lost them too, but both seem to be doing great now.

I'm going to be pretty cautious with watering them and won't use the reservoir for at least the first week if not longer.

I removed the top soil layer and discarded it, then dumped both earthboxes and mixed with some super dry soil to dry it out.

Filled both earthboxes and then two 3 gallon fabric pots.

Back in tent, with 2 more than I had before. Yikes, full tent.

 

[BladeCutter]

mound fresh compost on top during the grow! I use oly mountain fish compost and then build a flower during bloom!

Heh "Organic," hope all is well with you. Sounds like you've been following Build A Soil. I'm planning an Earthbox grow with some of the Mephisto seeds I picked up Monday. I'm using BAS No. 2 mix and top dress it as Jeremey did in his recent side-by-side.

I too am wondering about running one or two plants, but I'm leaning toward one. I have only about 18-inches above the soil, so I need to LST strongly. I think I can build a framework over the box and use it for training and scrogging.

 

[BladeCutter]

What I plan to do:
I'd put all the media in, add water(with EM1) and check wicking. Once wicking is established and the media is to the proper moisture level, I'd add the worms and just give them a little food, not necessarily bokashi. Either put the cover partially back on or lay down wet newspaper over the worm food, leaving an area open for planting. Direct plant, put my peanutbutter jar over it and wait. Once established, cut the cover for the seedling.

Water
Feed worms
Chop Hang Dry Jar
Smoke!

I'm going to start my box with the 12-seed cover crop from Build A Soil. That should give the soil a chance to "ripen" without putting any seeds at risk. I'll then cut and mulch the cover crop and allow the worms to build a home.

 

[WildBill]

I'm going to start my box with the 12-seed cover crop from Build A Soil. That should give the soil a chance to "ripen" without putting any seeds at risk. I'll then cut and mulch the cover crop and allow the worms to build a home.

Throw the worms in there too! Don't use EB's recommendation of 1lb dolomite in the regulars. It's just too much!

 

[BladeCutter]

Throw the worms in there too! Don't use EB's recommendation of 1lb dolomite in the regulars. It's just too much!

Will do! I checked with Build A Soil and they recommend just a small number of worms to start out. I can pick up a dozen red wigglers from my local bait shop. That should be enough to get me started. My intent is to never fully change the soil in the EarthBox. But never is a very long time, but I should be able to reuse it a number of times.

 

[BladeCutter]

Don't use EB's recommendation of 1lb dolomite in the regulars. It's just too much!

I'm following recommendations from Build A Soil and not EB's recommendation.

 

[WildBill]

I'm following recommendations from Build A Soil and not EB's recommendation.

Great move!!!!

 

[Fermented_Fruitz]

I’m gonna warn u now YOU CANNOT RUN NO TILL WITH WORMS IN THERE! The way earthbox is designed the castings are light enough they wind up almost liquefying and they’ll slowly settle down to bottom of box and eventually into the reservoir! I ran a plant for 45 days that got stem rot and died obv! Then box sat empty maybe a month and then did 1 run beginning to end in it! By then whenever I’d fill water up I’d ace liquid worm castings come out the overflow hole! U can get few runs in but I’d recommend less worms! They’ll multiply pretty quick once u get box going! I found these other day and either they were laid inside big earthbox where I found them or they were outta my purple Rolex box I just dumped so weren’t in there but 95 days!

If you’ve never seen them before those are worm cocoons! Teeny tiny but found 3 total so be another handful of worms within 2-3 weeks!
Not sure if it would let u run the boxes longer but my current 2 rocbudinc girls in used hot glue gun and some window screen and covered the inside deck so it’d keep both roots and the castings etc out the reservoir and seems to be doing trick so far! This is full size EB girls like 2 weeks ago so can’t imagine how it looks now!

 

[Fermented_Fruitz]

Oh also just FYI my soil I got locally last time when I checked was 5.9 out the bag! Using a full cu ft bag to fill up the big earthbox on 1/29 I added just 1.5tbsp of powdered dolomite and this was what it was up to in that time frame off just that lil bit......

That hourglass means it’s still reading and hasn’t stabilized yet! It actually got up to 6.22! I think here next topdressing when I have covers off and add compost I’ll prob add 2tbsp since I’ll have flipped em by then! That way can get up to 6.7-7.0 range for flower since low 6’s seems good for veg since micronutrients are more available but in flower thinking the higher 6’s to 7 should be best cuz P/K more available! That’s my theory and 1st attempt tweaking ph during grow! Also worms help buffer the ph to neutral so less dolomite would be needed! That ph meter was $125 and is damn sure handy dandy! Especially if u wanna run no till style and just amend soil and replant!