Yeah, kinda, just watered from the top down though. SIPs,
@delta9nxs PPKs, Kratky systems, OBBTs, Bio-Buckets, whatever I’m doing, and others are basically taking advantage of a hybrid soil / hydro setup where there’s a healthy soil life zone up top, and a reservoir below. Sometimes they’re active, with air or water pumps, but mine are passive at the moment. I basically have to water / refill the rez every day or two still, so it’s not like it’s a huge reservoir, or even gets time to go anaerobic.
I didn’t know exactly what to call my method, so I just said "dual root zone" in general.
Most people have great success using these principles, but they say for the best results, to use larger containers to support lots of life.
I just wanted to see how the concept worked on a tiny scale.
So far they’re nice, no real complaints, but my soil is only as alive as the Orca I add in, far as I know.
I haven’t tried it yet with a good living compost or anything.
The last plants I transplanted from this system in the coffee cans looked about as they should though.
Nice root development taking up all the space it was allowed, and no rot, despite being outdoors in a "hydro" setup with no aeration.
I’m sure I’ll keep changing shit up and "evolving" as I usually do.
I’m thinking about next years outdoor in some similar system, but in buried garbage cans, maybe an air pump. Should’ve thought of it a few months ago, of course.
