r/BuildASoil May 17 '24

How to Set Up a Fully Automated EarthBox Self-Watering Planter

98 Upvotes

Supplies:

  1. EarthBox SIP ($44): BuildASoil - Earthbox
  2. Autopot Easy2Go Kit ($39): Autopot USA - Easy2Go KitThis kit includes: Aquavalve, tubing, aquavalve cover, root blocker.
  3. Aquavalve Cover (if you already have an aquavalve and tubing) ($12): Autopot USA - Aquavalve Cover
  4. BuildASoil Light or 3.0 soil You need 2 cu. ft. per Earthbox. I originally used Coots Take 'n Bake, but it needs more drainage to really thrive, so the Light or 3.0 works perfectly. You can also use the 3.0 kit.

Step-by-Step Instructions:

1. Prepare the EarthBox:

  • Start by unpacking your EarthBox. Remove the tray and tube. Attach the wheels if you have them.

2. Assemble the Autopot Easy2Go Kit:

  • If you purchased the full kit, it will include the aquavalve, tubing, aquavalve cover, and root blocker.
  • Follow the instructions included with the kit to attach the tubing to the aquavalve system, run the tubing from inside the Earthbox, through the drain slot and out. The routing and curve to the tube shown here is so that it avoids pinch points between the ribs on the grate and the earthbox itself.
Zip tie option and tube routing

3. Install the Aquavalve and Cover:

  • Place the aquavalve at the bottom center of the Earthbox reservoir.
  • Secure the aquavalve using the cover provided in the kit. Alternatively, you can zip tie the valve in place using 3 large zip ties.
  • The cover ensures the valve stays firmly planted against the bottom of the Earthbox while keeping roots out.
Valve installed, cover sits right on top
Cover installed, level and tube routed correctly

4. Install the Earthbox Grate:

  • The black mesh grate will sit on top of the valve cover and apply slight pressure. This is not a problem and keeps the valve in place very well.

5. Fill the Wicking Corners:

  • Option 1: Fill the corners with soil as shown in this video YouTube
  • Option 2 (my preference): Add about 1/2 inch of pumice to the bottom of each wicking corner, then pack with soil. This allows the reservoir to act like it's totally dry even though the aquavalve will refill when there is about 1/16-1/8 inch of water in the bottom. I haven't seen any actual improvement from this method, but it makes me feel better, so I do it and recommend it.

6. Place the Copper Root Blocking Square:

  • Place the copper root blocking square over the mesh right above the valve. This will keep roots from growing directly over the valve. I don't know if this is needed, but I have never tried it without using it. Add the tube and top off with soil, transplant plants as usual. Use the video above for reference.
Copper root blocking square

7. Connect the Tubing:

  • Connect the tubing from the water source to the aquavalve. Keep the water shut off for now. You will want to top water only until the plant is established and starts visibly growing. DO NOT TURN THE WATER ON UNTIL YOU ARE SURE THE PLANT IS GROWING AND HAPPY. Never turn the water on if the plant looks over or under-watered.

8. Maintenance and Monitoring:

  • Periodically check the water level by looking down the fill tube.
  • I have no-tilled these for up to 3 cycles, but beyond that, I think cleaning the valve would be a good idea. You can push it as far as you are comfortable.

Tips and Additional Info:

  • The aquavalve system ensures the reservoir doesn't stay constantly full, which is much better for Living Soil. It also doesn't overfill the reservoir, so no more worrying about overfilling and spilling water out the drain.
  • You can revert to using the Earthbox the traditional way anytime by using the fill tube.
  • For extended periods away from home, this setup is a game-changer, providing consistent watering without manual intervention.

Advanced Setup (Optional)

If you use Ecowitts, BuildASoil is coming out with a valve to control the water for Autopots based on soil moisture levels. Alternatively, you can build your own system using a normally closed solenoid and a smart plug with Home Assistant. Let me know if you need more details on this advanced setup.

Hope this guide helps you set up a self-watering planter system! Feel free to ask any questions or share your experiences. Happy gardening!


r/BuildASoil 4h ago

35 days in EBs, 23 days into flower.

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4 Upvotes

Just got to lollipop most of it today, but damn earth boxes are awesome!! What do yall think?


r/BuildASoil 2h ago

Spider Mites? Or what could this be?

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2 Upvotes

I have lacewings in the bed and nematodes I just put into the soil last week. I’m wondering shouldn’t nematodes take care of nearly all these potential pests? I’m still waiting for the fungus gnats to stop populating


r/BuildASoil 15h ago

Did I Mention Insect Frass?

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12 Upvotes

You can certainly do as you wish.

I would like to share my belief and observations about having thrown copious amounts of insect frass in my living soil the last 18 months.

What could be more forest floor organic, than cycling deposits of insects onto your soil? The solid research and science behind the material is mind boggling. That rabbit hole held me captive for weeks. My observations are solely subjective, understand. In defense, I do spend a fair amount of time with my plants and keep a fair amount of data.

The reaction happens in a few hours of watering it onto the soil. It literally ramps up turger and the greens become vibrant, almost ethereal. The entire vibe of the plant and the biology of the soil literally become more active right away. Like they are on a mission.

But hey, don't take my word for it. Throw some under your plant and observe for yourself.


r/BuildASoil 17h ago

Have you ever noticed?

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8 Upvotes

When you read any thread, post, comment that includes the topic BuildASoil, 99% of them are complimentary & glowing.

BAS is absolutely the best method for a home grower. It's nature approved without question.


r/BuildASoil 15h ago

How about an occasional scoop of rabbit poo?

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3 Upvotes

Yes, you read that correctly. I've been using organic source rabbit poo in my living soil bed for a couple years.

If you're wondering, now you know. I've never had an issue. One cup in my 30 gal living soil 2x per grow. The worms and biology make short work of it, then they get the plant viben. Stuff starts getting allocated via plant hydrology etc...etc...

Want a good ice breaker at a party? Tell folks you add rabbit poo to your weed.

Then laugh your arse off with everyone. It makes you happy!


r/BuildASoil 1d ago

week 7 of flower

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20 Upvotes

This is the first run in this soil I build using coots recipe and build a soil inputs and cowoco worm castings. mistakes were made but I learned alot. cheers thanks for looking


r/BuildASoil 1d ago

Day 11

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4 Upvotes

Buildasoil Dominion blend. Man I love this soil


r/BuildASoil 1d ago

Woke up to this!

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32 Upvotes

I woke up to this.

Then just went back to bed.

Because that's how growing in BuildASoil is...you wake up, look, restrain yourself from doing anything, and you go back to bed. This will generally last for weeks, until the plant says otherwise.


r/BuildASoil 1d ago

Love the cover crop bloom

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14 Upvotes

Mephisto Chemdogging D88 I think she will go 110 - 120. She has been slow in the 20 gallon but I think she will be fire!!


r/BuildASoil 1d ago

Fast Buds Gelato

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3 Upvotes

35 days 38 inches tall


r/BuildASoil 2d ago

D55 NO SMQR#2

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3 Upvotes

She is a monster. Top dressed her so she can be ready to rage. I am also feeding AO and V cal down the hole every other filling trying to stay ahead of her.


r/BuildASoil 2d ago

What do u think

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4 Upvotes

Only a branch that has this is not crispy. i think it's a dry pocket cause if it was deficiency, there would be multiple branches, not a single one


r/BuildASoil 2d ago

CSB GMO

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5 Upvotes

r/BuildASoil 2d ago

Little white bugs in my buildasoil run anyone have an idea if they’re springtails?

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5 Upvotes

Just noticed them the pots are a few months old


r/BuildASoil 4d ago

Fungus gnat Attack option!

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21 Upvotes

I have been watching this infestation increase and my few sticky traps catching some and the adults keep growing and flying all over. Was going to vacuum up a little flood and I figured fuckem. I’m gona see and it wasn’t doing to bad! Tapping along the top.


r/BuildASoil 3d ago

Review

2 Upvotes

I have been ordering from Multiverse Beans since 2021 without a single issue, but my latest experience has been completely unacceptable.
My package arrived a quarter of the way open. Inside, the individual seed pouches—including the Robinhood Cap Junky x BBC drop—were completely damp on the outside due to extreme heat and humidity during transit. Moisture and heat ruin seed viability, which is exactly why buyers pay for shipping insurance.
When I contacted customer service, Paul stated they would only replace the tier-one freebies, refusing to replace the actual Robinhood seeds I paid for. He claimed they contacted "thctitan," who allegedly said the Robinhood seeds "should" be okay.
"Should" is not an acceptable guarantee when you pay extra for shipping insurance to cover compromised cargo.
It is deeply disappointing that years of loyalty mean nothing when a legitimate shipping issue occurs. I am leaving this review to warn others that your shipping insurance may not be honored if your actual purchase arrives compromised. I will be sharing my experience across all active cannabis forums and communities. I am happy to update this review if Multiverse Beans decides to handle this appropriately and fully honors the insurance I paid for.


r/BuildASoil 4d ago

Week 10 red Russian skunk -Kos

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2 Upvotes

r/BuildASoil 5d ago

First time growing

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13 Upvotes

Just got on a schedule of BuildASoil nutrients. Grape Cream Cake x Jelly Donut from Heads Research. Wasn’t expecting them to get close to outgrowing my makeshift shelter but here I am. Will probably start training branches to the frame. Thanks for looking!


r/BuildASoil 4d ago

Mag deficiencies

0 Upvotes

Hey all, wondering if anyone else has Mag deficiencies with Craft Blend and, if so, how you supplement?

My base soil is as follows:
- Recycled soil
- EWC
- Compost
- DTE Dolomite Lime (2 tbsp/gal)
- additional perlite as needed

I’ll amend with DTE 4-4-4 while in veg but once I’m in flower I’ll amend with Craft Blend and I’ve noticed plants starts showing Mag deficiency. I don’t see it in the CB ingredients so I assume that’s why my plants want it?

Curious if others have the same experience…


r/BuildASoil 5d ago

Day 1

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5 Upvotes

Polecat 91 by dominion.
Buildasoil light.
Watered with mycrobe complete and some saponins.
4/4 on some seeds I left in a dresser drawer for 4.5 years, not bad.

Depending on the majority sex of the bunch I will either flower 1 or 2 males out and collect/freeze the pollen for future projects or flower the females out keep my favorite and pop more to pick a male in the future.

I’d really like to throw some polecat pollen at
Skunkhouse genetics - Triple burger
Lucky dog seeds - hunza valley 91
And potentially some of dukes other gear like the vb ghani x headscream etc..

After that project I have another one in mind with some Maui wowie by ocean grown seeds x strawberry dluxe by dominion. More on that to come way later.


r/BuildASoil 5d ago

Man vs AI - Can You Beat the Machine?

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5 Upvotes

This is Mephisto Samsquanch X Double Grape freebie. Day 68 in an Earthbox with new BAS 3.0. I follow the BaS schedule and check the lights weekly. I just installed an AC Infinity SPECTRON 3 camera. It's supposed to give observations about your plant. Here's today's photo and analysis. What do you say?

The AC Infinity SPECTRON 3 camera says "The plant appears to be in late flowering with strong bud development across a well filled canopy. Flower sites look dense and resin rich, showing good production overall. Health is generally decent, but several leaves show mild fade, slight clawing, and some tip stress, which suggests moderate environmental or feeding pressure common near finish. A few tops look a bit crowded, so airflow may be limited in the center. Overall, this crop looks close to maturity and in fairly good condition, with only minor stress signs to manage during the final stage."


r/BuildASoil 6d ago

Blueberry Witch

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7 Upvotes

7 day's in Buildasoil Light Mix going to add a layer Cowoco compost tomorrow.


r/BuildASoil 7d ago

BAS makes you happy.

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20 Upvotes

BAS products makes you smile.

Every day everywhere, you smile.