Hey there. I am making this thread to demonstrate how I have been assembling my own Octopot-style planters and to see if anyone else out there does their own version. This is going to be for Octopot style planters specifically and not SIP planters in general. So that means a fabric or airpot on top of a reservoir that uses a soil wick. So far this has been the easiest and cheapest way I have found to make them.
Start with some storage totes, these are 6 quart or 1.5 gallon. Can get a 10-pack at walmart for just over $10.
Cut a hole in the lid the size of a solo cup. Then a small hole in the corner for filling the reservoir.
I split the solo cups down the side in 3 spots. Not too sure on the best way to run those yet. A couple holes in the bottom might be good enough but I want the roots to be able to explode out all down the sides of the cup.
Now cut an “X” the size of the cup in the bottom of a fabric pot, these are 5 gallon.
Slip the cup in
And there ya go. Put the pot on top with the cup through the hole in the lid. Fill with a loose mix with lots of perlite.
Now the only thing left is to paint the tote black to prevent algae problems. Or wrap it in tape. Or a black trash bag. Whatever you have.
These are a smaller version of what I have made before. You can scale this design as big as you want I would think. My previous version used 10 gallon fabric pots on top of 12 quart totes. I was going 7-9 days between filling the reservoir. Tooooo easy.
Please share any designs you guys might have! 
