Talk to Reese

Go on vacation. Your garden will be fine.

AUTO-SIP waters your sub-irrigated planters for you, using the same kind of controller that keeps factories running. Fill it, set it, and get back to the rest of your life.

See the systems How it works

Designed and built by Reese Webb in Plymouth, Massachusetts. His own unit has been running since 2018.

Two gardeners sharing a healthy flowering plant in a greenhouse
Since 2018The original prototype is still running
One valveThe only part replaced in all that time
2 yearsWarranty on valves, pumps and electronics
Built in the USASmall family business
Lush green tropical foliage
A bok choy and tomato bed growing in a raised garden box
Sunlit indoor garden with tall plants along a wall of windows

Stock photography. The plants and people shown are illustrative, not AUTO-SIP customers or customer gardens.

Watering is the hard part of gardening. Let a machine take it.

Anyone who has grown a lot of plants will tell you the same thing: watering is where gardens are won or lost. Too much, too little, or a missed day while you're away. Sub-irrigated planters make it easier, and AUTO-SIP makes it automatic.

The system is built on a PLC, a programmable logic controller. PLCs have been running manufacturing lines around the world since the late 1960s, and they're trusted because they simply keep working. That's the standard we hold AUTO-SIP to.

It works with homemade and store-bought SIPs, so you don't have to replace the containers you already like. And if your garden grows, the system can be upgraded by you, so you won't need to buy a whole new one.

A tip from Reese

Clean the sensor probes between runs and between seasons with a slightly coarse cloth.

  • Industrial quality and reliabilityBuilt on the same kind of controller used in factories.
  • Set it and forget itConsistent watering every time, even when you're away.
  • Anti-flood circuitsBuilt-in protection so a container doesn't get overfilled.
  • Dry-back capableLets plants dry back between waterings when your grow calls for it.
  • Multiple strains in the same gardenRun different plants side by side.

See the real system

This is the system Reese built and runs himself. Each blue valve feeds one container, and the controller decides when each one gets water. The pictures below are of his own working unit.

Twelve blue motorized valves mounted on black pipe manifolds, one for each container
The valve manifold. Each blue valve waters one container.
Screenshot from Reese's YouTube video showing the AUTO-SIP control screen with the time and pump status indicators
From Reese's walkthrough video: the control screen shows the time, pump and switch status. Watch Reese explain it on YouTube.

Who should have an AUTO-SIP?

If watering is the one chore you'd happily hand off, you're who we built this for. Here's who gets the most out of it, and why.

You travel, or you're simply not home much

Vacations, work trips, long weekends. Reese built the first AUTO-SIP so he could leave for vacation without worrying about his garden. Your plants get the same steady watering whether you're there or not, and you stop asking someone else to take over the watering can.

Daily watering has become physically hard

For anybody with physical disabilities that limit mobility, hauling water and bending over containers every day is a real barrier. AUTO-SIP takes that work off your plate. And if you can use a cell phone, you can operate it.

You grow in SIPs and care about the results

Reese's own move to SIPs brought bigger yields and better quality products. AUTO-SIP keeps the watering consistent every time, so your containers can do what they do best. Anti-flood circuits add protection against overfilling.

You grow more than one kind of plant

Different plants want different care. AUTO-SIP can run multiple strains in the same garden, and it's dry-back capable for growers who want their plants to dry back between waterings.

You expect your garden to grow

Systems run from 4 to 16 containers, all on the same industrial controller. Upgrades can be done by you, so you don't have to buy a new system.

Healthy potted plants thriving together in a sunny room

What you get back

  • Your timeNo daily watering round, and no planning your week around the garden.
  • ConsistencyThe same watering, every time, set once and left to run.
  • Peace of mindIndustrial controller, anti-flood circuits, and a first unit that's still running after all these years.
  • Backup if something wears outA 2-year warranty on valves, pumps and electronics. Replacement parts come straight from us, and swapping one is simple.
  • A real person on the phoneQuestions before or after you buy go to Reese himself, 3 pm to 7 pm Eastern, Monday to Friday.
A fair word before you buy

AUTO-SIP is built for sub-irrigated planters, so it isn't the right tool for ordinary pots. And at $1,950 and up, it's an investment, not a gadget. If you're not sure it fits your garden, call Reese and talk it through.

Pick the size that fits your garden.

Every system uses the same industrial controller. The only difference is how many SIP containers it waters. Shipping is free on all of them.

4 containers

$1,950
Free shipping

Automates 4 SIP containers. Works with homemade and store-bought SIPs.

Ask about this one

8 containers

$2,200
Free shipping

Automates 8 SIP containers. Works with homemade and store-bought SIPs.

Ask about this one

12 containers

$2,450
Free shipping

Automates 12 SIP containers. Works with homemade and store-bought SIPs.

Ask about this one

16 containers

$2,700
Free shipping

Automates 16 SIP containers. Works with homemade and store-bought SIPs.

Ask about this one

When you order, tell us the length of your SIP's watering tube in inches, so your system is set up to fit. Not sure which size you need? Call or email and Reese will help you pick.

How ordering works: Send Reese a message, and he'll confirm your tube length and the right size for your garden. Then he'll send you an invoice you can pay online or by check.

The AUTO-SIP controller in a clear-lidded enclosure with a touchscreen showing the status display

Why I built it

I needed someone to tend my garden while I was away on vacation. My wife urged me to fix it, and AUTO-SIP was born.

Reese Webb, owner and developer. 8-year Navy veteran with an AAS in Process Measurement and Control.

I used my education and experience to create this watering system. I tried plastic and fabric pots first, but once I saw how easily SIPs worked, I knew they were for me. The results were bigger yields and better quality products.

The first unit I built in 2018 is still running. I've replaced exactly one valve since then.

Questions people ask first.

Is it hard to run?

No. If you can use a cell phone, you can operate this watering system.

Who is it for?

Anybody who wants consistent watering without the daily chore. It's a good fit for folks who are often away from home, and for anybody with physical disabilities that limit their mobility.

What if something wears out?

Valves, pumps and electronics are covered by a 2-year warranty. All replacement parts can be purchased through us, and replacing a part is simple.

Will it work with the containers I already have?

Yes, it works with homemade and store-bought SIPs. Just tell us the length of your SIP's watering tube, in inches.

Can I upgrade it later?

Yes. Upgrades can be done by the user, so you don't have to buy a new system.

Questions or concerns? Call me.

Need help choosing a system? Send a message or give us a call. You'll reach Reese himself.

Phone
774-205-3035, 3 pm to 7 pm Eastern, Monday to Friday
Email
autosip@yahoo.com
Where we are
Plymouth, Massachusetts 02360
Watch it run
AUTO-SIP on YouTube

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