Air Pots

Coco Budder · Dec 4, 2009

I don't work for the company or am I trying to advertise. I am just a happy customer trying to show other people what I am using. I strongly recommend them to anyone using from a EBB&FLOW to COCO to SOIL.

I use them myself and I rate them a 5 out of 5.

+++ They are made from recyclable plastics, good way to go green while growing green! :canabis:

Go to their website to watch detailed videos to show how they are superior to regular containers.
www.superoots.com

mg75 · Dec 4, 2009

What is the difference between them and the fabric Smart Pots?

Coco Budder · Dec 4, 2009

mg75 said:
What is the difference between them and the fabric Smart Pots?

The company actually makes something else similar to the smart pots, but in the case of the black plastic is they are a lot sturdier and then when your done with your grow cycle you unscrew the two plastic screws and unfold it out so it lays flat. then you can thoroughly scrub and clean to be sure for your next cycle it is brand new again and no remaining additives are still on the container. Not only that who wants to move a bag of dirt, compared to a plastic round sturdy container, around your yard/grow room in the case it need be.

Good question though since that seems to be the big competitor to the Air Pots. :thanks:

mg75 · Dec 5, 2009

I wonder how much better they are over a hempy (coco/perlite) bucket.

Hammerhead · Dec 5, 2009

I used those in my grow last year I had 4 7g and I had some smart pots as well these where used in an all organic soilless grow. The issue with the air pots is that when you water you will lose 1/4 of the water from leaking out of all the holes so you will need something to catch this extra run off. I did see a much healthier root mass then with standard pot's. I did not have this issue with the smart pot's.

This was all SLH you can see the 2 in the back. The smoke is absolutely some of the best I have grown.

This is Soma NYCD

*mistress* · Dec 5, 2009

buckets
free @ bakeries/donut shops

drill
in most homes

bit
3/8-1/2". standard or preferably, metal/wood bit. maybe ~1 coin

https://www.icmag.com/ic/showpost.php?p=1296652&postcount=4

*edit*
link fixed
this may also be helpful, if want diy cheapo air pots:

Cheap DIY Air Pruning Pots *aka* smart pots

never really saw need to purchase containers for gardening... too many sources of free recycled/must be recycled plastic... but if it is absolutely necessary to buy containers... go ahead...

enjoy your garden!

Hammerhead · Dec 5, 2009

looks like you would still get a root ball that circles the bucket do you have any pics of the root ball?

daemos · Dec 5, 2009

Coco Budder said:
I don't work for the company or am I trying to advertise. I am just a happy customer trying to show other people what I am using. I strongly recommend them to anyone using from a EBB&FLOW to COCO to SOIL.

I use them myself and I rate them a 5 out of 5.

+++ They are made from recyclable plastics, good way to go green while growing green!

Go to their website to watch detailed videos to show how they are superior to regular containers.

www.superoots.com

Dj Short dropped a plug on thses in one of his threads i read. They seem pretty cool!

*mistress* · Dec 5, 2009

Hammerhead said:
looks like you would still get a root ball that circles the bucket do you have any pics of the root ball?

no pics of root ball.
the roots do poke out of the sides of the containers. they get 'air pruned', or are kept wet & grow down into a solution. either/or...

dont do it in imaginary garden for 'air pruning', but for general gas & vapor exchange of the media. entire room become air stone... no need for machines, just keep constant turbulent + laminar air flows...

can also create greater air space in the media by amending w/ 3/4-1" size pumice, lava rocks or large bark chips... then you may see those huge air roots in the top-dressing & thru-out the media @ harvest... larger air pockets, w/ film of water of large collidial surfaces (large rocks/clay) = larger (thicker) & more stem-like root growth...

finer media particulates encourage finer roots growth...

may have to water more though...

enjoy your garden!

mrred · Dec 5, 2009

i think that if your roots are growing outside the container in open air is a bad thing , it might not be getting enough air inside the pot because of soil be compacted ?maybe? i seen the promo for the plastic air pots and it should kill the roots before they exit the container,

and there is actually a point where there is to much air in the soil because it'll kill roots to fast and the roots wont have access to the soil near the holes if they are to big

*mistress* · Dec 6, 2009

mrred said:
i think that if your roots are growing outside the container in open air is a bad thing

how/why would this be bad?

it might not be getting enough air inside the pot because of soil be compacted ?maybe?

if they werent getting oxygen in media, they would die, not have enough strength to push out into open environmental air.

seen the promo for the plastic air pots and it should kill the roots before they exit the container

killing & slowly pruning via oxygenation is different.
if roots grew healthy & strong out of an 'air pot', would this be a failure of the pot?
or, are the roots pruned & thus grow like topped plant?

and there is actually a point where there is to much air in the soil because it'll kill roots to fast

?
air does not kill roots... roots very much require oxygen ('air') in the media. the practice of root pruning is not new... plenty of data on that in

and the roots wont have access to the soil near the holes if they are to big

???

btw, what is goal of 'air pot', for an ignorant lady gardener?

enjoy your garden!

Hammerhead · Dec 6, 2009

Healthy root system. The better your roots are will benefit in yield and possibly potency. I did see a difference in the vigor and overall health of the plant compared to a normal pot.

ScrubNinja · Dec 6, 2009

I DIYed some and they do indeed work. I needed more holes though (closer together)

I bought smart pots but not used them yet. They seem like the best idea imo. With an Air Pot it seems you've actually increased the surface area of medium to plastic - anaerobic. And there are only so many holes available. The Smart Pot is 100% available for pruning/air, with no increase of anaerobic surfaces. But maybe I just read too much. They all seem to work pretty well.

mrred · Dec 6, 2009

growing roots outside might open it more to disease than a enclosed root system(my assumption)

this is example of to much air i belive, see how the roots are rounded at the bottom and near the big holes i cut? next time around im only going to poke holes.

whatissixbynine · Dec 6, 2009

FreezerBoy · Dec 6, 2009

mrred said:
growing roots outside might open it more to disease than a enclosed root system(my assumption)

They don't grow outside the pot. They try to but, the air stops them. Hence the name air pruning. At that point, inside the pot, the root explodes 360º along it's length. Instead of a simple shaft, it's a bottle brush. Billions and billions of roots (well, bunches and bunches anyway) branching off every root that was denied it's freedom.

whatissixbynine · Dec 6, 2009

mg75 · Dec 6, 2009

I am using Hempy Buckets now and was wondering if anyone has switched from Hempy Buckets to the smart/air pots due to the claimed benefits of root pruning. I figured the catch tray under the smart/air pots can act as the reservoir (maybe fill it with clay balls or perlite).

*mistress* · Dec 6, 2009

mg75 said:
I am using Hempy Buckets now and was wondering if anyone has switched from Hempy Buckets to the smart/air pots due to the claimed benefits of root pruning. I figured the catch tray under the smart/air pots can act as the reservoir (maybe fill it with clay balls or perlite).

do both in imaginary garden...
use old kbs/freedom buckets (see ^) & fill w/
*100% perlite
*60/40 pumice/perlite/hydroton/bark & coco
*10 ewc/40 coco/40 inert roocks (see ^)

etc, etc, etc...

will have to water more... more water evaporates in container w/ air holes... but since plant like such moisture-evap cycles, or aka (ebb/flow, flood/drain), is ok...

is really function of increased total oxygen efficacy, not necessarily roots being topped & then branching out (ivho)... they can be made to do that w/ finer particulate media... larger media particulates (like lava rocks) will grow thicker, more dwc-like main root arms. larger air pore spaces in media for root to grow stem-like...

this is especially prefer drier conditions @ top of media...

enjoy your garden!

Coco Budder · Dec 6, 2009

Everyone's input is very helpful!! I think the thing we have all agreed on is more air to the root mass is a good thing especially if you have your airing out/watering schedule set to your needs. As for the watering more then a regular standard bucket of medium its not that much more, as the plants get bigger faster in the Airpots you have to water more of course. My ladies love their Airpots and they drink up the water at a steady pace. I'm using a 70/30 COCO/Perlite mix. I think next round Im going to be doing a 50/50 mix just because I see the benefit of watering more(with not that much runoff) a benefit because the perlite and the COCO are inert(no natural nutrients) and they love the feedings/water. Thanks for everyones input it is nice to see everyone is loving the topic.

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