Air Pots or Airpots

[Blckbrd]

I realize that there has been quite a bit of fragmented posting in other threads touching upon "air pots," so I'm not trying to be duplicitous by this thread. After searching and reading, I have not found much consolidated information on these air pots. Quite a bit more on smart pots, though.

I used to use WaterFarm and will again in the future; however, I have recently begun a soil grow just for something different and have just transplanted to 10"/3 gal air pots.

Anyone have experience with these? My initial concern is the amount of run-off when watering/feeding. Coming from small independent recirculating reservoirs (the WFs), I'm not sure how to deal with all this runoff & have been "mopping" it up and then spraying a weak bleach mix on the grow floor after every watering. As the plants get bigger and require more frequent watering, I can see this becoming pretty arduous. What better means/methods are there?

I'm thinking about cutting in half those 5 gal water jugs that feed stand-alone water dispensers - the ones with the tapered "mouths" - and suspending the tapered part (tapered part pointing down) over the grow floor, then placing the air pot inside it to at least channel the run-off into a collection container.

 

[Mr. Greengenes]

I'm trying an Airpot for the first time myself. It's smaller than the ones you mention, about 3L or maybe 1G. There seems to be a rim around the top section that has no holes. If you fill it that far at least excess doesn't drain out the side holes. Also, I think I used too 'drainy' a mix with sand and gravel added. Next time, I'll go for a more water retaining mix with more peat or coco. It would be very hard to overwater an airpot to the point where you'd be O2 starving the roots. I just have a regular plastic 'solo' picnic plate under mine to catch runoff. They do make inexpensive (large) clear plastic runoff trays for container plants, but you have to venture to your local garden supply store, the 'hydro guy' may not stock them...yet.

 

[Blckbrd]

Thanks for your reply Mr. Greengenes. Seems like a little more runoff is to be expected with the enhanced air to the roots. Just runoff to waste, I guess. I'm looking for a way to get rid of the runoff to best avoid encouraging the nasties/mold/fungus. With those roots more accessible, I am concerned that they are all the more vulnerable.

I guess if we used a thicker, denser medium, it would counter the airpot's breathability, no?

 

[*mistress*]

can diy air pots w/ roll of landscape fabric...
yes, they require more water than standard container.
run-off is separate issue, though..

none ever wasted, here, in imaginary garden.
seems most just overwater...

watering depends on size of plant... even when plant is 4x4x4 & in 1st week of flower, no need to water more than 1/5 volume of container, per 24-48 hrs...

so... for a 5 gal container,

5*128=640/5 = 1 gal/1-2 days - max...

for 3 gal...

3*128=384... 384/5=76 oz... per 48hrs... or... ~32oz per day - max...

this may be helpful:
Is there a standard...

another variable in watering is the dehumidification capacity of the room... if no water dehumidified, the rh will be higher & the plant will transpire less... which lead to more water in drainage-catch...

of the 100% water+solution taken up by plants in 24hrs, they transpire 90-95% of it as water vapor into the atmosphere... the 1-5% nutes absorbed...

but, if rh is high, pressure from atmospheric water presses down onto plant & makes harder to expel water.

in 1-3 gal container, maybe every 1-3 days, w/ excellent ventilation... & if plant if very large 3 cu ft+...

see link in sig for no-run off garden possibility...