How many 5gal smart pots in 5x5 1000w tent?

[DonScroggin]

I have a 5x5 tent that I plan to run 6 5gal smart pots of soil in. What I don't know is how big they will end up. I used 2 gallons under a 250w last grow. I plan to root the clones in solo cups under the 250 then put them under the 1k watt to veg for a month before putting them in flower. I will be using lst to keep em short but let me know what you think about the vegging plan. How long would you veg in the 5gal??

 

[Granger2]

From the bottom of the lamp when raised all the way up, go down 2' minimum, and you'll want your plants to get no taller than that.

LST is OK, but I would top/pinch instead. 1000w has about a 4' footprint for bloom. You'll want about 4 tops per sq ft. [16 sq ft x 4=64]. That's 64 tops divided by 6 plants = 10 or 11 tops per plant. That doesn't count side branches. Pinch and top to achieve that, keeping your plants as short as you can. When that is achieved flip to 12/12, regardless of the calendar.

No topping after flip. You can still lollypop and remove entire side and lower branches in 12/12.

Keep in mind that it does not hurt the plants to top, and to remove unruly stems. Where they branch, you can remove one of the two to get the number of bloom sites you want. After the stretch is finished lollypop them. Anything below about 2 1/2' from top of canopy will be scraggly larf so remove it.

The plant will put its energy into what's left and not waste it on the larf. Good luck. -granger

Edit: [FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Attention to changes made to this post above. I don't know what I was thinking, but meant to say you'll want 4 tops per sq ft. That's 16x4=64, divided by 6 plants = 10 or 11 tops per plant. I changed those numbers above in this post. -granger[/FONT]

 

[DonScroggin]

From the bottom of the lamp when raised all the way up, go down 2' minimum, and you'll want your plants to get no taller than that.

LST is OK, but I would top/pinch instead. 1000w has about a 4' footprint for bloom. You'll want about 3 tops per sq ft. [16 sq ft x 3=48]. That's 48 tops divided by 6 plants = 8 tops per plant. That doesn't count side branches. Pinch and top to achieve that, keeping your plants as short as you can. When that is achieved flip to 12/12, regardless of the calendar.

No topping after flip. You can still lollypop and remove entire side and lower branches in 12/12.

Keep in mind that it does not hurt the plants to top, and to remove unruly stems. Where they branch, you can remove one of the two to get the number of bloom sites you want. After the stretch is finished lollypop them. Anything below about 2 1/2' from top of canopy will be scraggly larf so remove it.

The plant will put its energy into what's left and not waste it on the larf. Good luck. -granger

Man..wow. Thanks for that solid response! Cleared a lot of things up. One question I have would be, will topping keep the canopy that even? I've topped before but it doesn't necessarily do the same thing as lst, I could do a little of both?

 

[Granger2]

DonScroggin,
Yeah you can do both. Whatever works for you to get a good, even, well spaced canopy. Before flipping you can do most anything without hurting the plant. It just re-routes and takes it in stride. And if some shoot out ahead, cut them back. And maybe a little more for faster growing plants.

To control height you can, instead of just cutting the end, cut them farther back. Don't be squeamish. Pruners and scissors are your friends.

Check out this Sticky.
https://www.icmag.com/ic/showthread.php?t=115377
Pruning is one of the most important things to master. It affects yield, overall quality, and ease of working which is something you will come to appreciate the importance of. Also prevents loses from broken bud branches, which can amount to significant cash.

Another thing I forgot to mention is plant support. I prefer to just use 4' bamboo stakes, and I only use them where needed. Part of the value of staking is that, even though they may not need support to keep them from falling over, you can use stakes to evenly space the buds. I don't use nylon trellis and such any more cuz you have hell moving the plants around and trying to work under them. Proper pruning and health [don't forget the silica] will make for less support needed. Be sure to rustle the plants with fans. Good luck. -granger

 

[Granger2]

Attention to changes made to my first post. I don't know what I was thinking, but meant to say you'll want 4 tops per sq ft. That's 16x4=64, divided by 6 plants = 10 or 11 tops per plant. I changed those numbers in my first post. -granger

 

[ElusiveQuark]

Attention to changes made to my first post. I don't know what I was thinking, but meant to say you'll want 4 tops per sq ft. That's 16x4=64, divided by 6 plants = 10 or 11 tops per plant. I changed those numbers in my first post. -granger

Will be be able to fit 16 5 gallon pots within a 4x4 space? The edge of pots might be your limit as to width of plants.

 

[packerfan79]

I personally think topping slows growth. Lst doesn't. Unless you has and endless amount of time to veg. Lst will get u their quicker with a stress free plant

 

[packerfan79]

I personally think topping slows growth. Lst doesn't. Unless you has and endless amount of time to veg. Lst will get u their quicker with a stress free plant

 

[Granger2]

Quark,
No that's 4x4=16 sq ft. Not 16 pots. He's using 6 pots in a 5x5 [4x4 bloom footprint for a 1000w]. -granger

 

[ElusiveQuark]

Quark,
No that's 4x4=16 sq ft. Not 16 pots. He's using 6 pots in a 5x5 [4x4 bloom footprint for a 1000w]. -granger

Sorry about my lazy reading. Thank you for doing the heavy lifting. Sorry for clutter.