Smart Pot Question ?

[Buddaluva]

I have a few smart pots and this is my first time using them

When i water them the bottom of the smart pots are very wet so i have to sit them in my bathtub on a crate until it finishes draining ( which takes for ever cuz of how soaked the bottom gets )

So my question is this

Do you think it would be ok to sit them in a bucket with my nute water and just let it leach up from the bottom ?

would that be a good idea or should i just keep watering from the top ?

Thanks in advance fellas

 

[Agaricus]

I've never used the smart pot, I've gotten pretty used to grow bags, but I'd guess that would work just fine as long as you don't overwater and leave them standing in it.

I water my bags by having them set in a tote or a shallow sterilite container, and when they get dry just put more water in the bottom. Works like a charm. I haven't top watered in years. The roots grow better and deeper, and they don't spiral around inside the bag like they used to when top-watered.

Just my 2 cents worth.

 

[Guest2012z]

what exactly IS a smart pot? do they come in different sizes and colors? like camo for outdoor, even if this is in indoor category as I move from in to out and visa versus at times

 

[fox mulder]

What are they on carpet or something?

Waterproof whatever they're sitting on and make life easier. One of the most convenient aspects of my switch to smartpots is how they will suck up any runoff in like 30 minutes and the floor is dry.

But then again my plants only get water and saltless teas. If your feeding regiment requires some runoff, then bottom feeding might not be ideal.

If you feed heavy you might need to incorporate periodic flushes during flower to offset the lack of any salts running off when you feed.

good luck man.

 

[Buddaluva]

I've never used the smart pot, I've gotten pretty used to grow bags, but I'd guess that would work just fine as long as you don't overwater and leave them standing in it.

I water my bags by having them set in a tote or a shallow sterilite container, and when they get dry just put more water in the bottom. Works like a charm. I haven't top watered in years. The roots grow better and deeper, and they don't spiral around inside the bag like they used to when top-watered.

Just my 2 cents worth.

Ok thanks my man i will go ahead and try watering from the bottom next time

Will the water leach all the way up or only as high as the water level ?

what exactly IS a smart pot? do they come in different sizes and colors? like camo for outdoor, even if this is in indoor category as I move from in to out and visa versus at times

What are they on carpet or something?

Waterproof whatever they're sitting on and make life easier. One of the most convenient aspects of my switch to smartpots is how they will suck up any runoff in like 30 minutes and the floor is dry.

But then again my plants only get water and saltless teas. If your feeding regiment requires some runoff, then bottom feeding might not be ideal.

If you feed heavy you might need to incorporate periodic flushes during flower to offset the lack of any salts running off when you feed.

good luck man.

Smart pots are supposed to better a lot better then reg pots and root prunes it self

And yes their are different sizes from a gal to over 100 gallons

here are some here

Scroll down a little to see the original smart pot ,

http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_nkw=Smart+pot&_sacat=0&_odkw=Smart+pots&_osacat=0&_from=R40

These are the ones i have here

By taking advantage of the benefits of traditional plastic gardening containers while eliminating the shortcomings, Smart Pots truly live up to their name! These soft growing containers allow more air to reach the growing medium and roots, improving drainage and keeping the root system from overheating on hot days. Plant roots also benefit from their natural tendency to grow into soft surfaces like the Smart Pot, becoming thick and healthy instead of circling the inside of the pot and becoming root-bound. These pots are aeration containers allowing the air to prune the plant root structure. Simply remove the containers before transplanting. These pots will establish the plants quicker after transplanting.

• Better than plastic containers
• Better than raised beds
• Releases Heat
• Aerates the Root Zone
• Stops Root Circling
• Air-prunes the Plant's Root Structure
• Great for Aquatic Plants

 

[Agaricus]

Fox's comment would bear some thought. An occasional flush might be in order, though I've never done it, and had good results in the grow bags.

The water will wick up and moisten all the dirt in the pot. Kind of like when you leave the corner of a dishrag in the sink and the whole thing ends up wet.

Anyway, best of luck with your grow. I've been thinking about trying a couple of smart pots and will be interested in the results.

 

[Buddaluva]

Thanks man

idk if the results from my grow will be what you would want to see lol

maybe the results from a more experience grower

mine does not look the best , stretchy

2 strawberry cough 12/12 from seed

1 super lemon haze clone that vegged for about a week outside then put on 12/12

The one in the back and the skinny stretchy one are the strawberry cough

the one with 2 shoots is the super lemon haze

sorry not the best pic

 

[Green and Gold]

You can buy plastic dishes that go under the smart pot at any nursery or hydro store......When you water whatever excess winds up in the dish will be shortly absorbed up into the smartpot.

 

[Buddaluva]

I was at wal mart today and found these aluminum dish pans

Their used for baking turkeys and shit i guess lol

But they were under a $1 ( 94 cents ) so i said wth and went ahead and got them

They fit nicely under my smart pots , granted i had to flex them up some but they still done the trick

So next time i have to water i will just pour it in the pans and let it leach up

Hopefully it will work lol

 

[Buddaluva]

Question

Since the smart pots self prune can i plant right into them or should i still start my seeds off in a small pot and pot up to the smart pots ?

 

[siddhartha]

Yes and no. you can plant your rooted clones straight into a 3 gallon smart pot. But be very careful not to over water those first few weeks. at first the veg growth will seem slower than clones in a smaller container, but after four weeks the smart pot clone will jump ahead of everyone else. I go from clone into 2 gallon smart pots and finish in the same 2 gallon pot. Top watering is going to be best for you. water till you have runoff and discard the runoff. this is usally done by having an extra saucer. when you top water until run threw, lift the smart pot and put it in a dry saucer. plants do not like to be left in sitting water, this lifts the perched water table.

 

[MTRUM75]

I use 2 or 3 gallon Smart Pots (depending on my grow plan for the cycle). I root in rockwool cubes, transplant into 16 oz. cups. Then into the Smart Pots.

I have never transplanted from a small Smart Pot to a larger one. I think it would be much more difficult than doing with a plastic container. The root tips will be growing into the side and bottom of the pot.

I use sausers under my Smart pots. I am an organic grower so I don't worry about run off.

When I water. I break up the top of the medium and give them a little bit of water to moisten things up.

Wait ten minutes or so and give them a decient amount of water but not so much that there is any runoff.

Wait about 15 minutes. This time I give them water just until it starts to run through.

Wait 15 minutes and either the pot has sucked up the remaining runoff or I remove excess with a turkey bastor.

I have a small garden so this process is not to much work for me.

 

[raiderman]

get to know the plant how much it needs,spread the water around the top wen watering instead one middle spot or something till yu get jus a little runoff...i'm new to smart pots and purchased 40 3gallon sqare ones stead of round ones.i dont think i'd ever move the plant ,very well may shift the root system and mutate or damage the plant.

 

[MTRUM75]

There is no trouble handling or moving the pots. It will settle and compact just like other pots.