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Smart Pots how exactly do they work?
- Thread starter DaleW
- Start date
Smart pots+Coco = Big plants.... The roots dont get bound as easily as if you were using a plastic container. Idea behind smart pots is to air prune the roots... You will notice roots starting to shoot threw the sides of the pot and then those roots will get dehydrated.. Theres a few videos online explaining it in depth... Thats just a summary of the idea.
OK that's what I was thinking just wanted to make sure. Im actually thinking of going with the viagrow breathable grow bags. Seems to be the same thing but not as overpriced as the smart pots. Kinda on a budget after buying everything else. And I do plan on going coco with a drip system so I'm hoping for sure I get the big plants you speak of.
ive been growing in smart pots since i started and to really take advantage of them you should make sure you give your plants a good veg time....let the roots really take advantage of being in pots like that....otherwise might as well just stay in plastic honestly....Im about to switch to plastic square pots instead for the strains i run also.
fabric pots are definitely great though, and definitely +1 on coco.
fabric pots are definitely great though, and definitely +1 on coco.
S
SeaMaiden
If you define root binding as circling in the pot, then yes, it's true. If you define root binding as being filled up with roots, then no, it's not true. Since SPs are easily as reusable as nursery pots, I don't find them to be overpriced for what you're getting. Of course, I'm only using 100g+ SPs, so that may have something to do with my opinion.
Great thread bro.. Hope people build It up...
Doing my 1st run in smarts. 3 gal/coco...
Just awesome pots ad everyone had laid out already.
Strange ta watch 1st time tho...
1st time the roots come through the sides freaked me out. .. Alien claws-freaky...
Im on the end of week on flowering and I look ta see white spots growing up the sides.. thinking mold... grrrr... lol. Turns out ta be salt build up being pushed out the sides... Freaky...
Ya might check out Air pots as well. Same idea just more stable.
Either way, ya cant go wrong...
Doing my 1st run in smarts. 3 gal/coco...
Just awesome pots ad everyone had laid out already.
Strange ta watch 1st time tho...
1st time the roots come through the sides freaked me out. .. Alien claws-freaky...
Im on the end of week on flowering and I look ta see white spots growing up the sides.. thinking mold... grrrr... lol. Turns out ta be salt build up being pushed out the sides... Freaky...
Ya might check out Air pots as well. Same idea just more stable.
Either way, ya cant go wrong...
While one may get the air pruning benefit with all fabric pots I have tried several fabric pots and have not found one that achieves the same anchoring into the pot as I get with the SPs.
The smart pot is the only brand where I've experienced roots actually growing through the pot and being air-pruned on the outside. The roots actually anchor into the fabric to prevent root circling, spin-off, etc.
The Roots Organic Root Pot, Hydrofarm Dirt Bag, along with another fabric bag which I think comes from CAP or Hydrotek did not achieve the same. I may have possibly still received the benefits of air pruning, but in all of the pots mentioned above I was able to slip my hand down between my root ball and the fabric bag. Could not achieve the anchoring/ porcupine action like I got with the Smart Pots.
For whatever its worth.
I like those roots anchoring into the pot, getting caught up in the fabric..thus signalling to the plant to send out another, and another, and so on. Maybe its physiological, but I didnt like seeing my root ball sit loosely in the no name pots..almost as if my root ball had shrunk away from the sidewalls of the pot.
The smart pot is the only brand where I've experienced roots actually growing through the pot and being air-pruned on the outside. The roots actually anchor into the fabric to prevent root circling, spin-off, etc.
The Roots Organic Root Pot, Hydrofarm Dirt Bag, along with another fabric bag which I think comes from CAP or Hydrotek did not achieve the same. I may have possibly still received the benefits of air pruning, but in all of the pots mentioned above I was able to slip my hand down between my root ball and the fabric bag. Could not achieve the anchoring/ porcupine action like I got with the Smart Pots.
For whatever its worth.
I like those roots anchoring into the pot, getting caught up in the fabric..thus signalling to the plant to send out another, and another, and so on. Maybe its physiological, but I didnt like seeing my root ball sit loosely in the no name pots..almost as if my root ball had shrunk away from the sidewalls of the pot.
S
SeaMaiden
IME, the roots will grow right down into the ground with SPs. Mine are all outdoors, and since they're so big they're not getting moved any time soon. I prefer to ensure I have something that isn't going to disintegrate in the sun, year in and year out.
What you're describing is fascinating, and quite unexpected. I assumed that if there were holes, the roots would grow through. Period.
What you're describing is fascinating, and quite unexpected. I assumed that if there were holes, the roots would grow through. Period.
Yeah I hear you guys, everybody has their own preference and that's a good thing. I just happen to be the type of guy who feels that a lot of time these companies try and juice you for your money simply because they can. Sometimes that's far from the truth but one things for sure I'm going to be one of the guys who's going to see if that's the case with smart pots because I just refuse to drop 5 bucks on a pot because it's the name everyone is speaking of. I think there was a time when they where the only ones doing it and today that's just not the case anymore but I could be wrong we shall see...
I've seen 30gal outdoor smart pot grows. Mosters... would have been a great question ta ask.
I wounder if ya might grow a core root system straight down through bottom with ever growing feeder roots air proned over and over.
Ohhh.. lol..
1 foot hole filled with small gravel where the center of a 30-50 gallon smart pot will be.
coco filled pot into soil with large volume pulse feedings. The pebble hole would help aerated the roots before between coco and soil.
Ok.. So im well medicated.
I have used both 5 and 7 gal smart pots with sunshine #4 and had good results, about 8-10 oz. I had some roots poke through and it seems like the roots get better O2 than plastic and less spiraling as the roots don't get blocked.
I am now using 5 gal AIRPOTS w coco & hydroton - DTW. The folks I know that switched from reg pots say they finish up better, which is probably due them not getting root bound. I am hoping for 10-12 oz per with 3 plants scrogged under a 1k hps.
Either one is way better than reg plastic pots.
Oh yeah, airpots are much easier to transplant than smart pots. But just in case you need to transplnat a smart pot plant here's a YouTube vid on how to peel a smart pot off a plant...
I am now using 5 gal AIRPOTS w coco & hydroton - DTW. The folks I know that switched from reg pots say they finish up better, which is probably due them not getting root bound. I am hoping for 10-12 oz per with 3 plants scrogged under a 1k hps.
Either one is way better than reg plastic pots.
Oh yeah, airpots are much easier to transplant than smart pots. But just in case you need to transplnat a smart pot plant here's a YouTube vid on how to peel a smart pot off a plant...
april20gardener
Member
Lovin the smart pots doing dirt ,but prefer the cheaper brand , it jus holds the water better
work great for me
S
SeaMaiden
With a 30gal, I can see the plant having enough time to do that, absolutely, outdoors for sure. I was tripping out at harvest when I went to move the pot, just a bit, and it was as though it was glued to the ground. Got my husband to come help me and we could hear all these roots ripping.
Only problem, at least in my location, with your idea is that the pots already dry out fairly quickly, even the bigger pots. So being on top of gravel might mean you'd have a hell of a time keeping the soil moisture up... unless that's what you're intending to address by digging a bit of a hole.
Get your meds on!
SpicySativa
Member
I don't think the gravel idea will air prune the roots. The air around that gravel would likely be near 100% humidity if it's buried, and roots will happily grow right on through that until they find soil. To achieve the air pruning, you need air surrounding the pot that's too dry for roots to grow.
Was thinking more a -transition space- between coco and soil. Also being under a large pot that would be wet all the time. Stones would alow roots a little oxygenated space before going deeper.
Just a thinken out loud. .. peace...
Just a thinken out loud. .. peace...
