Smart Pots

[Lollypop Man]

Mr. C - thx for A) doing the experiment and B) sharing the results!

I always thought the benefits (in terms of end product) would be fairly minor because the plant's lifespan is so short, but maybe that's the wrong measure.

Could the use of airpots/smartpots enable the grower to use a smaller container? Would be interesting to see a 5gal smart pot vs 7gal bucket, for instance. Assuming the yields were identical, or even if they were close, you'd be saving on media and footprint.

I think this was also mentioned up thread but perhaps the real utility for us growers is in maintaining moms. No concerns about root-bound moms or having to root-prune and transplant every year.

 

[Mr Celsius]

Could the use of airpots/smartpots enable the grower to use a smaller container? Would be interesting to see a 5gal smart pot vs 7gal bucket, for instance. Assuming the yields were identical, or even if they were close, you'd be saving on media and footprint.

Thanks for thanks.

I wouldn't know, I use coco, which can have a lot more root mass within the same sized container... can't say.

I've been using 'Smart Pots' for several years.

The advantages far outweigh the small increase in cost. If for no other reason than keeping the 'root zone' cooler in high-temperatures is proof that these pots are well worth their price.

YMMV

Please, list the advantages.

Like I said, they're good for outdoors, probably the only place that would need 'root zone' cooling.

 

[chef]

@ MrC I think if you took advantage of the ability to really pushem without overwatering problems, you'd see a difference. I have a microherd stampede going too though

"Thinking" goes against my sig lol

@ LollypopMan I'm running a controlled test real soon in the 7-10 gal range.
A 5gal SP is = to a 7gal bucket, they're big. I'll be using SP vs PolyBags & a measured amount of media per.

SPs extending the healthy lifecycle for Moms? absolutely!

My #3's are kind of a beeotch to transplant if they're really settled in.

At the least, overall root health IS improved & thats a fact!

cheers

 

[DEDHEDFRED]

I can list some advantages Mr. C......I`ve never been able to buy 5 gal. buckets for less than $3.50 in bulk plus shipping cost.....

5 gal smartpots are $ 2.00 per 100 and the #3`s are $1.70 so how are these containers all that expensive.......

Chef......My 5 gal. smartpots are smaller than a 5 gal plastic bucket so not sure where your info`s comin from.......Sorry.....

Peace....DHF......... ......

 

[FyahBlaZe]

I got both Air Pots and Smart Pots and been mostly using the smart pots but recently have used the air pots and thought theyd work out better.
The Air Pots are more easy to transplant out of and are more durable ,the bottom retainer plastic seems like the weak point but not one has failed on me yet .
These are the only pros i see over the smart pots , air pots leak alot of water and soil out if you dont water very slowly and this can make a mess.
Ive resorted to dunking my 2gal pots in buckets to water instead to get a more even watering and less mess.
Im sticking with the smart pots they are easier to acquire and cost less.

 

[Mr Celsius]

DHF, my smart pots, locally were $3 for 1 gallon.


My side by side didn't have thinking either. There was a control group. With enough numbers IMHO to accurately show any differences they would have had. I also did it with 2 different strains, so I accurately got to observe any difference and there was none.

 

[onegreenday]

Mr. C - thx for A) doing the experiment and B) sharing the results!

I always thought the benefits (in terms of end product) would be fairly minor because the plant's lifespan is so short, but maybe that's the wrong measure.

Could the use of airpots/smartpots enable the grower to use a smaller container? Would be interesting to see a 5gal smart pot vs 7gal bucket, for instance. Assuming the yields were identical, or even if they were close, you'd be saving on media and footprint.

I think this was also mentioned up thread but perhaps the real utility for us growers is in maintaining moms. No concerns about root-bound moms or having to root-prune and transplant every year.

yes that's a major advantage. you don't need a massive amount of media.

the air root pruning forces more roots branch out further back and the roots completely colonize your grow media without circling.

if you buy expensive bag media you can save some $$$$$$

 

[freeradical]

Good point about the mothers. It would be useful to never have to chop away the roots or transplant mothers as they get old. I use air-pots for two of my plants, and I'm noticing fatter buds with them...but it's a different strain, so I'll never know if it was the air-pots or not. I completely agree that it may not benefit the plant much if the life cycle is so short, which it usually is for most grows.

 

[Mr Celsius]

Good point about the mothers. It would be useful to never have to chop away the roots or transplant mothers as they get old.

This ^ is the best functionality for smart pots that I can think of. I know DHF raves about his mom's in coco with these... makes sense.

One pro I would like to comment on is: I live in an area that gets Root Aphids... If you put a large layer of sand on top of the soil medium, then the smart pots prevent these little buggers from entering your root system... which is wonderful.

 

[freeradical]

I use air-pots, which have openings in the side and allow pests to enter the soil easily. I actually have a persisting fungus gnat problem that is harder to control as I cannot prevent them from breeding on the sides of the medium, unless I use a larvicide agent (which I am).

 

[Murphle]

I recently replaced all my stuff in my E&F tables w/ 1 and 3 gallon smart pots. Using pure coco in most of them. The plants seem to luv them. I sure like em!!

 

[chef]

I use air-pots, which have openings in the side and allow pests to enter the soil easily. I actually have a persisting fungus gnat problem that is harder to control as I cannot prevent them from breeding on the sides of the medium, unless I use a larvicide agent (which I am).

Buy some cheap pantyhose & cut the legs up into sleeves for your pots.

cheers

 

[Mr Celsius]

I use air-pots, which have openings in the side and allow pests to enter the soil easily. I actually have a persisting fungus gnat problem that is harder to control as I cannot prevent them from breeding on the sides of the medium, unless I use a larvicide agent (which I am).

Yes, 'Smart Pots' not air-pots.

 

[rabid]

This vendor may have been mentioned earlier in the thread...

http://www.hort-enterprises.com

They are the cheapest SmartPots I've seen yet (same $$$ as DHF has posted). The 5 gal and larger can be ordered with handles for 33% more. After Jan 1st the minimum order will be 100 bags. Now they sell in bundles of 25. These guys are in Pampano Beach Fla.

 

[DEDHEDFRED]

Thanks for that link rabid....I`d suggest anyone even semi-interested in smartpots order up before end of yr. at this site cuz not many folks use 100 at a time.......

I reuse mine so there`s no tellin how many runs I`ll get outta the # 5`s......I soak em in zymes and use em every other run and I just finished 4 runs with em and they haven`t rotted yet.......

Mr C`s right about sp`s bein the shit on my mom plants but I think it`s got more to do with the available rootspace the 5`s have ta grow bigger plants.....

I see you like em for prevention of root aphids if sand covers the medium ta smother em right ?........

Mr. C.....I`m in coco and you`re in dirt....I use SM-90 to keep bugs outta my rootzones cuz I`ve always run hydro........

I guess in dirt since you used a control group and observed no difference in growth from spinning roots in plastic containers to the sp`s where roots were air-pruned , then the proof`s in the pudding cuz I respect you as a very knowledgeable and helpful grower........

When I started using coco in 5 gal buckets couple yrs. ago for my mom plants cuz I needed more cuts faster , I can honestly say that the plants JUMPED outta the buckets and provided 100`s of cuts per month on a regular basis......Fed once every few days DTW and they were very impressive ........

Then I saw a thread at another place on the sp`s and coco and I hadta feed my curiousity so I ordered 100+ ta get a decent price and free shipping........

I flowered out my moms in 5 gal buckets and picked plants for the new mom`s in sp`s and once they were out from under the t-5`s and transplanted the damn things went crazy under the 400 cmh.......

So much so that I cut my mom plant stock in half and still had more growth than I needed for all the cuts I take every couple weeks.........

I guess it all boils down to how you grow your plants and what medium you use as to whether or not smart pots will benefit you......

Ya`ll take care.......DHF....... ......

 

[Mr Celsius]

No, I'm in coco as well.

 

[Ulysses]

Wormsway.com has them available individually, I believe... Was that posted??? I didn't read the whole thread again...

 

[Azeotrope]

I was just thinking. So watch out it may be stupid!!!

Why not plant in the air pots and then set them in a tray or tub on a grate. Now make sure the tub will hold 2" or so of liquid below (not touching) the bottom of the air pots and then drop a pond (ultra sonic) fogger in the tray or tub and let the roots come through?.. I have seen insane growth rates with the fogger systems that were pushed a while ago. They had one major draw back though. If you ran out of water or power all your root mass was hanging in the now dry air. Canna nutes formulated for their coco bricks/slabs worked well with the foggers. I bet just the run off from the daily top feed or two and an occasional top off would work. Even with my organics!

Again, just thinking...

 

[rabid]

This vendor may have been mentioned earlier in the thread...

http://www.hort-enterprises.com

They are the cheapest SmartPots I've seen yet (same $$$ as DHF has posted). The 5 gal and larger can be ordered with handles for 33% more. After Jan 1st the minimum order will be 100 bags. Now they sell in bundles of 25. These guys are in Pampano Beach Fla.

It appears I spoke too soon. My order with Hort Enterprises has been canceled because the manufacturer of SmartPots (High Caliper) now refuses to sell less than 100 count orders. And it ain't January 1st yet...

It sounded too good to be true and the guy from Hort Enterprises seems genuinely pissed off at High Caliper because it was a done deal until they reneged on the order ($65 for 50 pots). I'm pissed off too

Anyone know where I can get 50 x 2 gallon smart pots for a realistic price?

 

[chef]

Best price I've found is a buck a gal at the shops for bigger ones #5,#7 & #10's.
I ordered some #3's from Kalyx.com @ $5.94, they have #2's for $4.74

The guys at the shops were hot a few months ago, they like doubled the wholesale prices. Kalyx was the best price I found online. They got'em right to me.
Wormsway is a good outfit too!

cheers