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Smart Pots
- Thread starter Clackamas Coot
- Start date
Just a little preliminary data from my latest runs.
In my current transplant routine: 4" sq plastic, to 1gal sq plastic, to 3gal Smart Pot, to 7 gal Smart Pot.
I'm seeing the most benefits from the post 3 gal Smart Pot stage, seems to have really conditioned the rootmass for the final big pot push.
I'd also make the leap & say the 4" is a really important stage too.
Reign in that taproot nice & shallow ASAP, it affects the depth where the roots start to colonize your media.
I'm dropping the 1 gal sq plastic stage next run, they were more because of space limits that no longer exist & seem to be a waste of time/work.
I'll wait n see what the next 30 days holds with the final #7 SP's.
If you're going to try them?
Try them in a size that fits in the middle of your transplant routine first.
cheers
In my current transplant routine: 4" sq plastic, to 1gal sq plastic, to 3gal Smart Pot, to 7 gal Smart Pot.
I'm seeing the most benefits from the post 3 gal Smart Pot stage, seems to have really conditioned the rootmass for the final big pot push.
I'd also make the leap & say the 4" is a really important stage too.
Reign in that taproot nice & shallow ASAP, it affects the depth where the roots start to colonize your media.
I'm dropping the 1 gal sq plastic stage next run, they were more because of space limits that no longer exist & seem to be a waste of time/work.
I'll wait n see what the next 30 days holds with the final #7 SP's.
If you're going to try them?
Try them in a size that fits in the middle of your transplant routine first.
cheers
Chef: Thank you for the continued update on your experiment. I will be using the 4" Airpot for my seedling/rooting stage (plan to do very little, to no vegging) and then will transplant them to 5Gal. Airpots (2 plants per pot) for flowering.
I may also be adding in a middle re-potting (a 2.5Gal. likely) that won't be an Airpot because I flubbed my order! We'll see.
I may also be adding in a middle re-potting (a 2.5Gal. likely) that won't be an Airpot because I flubbed my order! We'll see.
chef said:
Don't be a hypocrite, post pics
You troll lol
Seriously C, are your 2 still running?
I was wondering if the 1gals you ran for a short time were a transplant step & if they're still goin in larger pots?
I wanted some more details on your 2 to bounce things off of.
They were 1 gals, how long? Coco & drip? did you veg? or finish in'em?
What was your complete transplant routine?
Seriously C, are your 2 still running?
I was wondering if the 1gals you ran for a short time were a transplant step & if they're still goin in larger pots?
I wanted some more details on your 2 to bounce things off of.
They were 1 gals, how long? Coco & drip? did you veg? or finish in'em?
What was your complete transplant routine?
rabid
Member
simba... the distributor was ready to sell me 50 x 2 gal bags for $65 ($1.30 per pot in bundles of 25). Then he contacted me with news that HC would not sell him less than 100 count lots. He then suggested I purchase from HC direct. They (HC) WILL sell less than 100 bags but for a 300%+ mark-up. I know, confusing, but it is what it is. Go figure...
Peeps are probably tired of this little drama so PM me if you have any ???
Peeps are probably tired of this little drama so PM me if you have any ???
Last edited:
chef said:
LOL
It was 5, 3 blue dreams, 2 GDP. 3 out of 12 blue dreams and 2 out of 15 GDP.
I ran them in 1 gals for a very long time. They were 2' tall and bushy. Pure coco, hand watered with PBP. Vegged only, transplanted into 2 gal net pots, pure coco with a coco root mat, ebb n' flow.
I have pictures on my phone of the root mass of the ones in smart pots and the ones in normal pots. The smart pots didn't have any spiraling, but no visible roots. They had the exact same vigor as the ones in the normal pots. Same amount of shoots, same height, same everything.
The only flaw in my experiment was that I didn't have more of a test population. Other then that, spot on.
The whole proposed benefit of these pots are that you want the roots to be air pruned and hence to create a more dense and 'airy' root mass, instead of large tap roots. This is exactly why I used 1 gallon pots. The roots were being pruned within the first 3 days... still, no difference.
OK Cool, my latest run is poisoned now too though.
Got a huge unexpected boost in flip speed, going into 12/12 from 24hr veg.
It was by mistake, been veg'n 24hrs since the 80's. I fired up my first light in the middle of a heat wave though & decided to shutdown midday until AC was in.
Did the controls way back when & there was a definitive improvement over 18/6, but I sure don't remember there being this big of a boost.
They're a good 7-10 days ahead in all areas.
Next run up, I'm think going to run them from 1 gal sq plastics, straight into multiple big pots. I can then do a...
1. weight check against current 3/7gal Smart Pot crop.
2. get some more "big pot" data, across the range of pot styles/sizes.
3. make sure I'm not bustin' my hump for nuthin' lol
cheers
Got a huge unexpected boost in flip speed, going into 12/12 from 24hr veg.
It was by mistake, been veg'n 24hrs since the 80's. I fired up my first light in the middle of a heat wave though & decided to shutdown midday until AC was in.
Did the controls way back when & there was a definitive improvement over 18/6, but I sure don't remember there being this big of a boost.
They're a good 7-10 days ahead in all areas.
Next run up, I'm think going to run them from 1 gal sq plastics, straight into multiple big pots. I can then do a...
1. weight check against current 3/7gal Smart Pot crop.
2. get some more "big pot" data, across the range of pot styles/sizes.
3. make sure I'm not bustin' my hump for nuthin' lol
cheers
increased plant vigor
increased plant vigor
i wonder how much of improved plant vigor is due to more air getting to the roots or due to the root pruning and new root branching.
I imagine it's a little of both but i bet the extra air to the roots is a big help for growing plants.......
increased plant vigor
i wonder how much of improved plant vigor is due to more air getting to the roots or due to the root pruning and new root branching.
I imagine it's a little of both but i bet the extra air to the roots is a big help for growing plants.......
I have a Kali Mist in a 7g smart pot. I will post pics when she has something to show.
Have a friend who just finished his run completed with clones that I still have in flower! I am a believer in the Air Pots and will be grabbing a bunch today! Incredible growth and vigor that I can only explain with the pots. Resisted the spending but now I will be doing it no problem. Also have a dist. here in town with real good pricing. I will be the first to admit I have been slipping on these. Maybe the best innovation in growing since indoor lights!! Yes they are that good!!
M
medfinder
lovin the icmag
Next up Urkle, Dogshit, and Cough(clone only) in tha pots!!! Let the veggin begin!!!! Peace!
http://www.icmag.com/ic/picture.php?albumid=178&pictureid=995
http://www.icmag.com/ic/picture.php?albumid=178&pictureid=995
Germanator
Member
Any indoor dirt farmer knows that multiple transplants are a key to large yields. In these pots it is impossible to have a stress free transplant as the roots bond with the fabric. When you pull the plant comes out the roots stay in...how many of these are dead and have escaped the container is up for debate.
I ran a 1 gal right next to a normal black container and it did seem to have the advantage of easy drainage (aided by the bottom third being able to drain as well as the bottom). Did it amount to anything worth the added cost of the containers? Probably not.
If I were running coco in a drip system I'd outfit with the 5gal smart pots... no transplant in that system.
I ran a 1 gal right next to a normal black container and it did seem to have the advantage of easy drainage (aided by the bottom third being able to drain as well as the bottom). Did it amount to anything worth the added cost of the containers? Probably not.
If I were running coco in a drip system I'd outfit with the 5gal smart pots... no transplant in that system.
Not true about them sticking to the container at all. I have personally seen them be completely unwrapped from the plant root and stay completely in tack with even better root protection due to the way the root system is pruned in the pot. Being able to unwrap the pot and move the ball as much as needed is much easier to work with than pulling a entire rootball out of a pot(who does that?). And lastly any indoor farmer knows that if you start out in the right size container you dont need multiple pot changes! If you didnt see the benefit then you obviously arent using the smart pots! Where does the fabric come in at?
OK, in the spirit of being better late than never I have my results from the pots I made myself.
The results are mixed but I think it has a direct corelation to the air or smart posts.
The increased air flow actually IMO dries the rootzone out too fast, we typically use 30% perlite and combined with the airflow through the sides and bottom they dry out too fast.
I feel that if you are watering every day in soil there is something wrong (plus it`s less time smoking more time working), either the pot is too small or temps are too high, I had to water more often and keeping water in the pot while watering was a pain (in my model SP and AP should be fine).
Second I noticed the same thing as my friend MrC, it seems to root trim but doesn`t seem to cause branching out like the trees on the website for these products. Not all plants react the same to identical stimuli.
I have not tested coco, this medium is a totally different approach and I don`t like pure coco for organics so it won`t be tested in my garden.
It might work better if one where to lower the amount of perlite in a particular soil mix to 10% or less, the vents will take care of the rest but this is another thing I am not about to try.
A close personal friends and guru of mine once told me that the best possible way to look at what may or may not work with a plant is to observe the way things occur in nature. The question was related to bottom watering by filling the pan beneath the plant but not top watering, he said rain falls and runs through the soil helping wash buildups out and freshening the rootzone. I have applied this logic to many grow situations and more often than not it holds true.
These pots don`t allow for a zone of moisture around the base of the rootzone, I think that dryer conditions at topsoil level and moisture below helps MJ thrive.
This is my take on these for now, like I always say try it yourself as your experiences may differ from mine.
Sub`s
The results are mixed but I think it has a direct corelation to the air or smart posts.
The increased air flow actually IMO dries the rootzone out too fast, we typically use 30% perlite and combined with the airflow through the sides and bottom they dry out too fast.
I feel that if you are watering every day in soil there is something wrong (plus it`s less time smoking more time working), either the pot is too small or temps are too high, I had to water more often and keeping water in the pot while watering was a pain (in my model SP and AP should be fine).
Second I noticed the same thing as my friend MrC, it seems to root trim but doesn`t seem to cause branching out like the trees on the website for these products. Not all plants react the same to identical stimuli.
I have not tested coco, this medium is a totally different approach and I don`t like pure coco for organics so it won`t be tested in my garden.
It might work better if one where to lower the amount of perlite in a particular soil mix to 10% or less, the vents will take care of the rest but this is another thing I am not about to try.
A close personal friends and guru of mine once told me that the best possible way to look at what may or may not work with a plant is to observe the way things occur in nature. The question was related to bottom watering by filling the pan beneath the plant but not top watering, he said rain falls and runs through the soil helping wash buildups out and freshening the rootzone. I have applied this logic to many grow situations and more often than not it holds true.
These pots don`t allow for a zone of moisture around the base of the rootzone, I think that dryer conditions at topsoil level and moisture below helps MJ thrive.
This is my take on these for now, like I always say try it yourself as your experiences may differ from mine.
Sub`s
