Switching up my grow/slightly. Ideas help appreciated

[heatherlonglee]

I've been growing for about 6.5 years in Pro Mix 5gal buckets; with 30-35 3/8" holes drilled into bottom and sides, for cheap airpots. Hand watered, drain to waste. I have one 315w CMH and 2 Kessil H150's in a Growlab 80, 31"x31"x71" is the tent size; four 5gal buckets inside. Temps at night 70-76 degrees, lights on around 77-83 degrees. The only thing I'm changing about my grow is that I'm getting rid of the 5gal buckets and switching over to 25gal Airpot with all 4 plants together in the larger pot instead of being in their own 5gal. Staying with Pro-Mix same nutes, lights, location etc...

What will change with the larger pot and all 4 plants together? I'll have a larger overall volume in the Airpot and will be keeping everything else the same. Any ideas on what I don't realize that will change with 4 Plants in one pot? They will be different strains and will finish at different times. The finishing at different times is what worries me the most. What will the 25gal Airpot be like with only 2 plants inside? I have two that finish together and another two that also finish together. I'll be harvesting two of the four at around day 60 and the other two around day 70. Is that 10 days anything to be worried about?

 

[Speed of green]

being able to move the plants individually, water retention is going to be an issue when the plants are small.

5 gallons of prolix should be ably to yield you a really decent sized plant, what is your reasoning behind going with one large pot over the four 5gals?

 

[heatherlonglee]

The small plants on the beginning is a great point! I'll be using Pro-Mix Hp and the plants will be About 18"-24" tall with 5-8 branches topped when babies. After that first watering it could still be 6-10 days before I'll even consider watering again. With the 5gal I have to water each pot separately and have to syphon the water out with a turkey baster on each pot and the farther back ones are harder. Larger pot was hoping to ease watering and syphoning, while also getting a larger medium and more room for roots to branch out.

 

[Speed of green]

on your previous harvests have you noticed unhealthy roots after you harvest? do they look as if they need a larger pot? root bound? if so i say give it a shot and disregard whats below.

I understand you want to give the roots ample space to grow, but you may run into issues with the larger pot, imaging going 10+ days between waterings, root rot, ph swings, ec spikes. the pot isn't going to dry out evenly either until the plants fill it.

if you've been successful in 5 gals for 6 years then i would stick to what works, or try it for a run, you will know really quickly if its going to work. worst case scenario you rip them out and transplant into 5 gallons.