Veg time for 3 gallon ~ pro mix

[G.O.T.]

looking for everyones opinions for filling a 3 gallon pot with roots but avoiding going root bound

my plan is: veg clones in beer cups for 2 weeks

then transplant straight to 3 gallon final container. 15 plants per 4x4

Veg for 1 week or 1.5 weeks?

style of growing is sorta a sog/lollipop.... or would topping in a 3 gallon be better? maybe a 3 gallon pot is too big for 1 week veg?

 

[dank.frank]

Well, I go from clone to party cups for a couple weeks...then to true veg in 1 gallon for 3-4 weeks (depending on the cycle)...then to 3 gallon and direct to flower.

From seed same kind of deal...

3wks from seed:

4th week into 1 gallon:

3wks later before flip:

9wks into flower in 3 gallons:

Dried Flowers:

Just to give you an rough idea...but clones...pretty much the same thing. I typically veg to about 18"-22" tall in a 1 gallon before transplanting to 3 gallon and flipping into flower.

Side note - these were in a fully amended, water only, organic soil mix...



dank.Frank

 

[ISM2]

Much depends on your light and rate of growth...
How long will they be in flower after the flip?

At 2 weeks in the beer cups they should be full of roots and ready for the 3gal.
The longer in veg, the bigger the plant and roots, the bigger the buds. I'd go with 1.5 weeks in the 3gal.

 

[G.O.T.]

I'm under 1000w and 600w HPS

ya thats what I'm thinking... 1.5 weeks....

i cannot do a mid size transplant into 1g ... well i guess i could... i feel 1.5w in the 3 gallons will be kinda the same as going to the 1 then 3

 

[ISM2]

)...then to 3 gallon and direct to flower.

Nice post, dank!
So you put them into 3gals and flip? No vegging in the 3gals?

 

[dank.frank]

No vegging in the 3 gallons.

And your certainly right...much of it does depend on the light the are under as to how fast / soon they are going to fill a given volume of media.

My buddy ran a 28 day rotation - and vegged under 600w - still used the 1 gallon to 3 gallon at flip routine...fwiw.

For the MOST part - my veg time is dictated by height - no so much root space. Given I know how much something will stretch...and how much room I have before getting too close to lights, etc.

So certainly several factors to consider without just saying a flat time line...



dank.Frank

 

[vostok]

I go 4 inch (solo size) pot, then direct to the 3 gallon ..but if a stretchy strain then to a 5 gallon, it depends on strain and intention, if for bud, seeds, clones, etc

just ensure your laterals can carry the weight of the buds, or risk your plants looking like a

well known female country western singer ....lol

 

[Granger2]

Yeah, bless Dolly's heart. She's got more plastic now than the decor in a mobile home. She looks good from a distance.

I'd do the same as Frank. Let height be you guide. I would go from beer cups to 3 gal. I always do that. Just be careful not to overwater till it roots well, then flip. Good luck. -granger

 

[vostok]

Yes ..I can only think that Frank quit his $400.00 a year gym subscription in favor of his
1x gallon to 3x Gallon workout, but potting up is a personal experience for me too?

 

[Bmac1]

I usually go from solo cups to 1 gal to final pot. Last time, I went from solo cups to 3 gal and vegged for about 2 weeks I think and then flipped the switch. Once I see roots at the drainage holes, thats usually my que to pot up or flip.

 

[G.O.T.]

when going from solo cup to 3 gallon, do you guys water the whole pot or just enough for the small root ball?

 

[Bmac1]

I will pot up when the solo cup is almost dry. Then I fill the pot with moist soil so the roots from the solo reach out for moisture. Then once the pot gets almost dry, Ill start watering normally.

 

[Thechewmaster]

i water just the root ball the first few days

 

[dank.frank]

My biggest reason for going from 1 - 3 is I wouldn't have room for enough plants if I went straight to 3 gallon...

I'm not suggesting that is the "best" way - merely that it works. If I'm flowering in 5 gallon - I go from beer cup to 1/2 gallon to 2 gallon to 5 gallon...with the exact same time spans and the containers always seem full of roots regardless.

I have to wonder though, if the interior root mass is still as dense - or if they've just spread out and traveled along the exterior of the container vs making a full, thick root ball.

I've always been taught...and practiced up-potting as means of efficiency as well - I don't know that I've ever looked for any scientific studies to correlate the practice too. It's always worked so I've never felt the need to change it.



dank.Frank

 

[Bmac1]

I just removed the soil from the pots of the last run (from solo cups to 3 gallon) and they definitely do no have a root mass like previous runs with that pot up in between. In prior runs, it ends up being an almost full bucket of roots. These seemed like the roots were concentrated at the perimeter and the bottom but not densely packed through the middle like previously observed.

 

[vostok]

I do admit to following Cervantas(van Patten) on his advice .. 1 us gallon per month the plant is with you, or in euro. 1 liter per week the plant is with you, I've never been rootbound since but have learn't to many potups causes to much stress

 

[dank.frank]

I just removed the soil from the pots of the last run (from solo cups to 3 gallon) and they definitely do no have a root mass like previous runs with that pot up in between. In prior runs, it ends up being an almost full bucket of roots. These seemed like the roots were concentrated at the perimeter and the bottom but not densely packed through the middle like previously observed.

This has been my experience as well...

but have learn't to many potups causes to much stress

In what way? How so?



dank.Frank

 

[Granger2]

That's where cloth pots excel. When the roots hit the sides, they're pruned, and the pruning causes them to branch all back down the root, filling the pot with roots.

If a plant is properly rooted, i.e. pot filled with roots, the root ball should come out intact, and there should little or no stress. Prior to that they don't need transplanting. Good luck. -granger

 

[G.O.T.]

i think i have had problems before with overwatering when going from solo cup to 3 gallon...

how often do you guys water a 3 gallon pot?

 

[floralheart]

i think i have had problems before with overwatering when going from solo cup to 3 gallon...

how often do you guys water a 3 gallon pot?

Start picking up the container to see if it's dry and light before you water.