Why do experienced growers still use plastic pots?

[Salva]

Defoliar no es algo que hago hasta la cosecha final. Simplemente recorto las hojas moribundas o no funcional para aumentar el flujo de aire alrededor de los cogollos. Definitivamente no hay suficiente espacio en las tiendas para maniobrar, al menos para este viejo imbécil.:JAJAJA:

View attachment 18987561

Ese perro es igual al mio jajaja

 

[xtsho]

You mean that the size of the pot doesn't matter? The 1.75l plant came out the same as the 3 gallon plant? incredible

It depends on how you're growing. With flood and drain hydro you can use small net pots of hydroton or blocks of rockwool and get huge plants. You need much less volume to get the same sized plants in coco drain to waste than soil. You're always going to get the biggest plants if they're grown in the ground without pot size limitation.

That particular plant was an ACE Oldtimers Haze which has low nutrient requirements. After it got large I started treating it like drain to waste with a mild nutrient solution every watering. I transplanted it to a 3 gallon pot before putting it into the flower tent. I had to supercrop it to fit in the tent.

The grow was too much work as the plant got too large and it took 20 weeks to flower. I've grown Oldtimers Haze since then but I started flowering the plants when they were much smaller and could be managed in a tent.

 

[flower~power]

went with fabric pots primarily for convenience because they were easy to order online and come shipped in a compact manner… slower to absorb moisture & they do bleed out a bit from the sides some ..this heat wave wet them down on the exterior first also, they do not get as hot like those black plastic containers when they sit in the sun…. That’s a benefit.

 

[CharlesU Farley]

With the heat and humidity as high as it is, the roots aren't terminating once they hit air like they usually do. Took the shot a couple days ago:

 

[sticky.colors]

I’ve been using these corrugated sided pots for almost 20 years and they all outperformed the felt bags is 10 times easier to deal with, especially if you want to upsize the plant into a bigger container. The roots don’t spin around the outside, but go back into the center of the form of dense root mass that’s healthy.

those were my favorites for a very long time! there are also nice pots available originally intended for waterplants

 

[TrulyAmazingGenetics]

Fabric pots have been around for quite a while now. I know this is not a popular opinion but I believe, for indoor soil growers, fabric containers are the best innovation (with the possible exception of LED lights) in the past 25 years.

Here's some videos to illustrate why I feel this way:







A large, fully encircled/encased root mass, around the insides of plastic pots, with almost no root mass in the interior _soil_ of the plastic soil container, just doesn't make any sense to me. But I see so many experienced and knowledgeable growers still using containers that were originally developed almost 50 years ago.

Why?

Almost want to make a meme with my ass sitting in front of a table, with a large sign that says "This is my opinion, change my mind!

The most simple answer is watering practices.
I think watering is one of the most important parts of growing cannabis. If something has the potential to impact watering schedule and environment then its not always a cut and dry switch. When I grew in 3 gallon pots I struggled to get the same results with fabric. Switching to 20 gallon pots and up fabric really shines.

Outdoors its hard to argue for a plastic pot however indoors a fabric pot can really screw up your VPD.
This will cause the plants to not grow as well even though the root are healthier.
Also not all fabric pots are created equal.
The new grassroots fabric pots that are tan and have a water proof lining at the top of the side walls reduces evaporation. The old black fabric pots also dry out very quickly and can make soil go hydrophobic where you water and it just comes out the bottom and sides but the soil is still dry. Very hard to come back from hydrophobic soil in a small fabric pot. You essentially lose the outer edge of soil if you have too many dry backs.
Indoors if my fabric pot raises my RH above 70% and I now have to buy an expensive dehumidifier to keep my environment in check thats a huge investment to make.
Chances are that grower already has plastic pots he used to use before trying fabric. If they had a horrible experience with cheap thin fabric and their grow suffered then they are likely to go back to plastic pots they already had and know how to use.
Sometimes people just want to do what they already know because its scary to continually try and grow. One set back or failure can drive someone into a cemented way of life or growing.
Much love have an AMAZING day

 

[xtsho]

I've seen people fill disposable plastic grocery bags and have killer grows. I remember a few ears back on another site a user was just giving me hell because I said type of pot is rather insignificant and there are more important things to worry about. They went on attempting to lecture me about root growth which I have no problem with regardless of type of pot.

I then see in a different thread that user using those no-pest strips in a tent and spraying poison on plants in flower due to mites. I said "You're obsessing over what type of pot to use and then you put poison on your buds. What sense does that make?" I didn't get a response.

 

[sticky.colors]

I've seen people fill disposable plastic grocery bags and have killer grows. I remember a few ears back on another site a user was just giving me hell because I said type of pot is rather insignificant and there are more important things to worry about. They went on attempting to lecture me about root growth which I have no problem with regardless of type of pot.

I then see in a different thread that user using those no-pest strips in a tent and spraying poison on plants in flower due to mites. I said "You're obsessing over what type of pot to use and then you put poison on your buds. What sense does that make?" I didn't get a response.

When asking the right question leads to silence, it is always the same narcisstic habit shining through.

 

[Shua1991]

I use plastic unless I move them outdoors, then it's fabric. My indoor environemntal controls aren't great so anything that can prevent the spread of PM/mold or odors is proffered.

I know when it's ready for transfer by the visible roots.

 

[CocoNut 420]

I've tried something similar to those pouches myself. Great idea but the material was so thin it was difficult for me to load up the soil inside the smaller container. I found some similar sized containers that were thicker, fabric-based, with Velcro.

Got some clones I've got a transplant today and I'm forced to use those smaller containers (can't remember what size they are right now) because I've run out of room in the clone / seedling closet.

Hey bud, it's been a while but i can't see a reply?
The pouches I get are quite sturdy, I mean you can tear them but only on purpose they've never torn accidentally even with me lifting them by the side.

I've had plants in them long enough to get woody with repeatedly trimming them back (I only need a few clones)

 

[CocoNut 420]

View attachment 19023726
I use plastic unless I move them outdoors, then it's fabric. My indoor environemntal controls aren't great so anything that can prevent the spread of PM/mold or odors is proffered. View attachment 19023727 I know when it's ready for transfer by the visible roots.

They look great bud I'd love a space like that but holy moly I don't envy your trim job lol.

 

[CharlesU Farley]

Hey bud, it's been a while but i can't see a reply?
The pouches I get are quite sturdy, I mean you can tear them but only on purpose they've never torn accidentally even with me lifting them by the side.
View attachment 19023907
I've had plants in them long enough to get woody with repeatedly trimming them back (I only need a few clones)

The ones I used I got from Amazon and are no longer available. Here was the description:

Non-Woven Nursery Bags Plants Grow Bags 200 PCS Biodegradable Seed Starter bags Fabric Seedling Pots/bag Plants Pouch
Home Garden Supply (14x16cm)

The one you're using look like they're much thicker fabric and those are some damn fine roots there.

 

[Budshine]

Do Terracotta pots breath ,I’m at least sure there better than plastic ,weight issues on anything beyond two plants really though , but I’m thinking terracotta over plastic for 2 plants , nice big 30 litre plus ones

 

[CocoNut 420]

Hey bud, it's been a while but i can't see a reply?
The pouches I get are quite sturdy, I mean you can tear them but only on purpose they've never torn accidentally even with me lifting them by the side.
View attachment 19023907
I've had plants in them long enough to get woody with repeatedly trimming them back (I only need a few clones)

I ordered some more root pouches for cloning, I'm not intending to be growing so many seeds this year so I went down one size from 11x14cm to 10x12cm.

They're a nice size for clones and only $4 for 100.

I cut them a week ago (Fri) a few have the beginning of roots but this fruity pebbles is heaving out roots

@CharlesU Farley Hey bud, I looked at the description of those pouches and it reads much the same.
"Eco-friendly breathable and biodegradable non-woven material"
I wouldn't be put off with others being flimsy
Fwiw 'atubo_7381' is the seller on eBay

 

[Ca++]

Do Terracotta pots breath ,I’m at least sure there better than plastic ,weight issues on anything beyond two plants really though , but I’m thinking terracotta over plastic for 2 plants , nice big 30 litre plus ones

Terracotta pots can loose water through their sides. This water loss from the pot, leads to space it occupied, being taken by air. I don't imagine any of that air comes in through the Terracotta though. It more likely to be drawn in the top and bottom of the pot.

There are many grow methods, and not all would suit such pots long term. I'm thinking about salt build up particularly. Water soluble particles pass through the pot, which like a filter, will trap a lot of them. Giving the pot a rising EC. If just watering organic, the calcium in tap water can leave a lot of white deposits on the outside of the pot. Where it's carried to along with the water that is leaving. The water evaporates, leaving the calcium deposits behind. This isn't anything more than unsightly, but if you are feeding, there will be greater issues.

With an ever growing need for sanitary growing conditions, such pots are not that suitable. They are difficult to clean, right to the core of the material. Giving little orribles, a place to hide between crops. We all hope to not get a serious issue, but there is always some sort of viral load to keep in check. Which would be difficult to cycle out of your facility, if it's living in the equipment, where you can't get to it.

 

[Budshine]

Terracotta pots can loose water through their sides. This water loss from the pot, leads to space it occupied, being taken by air. I don't imagine any of that air comes in through the Terracotta though. It more likely to be drawn in the top and bottom of the pot.

There are many grow methods, and not all would suit such pots long term. I'm thinking about salt build up particularly. Water soluble particles pass through the pot, which like a filter, will trap a lot of them. Giving the pot a rising EC. If just watering organic, the calcium in tap water can leave a lot of white deposits on the outside of the pot. Where it's carried to along with the water that is leaving. The water evaporates, leaving the calcium deposits behind. This isn't anything more than unsightly, but if you are feeding, there will be greater issues.

With an ever growing need for sanitary growing conditions, such pots are not that suitable. They are difficult to clean, right to the core of the material. Giving little orribles, a place to hide between crops. We all hope to not get a serious issue, but there is always some sort of viral load to keep in check. Which would be difficult to cycle out of your facility, if it's living in the equipment, where you can't get to it.

Hey …nice one for that reply ,and yeah clearly not a good idea … the weights never good so scrap that idea

 

[Budshine]

I wish we could use clear plastic pots and watch the roots growing aswell

 

[xtsho]

I'm loving the black plastic pots my outdoor plants are growing in. One good watering in the morning and that's all they have needed even during the heatwave we just had. I have no problem with other types of pots. All that's needed is a vessel to hold growing medium. Some dry out faster than others. Plastic doesn't dry out as fast as fabric pots and if I had grown in fabric pots I would have been watering several times a day.

Fabric pots are fine and growing indoors with fabric pots, 100% coco coir, and Blumats is a combination that's hard to beat. It's so easy as well. I have no desire to spend time tending to plants when I don't have to.

 

[CocoNut 420]

Hey folk's, some other pot related stuff, pot worms.

They're visible with the naked eye but they're small, I've put in a pin for scale.

They're beneficial to have around.

All about Enchytraeidae | white pot worms - A Chaos of Delight

The Enchytraeidae are a very common group of normally un-pigmented terrestrial oligochaeta, commonly known as pot worms

www.chaosofdelight.org

 

[CocoNut 420]

I've been getting dirt under my nails and learning to prune as I go, I got the tree late last year, it hadn't been maintained so it needed pruning and some maintaince to bring it back to health.

I'm enjoying it so im going to try grafting a plum tree to it next year?