I want this to work

[dongle69]

So, I am making the switch from hand watering coco to ebb and flow coco.
I'm thinking of using the 1 gallon 7" Smart Pots.
Their site says it is actually a .83 gallon container.
Do you think that is big enough for growing 2-3 ft tall plants, 1 per sq ft, on a 4x8 table?
Their next size up is a 1.9 gallon.
??

 

[Greyskull]

Aloha dongle69.
These may not work for you but I like these: http://www.hydrofarm.com/pb_detail.php?itemid=7810#

Line the bottom with 2' hydroton, fill to the top with 100% coco and I am off.
My plants finish 32-40" tall. I was using wood stakes, but have just tried tomato cages and I think I like them better (less work to keep the plants in their own space).

Works for me man. Hope you find something that works for you. Good luck.

 

[dongle69]

Aloha dongle69.
These may not work for you but I like these: http://www.hydrofarm.com/pb_detail.php?itemid=7810#

Line the bottom with 2' hydroton, fill to the top with 100% coco and I am off.
My plants finish 32-40" tall. I was using wood stakes, but have just tried tomato cages and I think I like them better (less work to keep the plants in their own space).

Works for me man. Hope you find something that works for you. Good luck.

Thanks. normally I would try that but I am limiting myself because I like to throw my coco in my backyard when I'm done with it.
I don't want to have to separate the hydroton from it.
That is why I was thinking Smart Pots because they would hold everything in.
Not sure how long they are supposed to last when re-using them every 8 weeks or so.
My other concern is how much coco/container size is needed in ebb and flow for 1 plant per sq foot.

 

[Greyskull]

I hear you for sure about the hydroton.
What exactly is a smart pot?
BTW I have 16 plants per 4x4 (ala 1plant per sq ft) in the 8"pots w/cages - canopy is even and solid and full.
I think you're gonna like ebb n flow in coco however you do it!
Aloha

 

[dongle69]

What exactly is a smart pot?

It is a fabric bag/container that will air prune roots.
http://www.smartpots.com/

Although I'm mainly thinking about using them so no coco or debris gets out.
I can't wait to switch.
Hand watering is getting old and I don't want no stinking drip.

 

[Dee9]

Those smart pots looks like grow-bags.

Not very good pics on the site...

Are they made from plastic?

 

[dongle69]

Those smart pots looks like grow-bags.

Not very good pics on the site...

Are they made from plastic?

They are fabric.
I got an email from them.
Here is an excerpt:

The Smart Pot is ideal for an ebb and flow/flood and drain system. The fabric wick's water on the sides of the container moving water by capillary action. The Smart Pot drains evenly and completely because it is made of fabric. You are able to use most any kind of medium you want because it will not leach out, which means you have less of a chance to clog your drain holes.
You will be able to get about 3 or 4 uses out of the smart pot or more. Some of our customers are throwing them in a washing machine with color safe bleach and then line drying.

 

[Dee9]

Thanks dongle - maybe I will try and make myself some fabric grow bags -

what kind of material do they use? cotton or synthetic?

 

[dongle69]

Not sure what kind of fabric....

 

[tobaaaac]

There is a guy on breed bay that has a lot of good pictures of smart pots and smart pot roots and plants in ebb and flow coco. I don't know if it's appropriate to post that link or what... I can if it is.

 

[dongle69]

Thanks! Needless to say, I now have account at breed bay!

 

[tobaaaac]

The thread is about a year old now.
https://www. breed bay . co . uk /forums/showthread.php?t=10476

Take the spaces out. It wouldn't let me post that link.

The feeding schedule that he used is absurd, but the plants look good, and there is some information on smart pots that should interest you. I'm using the H3ad's modified lucas formula with GH nutes to feed my plants, and it seems great for my OG Kush and Kalichakra, but it doesn't seem to be quite enough for my TGA Querkle. I feed run to waste with minimal runoff, so I think that the coco probably won't accumulate as much nutrient as mine in your system. Just what saying what came to mind here...

 

[dongle69]

Thanks for the link!
It looks like the 1 gallon Smart Pots easily tip over.
Looks like the roots get all stuck in the Smart Pots as well, so reuse is a pain.
I'm thinking now of trying regular plastic pots with a layer of coco croutons on the bottom (to keep debris from falling out), with regular coco on top of that.
This way I can still easily dispose/decompose in my yard.

 

[Dee9]

as the manufacturers claim better breathing for the roots, maybe it would help if one poked little holes with a pin in the plastic bag?

 

[Lagertester]

They are fabric.
I got an email from them.
Here is an excerpt:

The Smart Pot is ideal for an ebb and flow/flood and drain system. The fabric wick's water on the sides of the container moving water by capillary action. The Smart Pot drains evenly and completely because it is made of fabric. You are able to use most any kind of medium you want because it will not leach out, which means you have less of a chance to clog your drain holes.
You will be able to get about 3 or 4 uses out of the smart pot or more. Some of our customers are throwing them in a washing machine with color safe bleach and then line drying.

Interesting! I may have to look into these!

 

[tobaaaac]

In that thread Pigs&nopots says that it's easy to reuse them. He said that you can just roll them down and they come right off. They're supposed to be the shit, but they're more expensive than normal grow bags, so I haven't been able to afford to try them yet.

 

[dongle69]

Available pretty cheap here for quantities:
http://www.hort-enterprises.com/pricelist.htm#SmartPots
-you may have to scroll down...

 

[Dee9]

Not sure what kind of fabric....

Hey dongle - I think I found some of those bags at the nursery-

does the weave almost look like felt - matted fibers? A bit see-trough? quite tough though

I'm gonna try one. Are you using any of these bags at the moment?

 

[dongle69]

That sounds about right.
I have only used them for hand watered mother plants so far.

 

[tobaaaac]

That's definitely the best price that I've seen on those. I think that I'm going to order some for my next run. That's looking like I'll need about $200 worth of pots to totally switch over.