Roots, Hydroton and Net pots. What happens when the get to the edge?

[Natagonnaworrie]

So I just bought some 8” x 8” net pots (like the one below) for my 3’ x 3’ ebb and flow table.



I am starting my grow tomorrow but I need to know if I have got the right thing.

My question is:

When the roots grow out horizontally to the sides of the net pot is the light going to be a problem?

I guess all the roots would obviously dry out and not grow down the outside of the net pot. And the light for sure would drive them away. Maybe I need a tray cover and the appropriate size net pots… or I am thinking of returning them for regular 8” pots and I can just drill some holes in em for easier water penetration.

Grow starts tomorrow! Getting that excitement

Thanks for all your help fellow ICers!

Here’s a nug cuz I hate a page with no pictures

 

[Avon Barksdale]

my roots become exposed to the light with no problems, though it would prolly be better off to keep the light off them

 

[Moleculist]

I'd suggest putting hydroton pellets outside the netpots on the table.

 

[FreezerBoy]

Why'd you pay for all those holes if you're not going to use them? Roots live outside the pot. The pot merely provides anchorage. Bury them in Hydroton, DWC, Waterfarm ...

... mmmm, root porn .... Roots good .... (homemade net pots, bad)

 

[tgpfarm]

El cheapo Ziploc containers and a drill:

 

[Natagonnaworrie]

so a bed of hydroton in the tray would be best i guess.

i was on here last night doing a search for ebb & flow grows and i noticed a lot of people use regular plastic pots or those emily's garden pots. I assume that was to protect the roots from light.

so now i have to make the decision, pay more for enough hydroton to fill the whole tray for at solid 4 inchs or so, or try some new pots.

i am thinking that the net pots will be fine, they are 8" x 8". it sould be a few weeks until this really comes to a hilt and then i can add the hydroton if necessary.

thank you all for your suggestions, i have much to ponder

i'll throw some pics up of my babies once they come in.

 

[yamaha_1fan]

I wouldnt worry about it. The roots will just grow along the bottom of the table. By the time those roots are out of the pot, you should have a decent canopy that will block most of the light from the bottom of the table.

If it really is an issue, just cover the table with panda or black plastic, and cut a big x where each pot will go

 

[Natagonnaworrie]

I wouldnt worry about it. The roots will just grow along the bottom of the table. By the time those roots are out of the pot, you should have a decent canopy that will block most of the light from the bottom of the table.

If it really is an issue, just cover the table with panda or black plastic, and cut a big x where each pot will go

I love to hear what i want to hear!

so do nothing... okay! ha ha - honestly though, that sounds good. i have the SCROG going above there so the light penetration will be minimal. its it gets to be an issue i can add the panda.

cool... i really didnt want to wash all that hydroton.

 

[Natagonnaworrie]

ok, thought i would finalize here.

This is the set up with the net pots and a 600w HPS.

I'll do a grow thread and add a link to it from here in case some of my questions are ones that others share.

be well friends. thanks for your help thus far. I'll be back with the link once it gets going.

plants go in tomorrow. (long day of work to do this today)

 

[spangles]

Hold on pardner! If you get all those plants under that scrog on 9 sq ft you will have an unmanageable jungle and everything under the screen will have to be removed. Even then it will be too much for the canopy. I'm on my first SCROG and I have 4 sats in flower in a Turbogarden at almost 2' by 3'. At 35 days I've had to remove most of undergrowth and most of my screen is occupied.

ALSO stay away from loose hydroton on the table, anytime you mess with the overflow and flood stacks you risk getting one or more to clog your tubes. It almost cost me a small flood.
Hopefully someone with more experience than I have will comment on the number of plants you can handle.

 

[Natagonnaworrie]

Hey Spangles,

Thanks for the input. I will be considering it but i am pretty commited to taking these 12 cuts tomorrow. I will veg until they are just under the screen and use the screen to manipulate the canopy. this is a pic of my previous canopy.






obviously, this is my attempt at filling this full ~ 9^ft.

any thoughts? I will be making a grow thread for which i will post a link here.

i'm not against removing anything under the screen either... i do mostly do that during the first 2 - 3 weeks of flowering.

I hope this grow goes well. I am going to start my baseline for GPW expectations from this grow. No Whammies!

 

[FreezerBoy]

i'm not against removing anything under the screen either

Good to hear. Failure to trim underneath can easily lead to mold.

 

[Natagonnaworrie]

ok, the babies are all in. i'll post a link once thiings get interesting.

thanks all!

 

[_Dude]

I agree with Yam, don't sweat it. 8x8 is a good size for a net pot, I've been growing in cheeseball round pots from greenhouse, 6.5" diameter, 20 to a 4x4 tub, and they're too small. I'd love to have some 8x8 pots.

 

[Natagonnaworrie]

i have 12 on a 3' x 3'. After putting them in i wished i had 16. the 8" pots would fit perfectly in 4 rows of 4.

 

[FreezerBoy]

Try it first and see where it goes. Me? I'd stop with a single plant but, I like Sativas that grow forever.

 

[Chillyhead]

Nata, I was wondering the same thing about the roots during my first time E&F grow. I noticed that the netpots were full with roots but they wouldn't grow out because of the light getting to them. I decided to try covering the top of the tray with some heavy duty aluminum foil that I happened to have around. Once I did that some serious root growth took off inside the tray. Plant growth got a very noticeable boost too. I had a fair amount of space between the plants though, I had started 13 plants from seed and only 6 of them turned out female so I was able to space them out in the tray. Anyway, if I ever do another ebb and flow grow I'm most definitely going to cover the tray to let the roots grow out. Good luck with your grow!