Root trimming in veg

[magiccannabus]

I'm not technically a micro-grower, but I'm pretty close. I really need to get as much plant out of as little pot as possible. What are the best strategies to maximize your canopy without a lot of root mass.

Theories I have heard reduce root mass without hurting canopy:

1) Constant supply of fresh water(such as hydroponics, or a self-watering pot)

2) Beneficial bacteria

3) Never letting the soil get too dry, as this triggers root growth(roots seek water...)

4) Use sufficient nutrients in the soil.

5) Use a very airy mix, lots of oxygen to roots.

These are just the ones I'm familiar with. What works and what doesn't?

I'm growing in 8" plastic pots(the 88 cent wal-mart ones), or I will be anyway. I want to grow a 38" tall plant in that. It's going to be a dense plant though. What is my best bet? This is the best size pot for my floor space, and my style of lighting is wasted if I can't grow them tall enough.

 

[magiccannabus]

The other part of my question is: I have used root trimming to keep mom plants from becoming root-bound. Can I trim a little off vegging or flowering plants and put them back in the same pot and trick them into not acting root bound? Or will they lose foliage proportionate to how much root was trimmed off?

 

[tube dude]

The best way to grow in small containers is to do multiple transplants. Start with the smalles container you can find that will suport the clone or seedling.wait till the plant becomes slightly root bound then transplant into a slightly larger containerand repeat this prossess until yor desired container size is reached. Feeler roots will grow outward until they reach the sides of the container then they will start growing downward until they reach the bottom of the container. Tap roots will grow down untill they reach the bottom of the container then start to go in circles around the bottom of the container.With multiple transplants you will increase the dencity of the root system and utilize all of the available growing medium.If you planted a seed in a one gallon container the roots will growto the sides and bottom of the pot leaving the center of the container with very few roots at all.

 

[magiccannabus]

You make a great point tuber dude. I want to use my root space to the utmost efficiency, but I also want to avoid losing lower foliage to root bound issues. When I transplant up to a larger size, should I still trim off a bit? Like maybe 20%?

 

[kaotic]

I've seen a couple of coco grows that use a minimal amount of root space. You could combine that with the above.

 

[magiccannabus]

I want coco so bad, but I have no clue where it can be found in Iowa

 

[tube dude]

I never trim the roots, but then again I spend most of my time trying to keep my plants as short as possible.I also use the t-8's but I run mine horizontal instead of vertical.If you are worried about the height of your pot,and you are only growing 1 plant, you might be better off using something like a kitty litter tray. It isn't very tall but will hold alot of growing medium.

 

[smokadepep]

after a root prune will roots start working their way into the center of the pot to fill up the root mass, or continually keep stretching out to the edges of the pots??

 

[pinecone]

Double and triple potting with the same size pots.

Pine

 

[ScrubNinja]

Go coco for sure bro. Surely they must have a hydro store somewhere there, or they sell it on ebay or online stores? I'm convinced scrog is the best method to having a full canopy, but knowing how your grow is designed, that's probably not a good idea, right?

Hmmm somehow I answered with two questions.