Smart Pots
- Thread starter Clackamas Coot
- Start date
yo Danko, how much watering do you have to do?
dankohzee
Member
I went heavy on perlite as I was afraid these would dry out super fast (about 40 percent perlite) and they're hoding water really well. I'm up to 2.5 gallons twice per week, but I think ten gallons a week is going to be the number in august.
Hey Judas,
I think Burlap sack would work as long as the roots can penetrate the material and have the air drying the roots as they emerge. Burlap would be fairy light proof as well which should help - please experiment and keep me/us informed. I've never seen a smart pot or air pot either so maybe we are both talkin trash but only time will tell!
Too early for any results to show on my test yet - 10 days in her cage and no roots are emerging yet??? The plastic sack I used is in no way lightproof so the roots may be being pruned or they are changing direction away from the light before they reach the sides.
I was planning on flowering her in 2 weeks time - I'm not sure whether I should repot her before hand or let her go in her cage and see what happens - any thoughts on this? New growth looks a good and healthy green.
Cheers and good luck
I've used my DIY airpot for about 6 weeks now.
She's had a bit of abuse - she lived in my attic for 2 weeks with temps hitting 100 and dropping to 60 at night with no fan, just a roof-window slightly open and it did not die
I had to remove more of the plastic threads as I do not think enough air was getting in and it was staying wet too long - this helped matters considerably.
I havent spotted any roots at all. Maybe the light & air prevent them from poking out?
I'm going to force her into flower next week and I do not think there is enough volume of soil to get the best results.
So will I repot her into a bigger airpot for flowering? No, not this time, I will use a regular pot with 80/20 compost/perlite.
Would I use a DIY airpot again? maybe - unconvinced as yet, but the rootball at the end could convince me otherwise.
Here's a few shots of her now before I take clones and repot.
Macrobins
Macrobins
These Macrobins
http://www.macroplastics.com/mp/searchResults.do?searchParams=Apples
can be lined with weed-block fabric
for the smartpot effect.
Not sure what they cost but can be found used.
People are using them for raised bed gardens,
as well.
Macrobins
These Macrobins
http://www.macroplastics.com/mp/searchResults.do?searchParams=Apples
can be lined with weed-block fabric
for the smartpot effect.
Not sure what they cost but can be found used.
People are using them for raised bed gardens,
as well.
I put the hydroton under my smartpot
in the plastic saucer and if the plant is leaning
a certain way I can correct it by
making a higher layer of hydroton under one side of the bag
and get the plant to lean a certain way for space or more light.
I'm lovin these bags.
It's crazy
fallin in luv with a cloth bag
but it's like a new home for plants with lots of fresh
air. this is new to plants. they NEVER had air like smartpot air.
just moist media, fert's in an airy open home maitrix;
they think they in heaven.
check em out.
in the plastic saucer and if the plant is leaning
a certain way I can correct it by
making a higher layer of hydroton under one side of the bag
and get the plant to lean a certain way for space or more light.
I'm lovin these bags.
It's crazy
fallin in luv with a cloth bag
but it's like a new home for plants with lots of fresh
air. this is new to plants. they NEVER had air like smartpot air.
just moist media, fert's in an airy open home maitrix;
they think they in heaven.
check em out.
Hey Dabbler got an update on those pots.
I figure I can line any container (think milk crate)
or like yours or macro plastic’s harvest bins
with Home Depot replacement coco liners (instead of
the expensive coco rolls and get a similar effect as
the smart pot or weed-block fabric; with air-root pruning
when the root gets to the coco.
I'd be organic also & not rely on the textile industry for fabric.
Kinda like that burlap experiment (anything new on that)
but with coco fibre mat. I'm psyched on this now.
Sorry smartpot. I don't luv u anymore.
I figure I can line any container (think milk crate)
or like yours or macro plastic’s harvest bins
with Home Depot replacement coco liners (instead of
the expensive coco rolls and get a similar effect as
the smart pot or weed-block fabric; with air-root pruning
when the root gets to the coco.
I'd be organic also & not rely on the textile industry for fabric.
Kinda like that burlap experiment (anything new on that)
but with coco fibre mat. I'm psyched on this now.
Sorry smartpot. I don't luv u anymore.
Scay Beez
Active member
I would think this would be fungus gnat or root aphid paradise. Sand might protect the top layer, but not the bottom or sides (in the case of an air or net pot). For those keeping moms air pruned, what's the longest you've kept a plant healthy in one of these pots? Usually a week per gallon in soil is normal. I want to hear some ridiculous shit like 3 months in a half gallon..haha. I'm considering testing this out but I'm not sure about bugs. Who's had bug problems with these?
- sbz
- sbz
Hey, by the way, if you have a very active bacterial pool inside the smart pot, or by using EM-1 or a pond cleaner or hygrozyme and similar products... can't you re-use the medium and the pot just by letting enzymes and bacteria consume the dead roots? Or do the roots grow too much?
Second question: this might have been discussed before, but if anybody is so kind to repeat, I'll thank a lot
...can you transplant from smartpot to smartpot or is it not advisable? Say I wanted to use a 30 gal smartpot, how wise is to sprout seeds directly in it vs. using an eight of a gallon normal pot for the seedling and maybe first vegetative stage?Thanks
ripman
you r right on that. easy access to the media through the
coir fibre. I'd lose the blocking feature of the cloth.
I don't worry much about the gnats , since I use the Bt in the reservoir
and they get that every water so gnats probably would not grow in the coir.
Not sure on the root aphids (no experience)
I'm 3 months veg, in the 2 gal; about 20" tall nice in bushy.
I'm sure I could keep them there for a while.
Feed every other day under 400 watt CMH
RIPMAN you can transplant up just peel down the fabric,
it's a little tricky but they come out and you can see all the root ends where they stopped and got "pruned" and
I bet you can leave the media in place with an active enzyme working;
just cut out the stem and translant;
unless the media needs reworking it could go another round.
lately I have been placing the 2-gal
smartpot inside a 5 gal pail to maintain
a more humid microclimate around the
outside of the bag to slow evaporation
and to keep direct fan air currents from sucking moisture out of the bag;
especially if air conditioning is used.
It seemed to work and the 5 gal pail has anchor points
to hold the plant up using bungy cords.
It's helped but makes watering harder cause
you have to drain the run-off.
I could use a pail with holes like a hydro bucket
instead of 5 gal.
smartpot inside a 5 gal pail to maintain
a more humid microclimate around the
outside of the bag to slow evaporation
and to keep direct fan air currents from sucking moisture out of the bag;
especially if air conditioning is used.
It seemed to work and the 5 gal pail has anchor points
to hold the plant up using bungy cords.
It's helped but makes watering harder cause
you have to drain the run-off.
I could use a pail with holes like a hydro bucket
instead of 5 gal.
Mold?
Mold?
Has anyone experienced this with Smart Pots? Is it mold? What do I need to do?
I am using Roots Organics soil straight in 3 gallon SP, the pot pictured is the worst but the sides of the other pots facing it have signs of it also.
Mold?
Has anyone experienced this with Smart Pots? Is it mold? What do I need to do?
I am using Roots Organics soil straight in 3 gallon SP, the pot pictured is the worst but the sides of the other pots facing it have signs of it also.
G
guest
Has anyone experienced this with Smart Pots? Is it mold? What do I need to do?
I am using Roots Organics soil straight in 3 gallon SP, the pot pictured is the worst but the sides of the other pots facing it have signs of it also.
I don't think it's mold. Mine did the same thing and my assumption was salt buildup from nutes. I flushed once during flowering process and most of it came off. No worries.
That is great news, thank you very much for the quick reply.
Maj. Cottonmouth
It's normal regardless of whether you're using chemical fertilizers or organic soil amendments.
Between crops, take your empty SmartPots to a local laundrymat and throw them into the machine with 1/2 cup of Oxyclean and run it through a wash cycle. They'll come out as good as new.
No need to run through the drier as the spin-cycle will remove almost all of the water.
HTH
CC
It's normal regardless of whether you're using chemical fertilizers or organic soil amendments.
Between crops, take your empty SmartPots to a local laundrymat and throw them into the machine with 1/2 cup of Oxyclean and run it through a wash cycle. They'll come out as good as new.
No need to run through the drier as the spin-cycle will remove almost all of the water.
HTH
CC
Thanks CC, this is first grow but I was afraid I really screwed up by not washing them before I used them the first time, I probably should have but at least this isn't mold.
A product sheet came across my desk a couple of weeks ago from a company out of China which is producing a pot similar to the SmartPot called Root Pouch and they have a sales office in Hillsboro, Oregon.
They have products made from recycled soft-drink bottles and are biodegradable. They also have pots made from denim. Their #3 pots are $.53 each.
According to the sales rep, you can disregard the minimum order amount cited at their web site meaning that if you're interested in getting accurate pricing information and availability it would be best to call them direct for a quote.
CC
They have products made from recycled soft-drink bottles and are biodegradable. They also have pots made from denim. Their #3 pots are $.53 each.
According to the sales rep, you can disregard the minimum order amount cited at their web site meaning that if you're interested in getting accurate pricing information and availability it would be best to call them direct for a quote.
CC
now if they made those pouches / bags out
of HEMP denim; we'd be golden..........
of HEMP denim; we'd be golden..........
Dreamscape
Member
