Air pots & Smart pots...

[bobblehead]

I've been using the Walmart reusable shopping bags, the blue ones. I got em for 99 cents each, they have handles, and can handle around 5-7 gallons of medium. I'll post some pics later when I get my camera, but they have been working great for the plants I transplanted them into. They compare very nicely to Smart Pots, I'd recommend those trying to save a few bucks give them a try...

No offense to you... but those walmart bags are NOT the same thing. 1. the material is not meant for plants, and may have chemicals that leech into the substrate. 2. The material is not a breathable fabric, and will not have the same result as SP's or AP's. You might as well be using a grow-bag.

You can't really say they compare unless you've done a side by side... and my hypothesis is that the SP beats the walmart bag.

 

[megayields]

Damn......I just bought 100 of them......lol.....j/k.....man this haze is good........I was considering trying it out cuz I'm one hell of a cheap bastard......of well....back to finding used samrtpots on C/L and eBay.

 

[Rednick]

I get a big ass roll of landscape fabric ~$45 and turn on my sewing machine ~$250.

 

[cyat]

No offense to you... but those walmart bags are NOT the same thing. 1. the material is not meant for plants, and may have chemicals that leech into the substrate. 2. The material is not a breathable fabric, and will not have the same result as SP's or AP's. You might as well be using a grow-bag.

You can't really say they compare unless you've done a side by side... and my hypothesis is that the SP beats the walmart bag.

Hey Bobble, gotta say you are wrong, for sure, esp. about them not being breathable. I will even say they will beat the hydro store cloth pots. I have both, bought the $ store ones and the hydro store ones. plants in the dollar store bags are growing the best by far, and the best fuckin part is the roots will grow right out the bag without pruning, its fuckin amazin. I have white roots growing everywhere out the bag right into the air. this is in a kiddee pool flood and drain once a day for about a half hour( in coco ). flooding about 5in. up and rockin a biofilter. lovin the gh rapidstart rooting stuff too.
the only downside is the cloth is thin and will probably last a run or two. they are huge tho. rockem with confidence

 

[bobblehead]

Here are several documented incidents of re-useable shopping bags being toxic... I'm not even going to argue any other points. This should suffice.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reusable_shopping_bag

Product safety

According to Bloomberg News, in September of 2010, "Wegmans Food Markets Inc., owner of a chain of East Coast supermarkets, announced it would replace reusable shopping bags after a consumer group found the sacks had high levels of lead." [18] Bloomberg News also stated that the high levels were related to two specific designs, totaling more than 725,000 bags.

After a report in the Tampa Tribune[19] in November of 2010 that elevated levels of lead were found in similar reusable bags, the Food and Drug Administration opened an investigation responding to calls by U.S. environmental and consumer groups, as well as U.S. Senator Charles Schumer, to investigate the reusable bags commonly distributed by grocery stores and large retail chains. [20] Winn-Dixie recalled their bags after they were directly cited in the investigation.[21]

In December 2010, popular Canadian-based athletic retailer Lululemon Athletica recalled complimentary reusable bags distributed since November of 2009 because "environmental concerns were raised over the proper disposal of reusable bags due to lead content." [22] Sears' Canadian stores announced a recall on reusable bags because of similar findings on January 6, 2011.[23] On January 12, 2011, The Center for Environmental Health announced Disney-themed bags from U.S. grocery chain Safeway have been found to contain levels of lead 15 to 17 times the current federal limit of 300ppm.[24] Safeway recalled bags that had been identified as containing high levels of lead in late January 2011.

In January 2011, USA Today ran an article based on a report from the Center for Consumer Freedom, a front group for the "hospitality industries" [25], that bags sold in the U.S. by Walgreens, Safeway, Giant, Giant Eagle, Bloom and other grocery chains and retailers contained levels of lead in excess of 100 parts per million, the maximum amount allowed under law in many U.S. states. They have not produced their testing methods and data, and many organizations feel this was an attempt to discredit the use of reusable bags [26]. Bloom stopped distributing the bags due to toxicity levels prior to the study, but did not recall the bags.[27]

Other concerns have been raised about the safety of reusable bags due to infrequent washing and the presence of bacteria[28] but these have mostly been discounted. [29]



These bags are made cheaply in China with little regulation to the materials put in them. The real deal is worth the extra money.

 

[HushemFlupskluk]

What about potato bags. I don't know the word in English. In dutch that material is called juten. Kinda similar to hemp rope.

There must be all sorts of packaging materials around that we could use

 

[bobblehead]

What about potato bags. I don't know the word in English. In dutch that material is called juten. Kinda similar to hemp rope.

There must be all sorts of packaging materials around that we could use

canvas is the word.

 

[HushemFlupskluk]

Thanks Bobble.

I wonder how long canvas would last as a soil container

 

[megayields]

Here are several documented incidents of re-useable shopping bags being toxic... I'm not even going to argue any other points. This should suffice.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reusable_shopping_bag

Product safety

According to Bloomberg News, in September of 2010, "Wegmans Food Markets Inc., owner of a chain of East Coast supermarkets, announced it would replace reusable shopping bags after a consumer group found the sacks had high levels of lead." [18] Bloomberg News also stated that the high levels were related to two specific designs, totaling more than 725,000 bags.

After a report in the Tampa Tribune[19] in November of 2010 that elevated levels of lead were found in similar reusable bags, the Food and Drug Administration opened an investigation responding to calls by U.S. environmental and consumer groups, as well as U.S. Senator Charles Schumer, to investigate the reusable bags commonly distributed by grocery stores and large retail chains. [20] Winn-Dixie recalled their bags after they were directly cited in the investigation.[21]

In December 2010, popular Canadian-based athletic retailer Lululemon Athletica recalled complimentary reusable bags distributed since November of 2009 because "environmental concerns were raised over the proper disposal of reusable bags due to lead content." [22] Sears' Canadian stores announced a recall on reusable bags because of similar findings on January 6, 2011.[23] On January 12, 2011, The Center for Environmental Health announced Disney-themed bags from U.S. grocery chain Safeway have been found to contain levels of lead 15 to 17 times the current federal limit of 300ppm.[24] Safeway recalled bags that had been identified as containing high levels of lead in late January 2011.

In January 2011, USA Today ran an article based on a report from the Center for Consumer Freedom, a front group for the "hospitality industries" [25], that bags sold in the U.S. by Walgreens, Safeway, Giant, Giant Eagle, Bloom and other grocery chains and retailers contained levels of lead in excess of 100 parts per million, the maximum amount allowed under law in many U.S. states. They have not produced their testing methods and data, and many organizations feel this was an attempt to discredit the use of reusable bags [26]. Bloom stopped distributing the bags due to toxicity levels prior to the study, but did not recall the bags.[27]

Other concerns have been raised about the safety of reusable bags due to infrequent washing and the presence of bacteria[28] but these have mostly been discounted. [29]



These bags are made cheaply in China with little regulation to the materials put in them. The real deal is worth the extra money.

Oh snap.....

 

[DHF]

I got into this very argument with Japan Freak before he was banned cuz I was screamin bout them walmart bags made in China and leachin shit out of em into the substrate and killin plants outta nowhere from other sites I go to.....

Not sayin they don`t work Cyat , but at what cost down the line......Smartpots outperformed every fukin container I ever used.......airpots are still plastic containers that force roots into cones with holes in em.....

SP`s breathe , dry out faster , need more low ppm feeds , and provide explosive rootzone action IME.....I`m just sayin....Airpot`s will last forever if maintained properly , as well as the bottom`s being raised up off of what they sit on for positive drainage after feed...but....they`re still plastic with holes , and not breathable fabric that promotes rootzone explosion I`ve seen personally with sp`s.....but....looks like they outrun regular plastic pots per weird jimmy`s post , so I suppose they`re an upgrade from plain plastic ....

Caveat Emptor.....Use Chinese "glow in the dark" products at your own risk with our lil hobby.....Can we say NGW toxic tubing ?.........

Peace....DHF........

 

[turbolaser4528]

Not sayin they don`t work Cyat , but at what cost down the line......Smartpots outperformed every fukin container I ever used.......airpots are still plastic containers that force roots into cones with holes in em.....OO BURN !!

SP`s breathe , dry out faster , need more low ppm feeds , and provide explosive rootzone action IME.....I`m just sayin... DHF, I JUST CAME TO THIS REALIZATION THE OTHER DAY! cant wait to try it out skkeeeet

.Airpot`s will last forever if maintained properly , as well as the bottom`s being raised up off the bottom of what they sit on for positive drainage after feed...but....they`re still plastic with holes , and not breathable fabric that promotes rootzone explosion I`ve seen personally with sp`s.....BURNED AGAIN!

Caveat Emptor.....Use Chinese "glow in the dark" products at your own risk with our lil hobby.....Can we say NGW toxic tubing ?......... and again...lol

Peace....DHF........

BURNED!!!! aha grow strong broheims!!!

 

[BudGood]

I've been vegging large plants in them for well over 6 weeks, no problems at all. :shrug:

Whatever. YMMV, works for me...

 

[megayields]

enjoy the lead poisoning...wow

Not to mention whomever else you share/sell or whatever with your bud. Man I just could not do that and feel good about myself, sorry dude but I could NOT do that to myself or my patients.

RE> after a consumer group found the sacks had high levels of lead

 

[BudGood]

LOL, yeah, I'm terribly worried. I'm sure I have more to sweat over from other things, but thanks for your concern, no matter how misplaced it might be.

 

[woolybear]

Airpots and passive hydro go hand in hand, once a root has made it to the bottom of the pot I then feed bottom only.

Before i started feeding bottom only I used to veg with an E.C 0.9 to 1.1. and in flower E.C 1.2 to 1.6. and at various stages of the grow had to flush and then ease them back into grow mode.

Good to hear, I am going to start/keep on bottom feeding as well now that i've put my smartpots into a basin.

FWIW, the roots organics pots I use were the cheapest available at the time, lol.

 

[dramamine]

I've been running both smart pots and air pots interchangably for some months now...there is no visible difference in the results. Both can maintain a healthy, unbound root system to a large plant in a small container. I've run plenty of 4-5' plants in the 6 liter pots.
One interesting thing is that it seems to take longer for preflowers in certain strains...

...and I think HushemFlukskluk was talking about burlap, rather than canvas?

 

[cyat]

hey they might be toxic, but my plants are healthy.
dollar store stuff is scary anyway,I bought some screwdrivers there that said the plastic grips could cause cancer. the spices are probably irradiated too.
plants and roots look great tho.

 

[prowler]

SOURCE: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lead

Health effects
Main article: Lead poisoning

Lead is a poisonous metal that can damage nervous connections (especially in young children) and cause blood and brain disorders. Lead poisoning typically results from ingestion of food or water contaminated with lead; but may also occur after accidental ingestion of contaminated soil, dust, or lead based paint.[44] Long-term exposure to lead or its salts (especially soluble salts or the strong oxidant PbO2) can cause nephropathy, and colic-like abdominal pains. The effects of lead are the same whether it enters the body through breathing or swallowing. Lead can affect almost every organ and system in the body. The main target for lead toxicity is the nervous system, both in adults and children. Long-term exposure of adults can result in decreased performance in some tests that measure functions of the nervous system. It may also cause weakness in fingers, wrists, or ankles. Lead exposure also causes small increases in blood pressure, particularly in middle-aged and older people and can cause anemia. Exposure to high lead levels can severely damage the brain and kidneys in adults or children and ultimately cause death. In pregnant women, high levels of exposure to lead may cause miscarriage. Chronic, high-level exposure have shown to reduce fertility in males.[45] The antidote/treatment for lead poisoning consists of dimercaprol and succimer.
NFPA 704
NFPA 704.svg
1
3
0
Fire diamond for lead granules

The concern about lead's role in cognitive deficits in children has brought about widespread reduction in its use (lead exposure has been linked to learning disabilities).[46] Most cases of adult elevated blood lead levels are workplace-related.[47] High blood levels are associated with delayed puberty in girls.[48] Lead has been shown many times to permanently reduce the cognitive capacity of children at extremely low levels of exposure.[49]

During the 20th century, the use of lead in paint pigments was sharply reduced because of the danger of lead poisoning, especially to children.[50][51] By the mid-1980s, a significant shift in lead end-use patterns had taken place. Much of this shift was a result of the U.S. lead consumers' compliance with environmental regulations that significantly reduced or eliminated the use of lead in non-battery products, including gasoline, paints, solders, and water systems. Lead use is being further curtailed by the European Union's RoHS directive. Lead may still be found in harmful quantities in stoneware, vinyl (such as that used for tubing and the insulation of electrical cords), and brass manufactured in China. Between 2006 and 2007 many children's toys made in China were recalled, primarily due to lead in paint used to color the product.

Older houses may still contain substantial amounts of lead paint. White lead paint has been withdrawn from sale in industrialized countries, but the yellow lead chromate is still in use; for example, Holland Colours Holcolan Yellow. Old paint should not be stripped by sanding, as this produces inhalable dust.

Lead salts used in pottery glazes have on occasion caused poisoning, when acidic drinks, such as fruit juices, have leached lead ions out of the glaze.[52] It has been suggested that what was known as "Devon colic" arose from the use of lead-lined presses to extract apple juice in the manufacture of cider. Lead is considered to be particularly harmful for women's ability to reproduce. Lead(II) acetate (also known as sugar of lead) was used by the Roman Empire as a sweetener for wine, and some consider this to be the cause of the dementia that affected many of the Roman Emperors.[53]

Lead as a soil contaminant is a widespread issue, since lead is present in natural deposits and may also enter soil through (leaded) gasoline leaks from underground storage tanks or through a wastestream of lead paint or lead grindings from certain industrial operations.

Lead can also be found listed as a criteria pollutant in the United States Clean Air Act section 108. Lead that is emitted into the atmosphere can be inhaled, or it can be ingested after it settles out of the air. It is rapidly absorbed into the bloodstream and is believed to have adverse effects on the central nervous system, the cardiovascular system, kidneys, and the immune system.[54]

Lead makes you and your children dumber. That is why leaded petroleum has been banned in Europe. You most definitely do not want to be exposed to lead any more than necessary.

 

[SB.J]

hey anyone have views on smart pots vs root pots? seems like about the same material but the root pots are cheaper.. any ideas

 

[Bob-Hope]

I posted this 10 mths ago in another thread and i think the same risk apply today .

This is a quote by D.H.F in post number 7.

Guys.........gotta think about what those walmart bags are made of , or rather where they came from........Chems leaching into yer rootzones from chemical reactions between containers and feedjuice ain`t a good thingy.......

He was then flamed by certain forum members, for being a tree hugging, tofu loving,scare munger.

Now forgive me for being a bit anal,but i made a couple of calls to a few overseas colleges regarding the chemical leaching of agents in pp/or if possible any cases of contamination in agriculture.

I was pointed to a study conducted by the university of Alberta who in 2008 published a strong warning about leaching chemicals from plastic that they stumbled upon quite by accident.

The medical researchers caution, that two chemicals leaking from plastic laboratory equipment were so biologically active that they ruined a drug experiment.

What makes the discovery so compelling is the fact that the leaching was happening from one of the most widely used plastics in the world—polypropylene. Yes, you'll find the stuff in lab beakers. But you'll also find it in clothing, in yogurt tubs, And wally bags folks.

It should be noted that the warning was a heads-up to the scientific industry that they will have to carefully monitor any experiment carried out with polypropylene containers, given the possibility that two chemicals leaching from the plastic could have the same, experiment-ending effects as that found at the University of Alberta.

The warning was not meant as a health warning.

And not enough is known about the two chemicals found to be leaching.

BUT

chemical no 1. quaternary ammonium biocides.

chemical no 2. oleamide.

but biocides themselves carry a Hazards and Environmental risks.

Because biocides are intended to kill living organisms, many biocidal products pose significant risk to human health and welfare.

The use of biocides can also have significant adverse effects on the natural environment. .

Disposal of used or unwanted biocides must be undertaken carefully to avoid serious and potentially long-lasting damage to the environment.

Quaternary ammonium ions.

can cause skin and respiratory irritation. They are thought to be the chemical group responsible for anaphylactic reactions that occur with use of neuromuscular blocking drugs during general anaesthesia in surgery.

Oleamide. is an amide of the fatty acid oleic acid. It is an endogenous substance: it occurs naturally in the body of animals. It accumulates in the cerebrospinal fluid during sleep deprivation and induces sleep in animals.

It is being studied as a potential medical treatment for mood and sleep disorders, and cannabinoid-regulated depression.

The mechanism of action of oleamide's sleep inducing effects is an area of current research. It is likely that oleamide interacts with multiple neurotransmitter systems.

Oleamide is structurally related to the endogenous cannabinoid anandamide, and has the ability to bind to the CB1 receptor as a full agonist. In addition, oleamide potentiates several serotonin receptors and the GABA(A) receptor, and inhibits gap junction communication.

Synthetically produced oleamide has a variety of industrial uses including as a slip agent, a lubricant, and a corrosion inhibitor.

Since polypropylene is used in a wide number of food containers, the problem is being studied.

There is no documented evidence of Oleamide being used specifically as a recreational drug. However, it was found in large quantities in "Skunk" alongside the synthetic cannabinoid JWH.

Oleamide, occurs naturally in the human body, and is found in the brain and blood.

The question then, is what happens when humans are exposed to more of this chemical than that which is normally found in the body? Thus, it's not the presence of oleamide, but the amount.

some of the information above can be found by searching the archives of Canada's national newspapers The Globe and Mail.

And the chemical information is from a paper submitted by the university of manchester in England on behalf of a drug company called Astra Zenica.

So what may of just been a friendly forum warning could imo be worth taking note.

Bob