Pot size for pot size!

[Player2]

[edit: Replace dubyadubyadubya with www]
dubyadubyadubya.publish.csiro.au/paper/FP12049.htm [edit: There should be no space in this addy, in front of au. It doesn't appear in the edit window.]
and
dubyadubyadubya.bbc.co.uk/nature/18612661

Seems like this has already been proven around here, from the big tote undercurrents to bobbles rectangular bags to all the norcal heads in cubic yard builders bags.

 

[VerdantGreen]

i was just about to post this too.

been saying it for years. use the biggest pots you can. i cut the lip off mine so i can go up to the next size.

A medical imaging technique called magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has been used by researchers to capture plant pot root snapshots.

The pictures reveal that the roots "sense the size of the pot" and restrict the growth of the plant.

VG

 

[THCello]

Someone observed plant rootballs being stronger on their first pot, with decreasing results from further successive transplants.
Just stoking the fire.

 

[Guest 10952]

It always seemed to be that way THCello, until the plants "fills" out that pot. Then it starts to ball again, then ready for another transplant...Good topic though. Too bad the thread starter used dead links for an example.

 

[Mantas]

Thanks for the articles, I found them quite interesting.

 

[Kit Kat]

"When they reach the edge, they send some kind of signal to the shoots to say, 'there's a problem - stop growing'."

Each plant appeared to be trying to escape its pot; more than three quarters of the root system was in the outer half of the container.

"The inside of the pot is hardly used," explained Dr Poorter.

I noticed this when I first started and switched to Air Pots as soon as I found out about them specifically to avoid this! The inside of the container is definitely used with an air-pruning pot and avoids this issue, while introducing a whole new set of them (drying out faster being the big adjustment I had to make).

 

[John.Hammond]

Someone observed plant rootballs being stronger on their first pot, with decreasing results from further successive transplants.
Just stoking the fire.

I have always noticed this... I never gave it much thought, but I was using the 2 transplant method. start in solo cup, move to 1 gal, move to 3 gal. well the solo cup is always 100% roots pretty much by the end, and the 1 gal is solidly rooted, but when i dump my roots and recycle my soil there is never ever thick rooting in the 3 gal's soil that was added.

 

[John.Hammond]

BTW Kit Kat what do u think of the air pots?

 

[Kit Kat]

I love them. The root balls I get in an air pot have to be stepped on and busted up to break down for a compost pile vs the ones from a normal pot where the center can just shake out and they're a lot easier to move and lift test than a smart pot.

Expensive as hell though.

 

[Ur Humbl Nr8tor]

Smart or Air pots worth every penny...IMO

 

[Cartel530]

yes sir i agree. i like the air pots a little better myself. I find them a lot easier to transplant since you just unscrew the plastic tab and the pot comes apart. Its probably a little better on the root ball since the plant doesnt entangle into the pot and you dont have to do the usual transplant routine

 

[oldguy]

I havent looked back since using airpots. Best part I like is I can break them down for storage when I'm done with them. Storing 25 pot in a tote tub is a real space saver.

 

[supermanlives]

yeehaw

 

[3dDream]

I would just like to add that plants grow to the amount of food/water more than the pot size. I have seen 4 foot plants out of a beercup because of the availability of water. Pot size alone does not determine the size of the plant. You can water them like they are in a bigger pot (in coco).

 

[Player2]

Too bad the thread starter used dead links for an example.

Switching www for dubyadubyadubya gets you there. Not all sites like traffic from weed sites. This eliminates the outbound links but leaves the info.

Sorry, I had left an additional space in the first addy. I will fix it and add a note.