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Smart Pots how exactly do they work?

slippyone

Member
While one may get the air pruning benefit with all fabric pots I have tried several fabric pots and have not found one that achieves the same anchoring into the pot as I get with the SPs.

The smart pot is the only brand where I've experienced roots actually growing through the pot and being air-pruned on the outside. The roots actually anchor into the fabric to prevent root circling, spin-off, etc.

The Roots Organic Root Pot, Hydrofarm Dirt Bag, along with another fabric bag which I think comes from CAP or Hydrotek did not achieve the same. I may have possibly still received the benefits of air pruning, but in all of the pots mentioned above I was able to slip my hand down between my root ball and the fabric bag. Could not achieve the anchoring/ porcupine action like I got with the Smart Pots.

For whatever its worth.


I like those roots anchoring into the pot, getting caught up in the fabric..thus signalling to the plant to send out another, and another, and so on. Maybe its physiological, but I didnt like seeing my root ball sit loosely in the no name pots..almost as if my root ball had shrunk away from the sidewalls of the pot.

I've had the exact same experience with the above, smart pots vs. Roots Organic pots. Didn't seem to affect yield but seeing the big roots coming out the bottom is always reassuring.
 

Treetroit City

Moderately Super
Veteran
I've had the exact same experience with the above, smart pots vs. Roots Organic pots. Didn't seem to affect yield but seeing the big roots coming out the bottom is always reassuring.

I had the same thing happen with my Aurora Roots pots. Tried to save a little and they didn't perform as well as the SP's.

Here's the thing though. I ran them threw the washing machine after the first grow and they softened up a lot.

2nd grow has roots popping just like with the SP's.

So if buying Roots or Hydrofarm Dirtbags I recommend washing in the washing machine first.
 
O

OrganicOzarks

well viagrow are the same kind of pots but for less cash. After doing a little research I found that smart pots are not the only pots out there with that same make up. I can go right to home depot and pick up the viagrow pots for 65% less then smart pots.

Smart pots are the originator. They have 33 Companies presently copying their pots. The reason I continue to purchase the Original smart pots is:
They are made in America!( they are made in Oklahoma City, Ok.)
Quality control. (you will get the same exact results every single time)
Long lasting fabric (other companies use inferior fabric that does not last as long)
CUSTOMER SERVICE!!!!!!!! (They have an unprecedented level of customer service that no other Company can come close to touching)

I find it funny when people get cheap about growing one of the most expensive plants on earth. :)
 

DaleW

Member
Smart pots are the originator. They have 33 Companies presently copying their pots. The reason I continue to purchase the Original smart pots is:
They are made in America!( they are made in Oklahoma City, Ok.)
Quality control. (you will get the same exact results every single time)
Long lasting fabric (other companies use inferior fabric that does not last as long)
CUSTOMER SERVICE!!!!!!!! (They have an unprecedented level of customer service that no other Company can come close to touching)

I find it funny when people get cheap about growing one of the most expensive plants on earth. :)

well that's your opinion and unless you can show some side by side comparisons of how well smart pots out perform the others your blowing smoke to me. How do you know for a fact out of those 33 companies that they don't have the same things going for them? Unless you've tried all 33 I doubt that you know for sure soo...
 
I'm a strong believer in the smart pots for a lot of reasons. Like organicozarks mentioned they are made in america. I pay ~$7 for my ten gallon SPs that I flower in. I've never looked at the imitators but I wouldn't take them for free if they are made in china - and they likely are.

April20gardener pointed out that smart pots tend to give up moisture really fast. This is true - they will definitely increase your dehuey needs. However, lots of water wicking out of the pots also means lots of air transfer. Growing organic soil like I do I think a breathable root mass is beneficial for soil life.
 

DaleW

Member
Well I can tell you 3 of their competitors off the bat is geopots, viagrow and yield pots and they are made in america. So the theory that every pot besides smart pots are made in american is in my opinion not so accurate and I have no problem with giving the competitors a chance...
 

wisco61

Member
I've used a few of the different fabric pots on the market, here are my thoughts.

Smart Pots: best bang for the buck. High quality materials that air prune and hold up for multiple runs.

Geo Pots: a little more expensive than SPs, but of higher quality material and construction. They air prune fine, and hold moisture a bit better than SPs.

Roots pots: less expensive than SP, and of a lower quality. After a couple runs the threads start fraying. These air prune also and hold moisture equal to the SPs.

CAP gro pots: least expensive and total shit. These look the same as the Viagrow pots and the ones HTG sells. The material doesn't allow air pruning on the bottom, I would always have root circling at harvest. Also, they are made taller and narrower than the other brands which is not desirable IMO.
 
You're right dale, I shouldn't have said that when I have no experience with the other brands. I'm just used to so much of the gear in the industry coming out of china.

I would have no problem with trying a competing domestic manufactured brand if they seemed to offer some sort of advantage for me. I guess for now I'm just a sucker for originator brand loyalty.
 
O

OrganicOzarks

well that's your opinion and unless you can show some side by side comparisons of how well smart pots out perform the others your blowing smoke to me. How do you know for a fact out of those 33 companies that they don't have the same things going for them? Unless you've tried all 33 I doubt that you know for sure soo...

If it ain't broke don't fix it.:)
 

DamnUglyDogE

Learning the rules well,so as to break them effect
ICMag Donor
Veteran
Smart pot media wick root transplant.

Smart pot media wick root transplant.

Just having fun with my 1st try of Smart & Air pots.
Another 1st for me.

Coco/perlite media.

Smart pit transplant with media wick root mass intact.

Not as hard as ta might think.

Roll sides of smarts down ta base.

Cut wires and net at the bottom of the wick.

Push and pull. .

Lay wick root mass sideways and repot.

Done.. Smoke a joint and post...

I did 5 ladies tonight.
2 had intact wick root mass
1 half wick root mass
1 tore wick root mass off. (Tall lady)
1was bone dry with little roots at all.
 
R

Rjrom90

Just having fun with my 1st try of Smart & Air pots.
Another 1st for me.

Coco/perlite media.

Smart pit transplant with media wick root mass intact.

Not as hard as ta might think.

Roll sides of smarts down ta base.

Cut wires and net at the bottom of the wick.

Push and pull. .

Lay wick root mass sideways and repot.

Done.. Smoke a joint and post...
https://www.icmag.com/ic/picture.php?albumid=42968&pictureid=1012201View Image https://www.icmag.com/ic/picture.php?albumid=42968&pictureid=1012202View Image https://www.icmag.com/ic/picture.php?albumid=42968&pictureid=1012203View Image https://www.icmag.com/ic/picture.php?albumid=42968&pictureid=1012204View Image https://www.icmag.com/ic/picture.php?albumid=42968&pictureid=1012210View Image
I did 5 ladies tonight.
2 had intact wick root mass
1 half wick root mass
1 tore wick root mass off. (Tall lady)
1was bone dry with little roots at all.
Is that a PPK? Great idea for the wick!
 
I am using 25 gal root pots indoors for the first time, I have had plants in them for about a month and the handles have started ripping off of the pot when I try to move plants around. Not the end of the world but the stitching on the handles is poorly done, when these are worn out i would like to try the smart pot brand and see if they are any more durable.
 

DamnUglyDogE

Learning the rules well,so as to break them effect
ICMag Donor
Veteran
I am using 25 gal root pots indoors for the first time, I have had plants in them for about a month and the handles have started ripping off of the pot when I try to move plants around. Not the end of the world but the stitching on the handles is poorly done, when these are worn out i would like to try the smart pot brand and see if they are any more durable.

That's a lot of weight for any fabric pot handles ta deal with/handle.
:laughing: But if a pot could do it. I'd put money on Smarts.

Transplant it... I dare ya...:biggrin:
Keep em green...
Peace...
 

DaleW

Member
Just having fun with my 1st try of Smart & Air pots.
Another 1st for me.

Coco/perlite media.

Smart pit transplant with media wick root mass intact.

Not as hard as ta might think.

Roll sides of smarts down ta base.

Cut wires and net at the bottom of the wick.

Push and pull. .

Lay wick root mass sideways and repot.

Done.. Smoke a joint and post...
[URL=https://www.icmag.com/ic/picture.php?albumid=42968&pictureid=1012201&thumb=1]View Image[/url] [URL=https://www.icmag.com/ic/picture.php?albumid=42968&pictureid=1012202&thumb=1]View Image[/url] [URL=https://www.icmag.com/ic/picture.php?albumid=42968&pictureid=1012203&thumb=1]View Image[/url] [URL=https://www.icmag.com/ic/picture.php?albumid=42968&pictureid=1012204&thumb=1]View Image[/url] [URL=https://www.icmag.com/ic/picture.php?albumid=42968&pictureid=1012210&thumb=1]View Image[/url]
I did 5 ladies tonight.
2 had intact wick root mass
1 half wick root mass
1 tore wick root mass off. (Tall lady)
1was bone dry with little roots at all.

Ok so now I see how the wick system works. I heard of wick systems alot but was never really able to grasp how the actually worked because I never seen one. Good shit!
 

RetroGrow

Active member
Veteran
Not thread crapping, just relaying my experiences with smart pots, the original, kind of expensive ones. They work fine, but hempy buckets with coco blow them away. I'm pulling 8 zips + in two gallon hempy buckets, indoors, using vertical lighting.Some longer vegged ones were 13 zips. Try that with smart pots. Not going to happen. 2 gallon buckets cost $2.50 @ Home Depot....
 

DaleW

Member
Not thread crapping, just relaying my experiences with smart pots, the original, kind of expensive ones. They work fine, but hempy buckets with coco blow them away. I'm pulling 8 zips + in two gallon hempy buckets, indoors, using vertical lighting.Some longer vegged ones were 13 zips. Try that with smart pots. Not going to happen. 2 gallon buckets cost $2.50 @ Home Depot....

Yeah ive heard of the hempy bucket method but was kind of confused on how it works...
 

FlowerFarmer

Well-known member
Veteran
Yeah ive heard of the hempy bucket method but was kind of confused on how it works...


Hempy bucket is just a container with NO HOLES in the bottom as to not allow drainage. You simply drill a hold about 2" up from the bottom of the container which then allows the bucket to fill up a few inches with your "run-off" before spilling out of the hole.

They put 2" inches of perlite in this lower "reservoir" (remainder filled with coco) and gives the plant the ability to wick as needed.. thus allowing you to water less and I also believe some kind of perched water table magic happens as a result - eliminating a lot of the common problems with coco...
 
R

Rjrom90

Has anyone seen a side by side with the Hempy method compared to the PPK method? They seem similar.
 
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