Transplanting twice, is it worth the shock?

[OG_TGR]

So I've got several clones that have been rooted in 1" RW and transferred to 3" (after 1 week and plenty of roots on the bottom). The next step, theoretically, is to the 3g "Smart Pots" and then under the big lights to veg for another week or two before flipping. It's only a week later (16 days from initial cloning) and the roots are really busting out of the bottoms of the 3" cubes.
I've got a little room to play with but don't have enough space to veg all of them in 3g pots in my veg area; and I've got a least 10 days to go before they can be put in their final spots.
My initial thought was to make some 1 gallon "tall" smart pots (I made all of my own smart pots) that come apart so that they can be easily transplanted into the 3g pots when it comes time.
Before I started putting that together, I thought I may put this out there and see what everyone else may have to say about it.

The way I see it I have 4 choices:

1) Just let them go and let the roots light/air prune themselves until it's time to transplant.

2) Use the smaller pot idea and build them so they can come apart, to facilitate easy transplant.

3) Use the smaller pots and just transplant them directly into the larger ones.

4) None of the above?

Also, my veg is basically a NFT trough with .25"^3 grating for drainage so, whatever solution I decide on has to accommodate that, too.

Thanks!

 

[willyweed]

i try to get them under the big light as soon as possible in the 3".normally at the edge/side of the room,depending what you veg under? the sooner they have the bigger light the less chance of light shock i have found when moving them under different lights ie flor/hps

 

[OG_TGR]

i try to get them under the big light as soon as possible in the 3".normally at the edge/side of the room,depending what you veg under? the sooner they have the bigger light the less chance of light shock i have found when moving them under different lights ie flor/hps

Thanks.
Yeah, I should have clarified, they are currently vegging under 4 6500k and 2 1200k Actinic HO t5's. I've got <6" of clearance on either side of the troughs so no room to set them outside of the set-up.
I'm not highly concerned with stretch or anything as they are going in a Vert set up and vegging under these lights has worked out fine for me up to this point but; I really wanted to pay attention to how well I maintained the roots before they got flipped, this time.

 

[OG_TGR]

So, not one single other person has an opinion on transplanting in Coco? This isn't Overgrow, that is very clear.

 

[RedBeardy5]

I find it better to transplant your girls when using smart pots. I was having constant problems with my girls until I started small and worked my way up. If you do it correctly there is only a couple day shock.

 

[LEDNewbie]

I agree. Staging up in transplants is easier to build a good root mass.

 

[ortsa1]

never start them in big pots from clone they lag forever in coco

id only transplant up once unless you are growing big trees

 

[Granger2]

Here's an option. Virtually no transplant shock. Just plant. I would break/cut slits in them at transplant to quicken root expansion.
http://www.discount-hydro.com/products/General-Hydroponics-Coco-Pots.html

 

[OG_TGR]

Awesome. Thanks everyone for your input!

 

[nachoconqueso]

I never get transplant shock. What are guys doing to your plants that causes this?

 

[OG_TGR]

I never get transplant shock. What are guys doing to your plants that causes this?

I've never had to transplant, really. In all actuality this would really be only one transplant. What I was considering would allow the roots to expand but then have to be transplanted into a bigger pot, exposing the medium and disturbing the roots.
I just let them go this time but I think I am going to use the Coco pots like Granger2 suggested, next time.

 

[nuggiespl]

This is a no brainer IMO, I've never had any shock issues when transplanting, transplant as much as it makes since. I think a lot of people use 2 big of pots in coco, multiple feedings = more oxygen to the root zone = faster growth, this is often an over looked limiting factor. Transplant away, it also depends on ur set up.

Good luck
Nugs