could use some help.

[thepotanist]

Back to where I started 7 years ago with autos but I have a question. My space is semi small by some standards 30x30inx6ft. I'm only doing a few plants since my 320 doesn't cover a wide area. I can fit 4 5gal bags or 6 3gal bags. I'm working with a lot of diff genes but pretty much all supper autos. Soil is ffof mix with perlite and using GH organic line for notes. So which container size should I go for? I would like a decent yield as this will be mostly meds for my bro getting over cancer.

 

[canna woop!]

Hey Potanist

I have not grown auto's, yet from what I have seen of them people are recommending you plant them in the biggest bag's, right off the bat. Sp 4 5 gal's it would be. You can even plant them all in the same bed if you have a 30x30 inch wide container that would work. I will also add a few things about pests real quick since your doing organics that I have found a 1-2'' layer of sand on the soil surface useful for controlling soil burrowing pests like gnats and thrips. I dont use any synthetic pesticide or fungicide, instead i keep up with spraying plants with a 24-36 hour soak of rosemary and lavender leaf/buds. Works real well to keep the plants clean and healthy. I also make the occasional tea for soaking the soil.

keep it green
canawoop

 

[thepotanist]

Thanks for the reply after some long thought I will be starting 7 seeds in paper towel method and then go to 3 gal pots should be plenty enough space for about and o per plant.

 

[Loc Dog]

Use coco coir in 3 gallon air-pots (actual size is 10 quarts). They will need much more feeding, which will increase growth, using hydro nutrients, at 50% recommended PPM.

Have grown under all hydro methods for, 2 years, and coco is the way to go. Could post some pictures of the root balls of my last grow, which are all solid, while dry.

 

[thepotanist]

I had some issues with coco in the past so Im using ff this time around since I never had before. They are in the 3 gal bags night and just broke surface( germed friday) Things are looking good.

 

[aridbud]

No less than 3 gallon containers! Sure, you can grow in 1.25 gallon pots....I've harvested many from azalea pots. A customer of mine had 3 gallon bags and had to 'add' another bag underneath as his Double Barrel (now 20Gauge) became root bound. 5 gallon containers/pots if you are growing super autos.

Outdoors I grow in 3-5 gallon nursery buckets. 5gal for auto hybrids > 36-42" height/girth.

 

[Loc Dog]

No less than 3 gallon containers! Sure, you can grow in 1.25 gallon pots....I've harvested many from azalea pots. A customer of mine had 3 gallon bags and had to 'add' another bag underneath as his Double Barrel (now 20Gauge) became root bound. 5 gallon containers/pots if you are growing super autos.

Outdoors I grow in 3-5 gallon nursery buckets. 5gal for auto hybrids > 36-42" height/girth.

Nursery pots are not marked right. 3 gallon is like 2 gallon. Air-pots thrive on air root pruning, and larger may not be better. Especially when fed a hydro diet.

I know you are very experienced, and apologize, if I over stepped, but have seen Bud of Month winners, on another site, all being grown in air-pots. Could not figure out why everyone was using these ugly as hell planters.

Be well, and best wishes!!!

 

[aridbud]

Nursery pots are not marked right. 3 gallon is like 2 gallon. Air-pots thrive on air root pruning, and larger may not be better. Especially when fed a hydro diet.

I know you are very experienced, and apologize, if I over stepped, but have seen Bud of Month winners, on another site, all being grown in air-pots. Could not figure out why everyone was using these ugly as hell planters.

Be well, and best wishes!!!

Air pots do quite well and becoming more accessible. Grow bags work well....just depends on your own method of growing....or budget.

And having worked in commercial greenhouses...a 5 gallon bucket is 5 gallon. 3 gallon is 3 gallon....nursery containers (5-7 gallon where most nursery trees are potted) can be reused for years!!! Portable, can be moved....buckets can hold moisture vs. planting directly in soli, monitoring water/nute intake. Esp. if you live in a drought stricken area.

I have some buckets I've used for 15 years...just wash well after the season (bleach/water mix)....and they are good to go for the next planting.

Guess I'm old school....soiless mix w/ extra perlite. Organic amendments.

The auto shown below (signature above hyperlink URL) grew in a 5 gallon bucket.

And like dickcorn did with his auto (getting root bound), I've carved out the bottom of a another container perching on top for more vertical soil planting.

Whatever works for you, works best!! ;o)