Does Pot Size really matter?

[Justin1002]

ive have a seedling in a i believe is a 4 gallon pot which im planning to keep in the entire grow. What are the advantages for keeping it in bigger pots? Disadvantages?

 

[skunkwreck]

The bigger the roots the bigger the fruits

 

[Dr. Who]

I prefer to start small and up potting as needed......But yes, I do end up in "Big" pots

 

[papa canna]

ive have a seedling in a i believe is a 4 gallon pot which im planning to keep in the entire grow. What are the advantages for keeping it in bigger pots? Disadvantages?

I have heard that it's better to slowly pot up because if you dump small clones with small roots into big pots you get less effective growth due to water mostly running past the roots

 

[kiwipaulie]

You are better to pot up from smaller pots.

What you have done is fine, it will just take a bit longer for it to take off, as the roots will be trying to fill out the pot.

 

[Justin1002]

You are better to pot up from smaller pots.

What you have done is fine, it will just take a bit longer for it to take off, as the roots will be trying to fill out the pot.

Thanks!

 

[breakdancer0003]

Here is my 2 cents on why I start small and pot up

1. the small pot will dry out much quicker causing less chance for over watering and the dryness encourages the root system to stretch and develop faster

2. the more space your root system takes up in the later stages of growth the faster you can water and feed it again as she drinks more efficiently

3. Big root ball = big buds ( i usually finish my girls out in 7 - 30 gallon pots depending )

This is my potting schedule, upping the size as the roots fill the current container

-Solo cup
-2 Gallon pot
-5-7 gallon pot
-15-30 gallon pot

All of that being said, starting out and staying in one pot is a fine way to go I just found it benefited me more to go the other way.

 

[Fast dog]

Be mindful of watering small plants in large containers.

 

[Fast dog]

Be mindful of watering small plants in large containers.

 

[papa canna]

Here is my 2 cents on why I start small and pot up

1. the small pot will dry out much quicker causing less chance for over watering and the dryness encourages the root system to stretch and develop faster

2. the more space your root system takes up in the later stages of growth the faster you can water and feed it again as she drinks more efficiently

3. Big root ball = big buds ( i usually finish my girls out in 7 - 30 gallon pots depending )

This is my potting schedule, upping the size as the roots fill the current container

-Solo cup
-2 Gallon pot
-5-7 gallon pot
-15-30 gallon pot

All of that being said, starting out and staying in one pot is a fine way to go I just found it benefited me more to go the other way.

Do you stay in the 2 gallon until flower, or do you repot at a certain height/size?

 

[saiyaneye]

Don't flower in anything under 3 gallons or you will be dissatisfied.

 

[breakdancer0003]

Do you stay in the 2 gallon until flower, or do you repot at a certain height/size?

I pot up based on the root ball size estimate ( i figure that out by how quickly the soil drys ) I always flower in the largest pot

The top one is going into flower now in a 30 gallon pot with a stem knot the size of a softball, it's roughly 8 feet wide and 11 inches tall. The bottom one finished flower about 4 weeks ago and put off roughly the joke answer people give when asking about yield.

 

[kiwipaulie]

Here is my 2 cents on why I start small and pot up

1. the small pot will dry out much quicker causing less chance for over watering and the dryness encourages the root system to stretch and develop faster

2. the more space your root system takes up in the later stages of growth the faster you can water and feed it again as she drinks more efficiently

3. Big root ball = big buds ( i usually finish my girls out in 7 - 30 gallon pots depending )

This is my potting schedule, upping the size as the roots fill the current container

-Solo cup
-2 Gallon pot
-5-7 gallon pot
-15-30 gallon pot

All of that being said, starting out and staying in one pot is a fine way to go I just found it benefited me more to go the other way.

I take it that's for outdoor? Never heard of anyone using 15gal pot in doors. Would love to see a pic of how big they get

 

[kiwipaulie]

And then I read the post above mine lol

 

[breakdancer0003]

Would love to see a pic of how big they get

I will take a bunch in flower this time, I usually only post pictures of my smaller plants in the grow journals to keep attention to a minimum but they put off footballs

 

[GroErr]

Don't flower in anything under 3 gallons or you will be dissatisfied.

Yeah, hate these 2gal pots, tiny ass plants and buds (joke). Actually just making a point on fabric vs. plastic pots, huge difference in what you can grow size-wise in a fabric pot, easily twice the size without suffering in yield.

That said, the comment about bigger roots-bigger fruits holds true. We're growing root balls, the buds are a result of a healthy/vibrant root system.

To the original question which has nothing to do with pot size, up-potting at least once or twice will help build stronger roots. Leaving them in the smaller container until almost root bound, lightly breaking up the root ball when up-potting them will produce stronger roots. Nurseries and old school gardeners do this for good reason.

 

[explosive82]

I start in a solo cup and depending on strain i end up in flower with either 5 or 7 gallon planters

 

[breakdancer0003]

lightly breaking up the root ball when up-potting them will produce stronger roots. Nurseries and old school gardeners do this for good reason.

YES !!!!!! forgot to mention that, Very important

 

[saiyaneye]

Yeah, hate these 2gal pots, tiny ass plants and buds (joke). Actually just making a point on fabric vs. plastic pots, huge difference in what you can grow size-wise in a fabric pot, easily twice the size without suffering in yield.

That said, the comment about bigger roots-bigger fruits holds true. We're growing root balls, the buds are a result of a healthy/vibrant root system.

To the original question which has nothing to do with pot size, up-potting at least once or twice will help build stronger roots. Leaving them in the smaller container until almost root bound, lightly breaking up the root ball when up-potting them will produce stronger roots. Nurseries and old school gardeners do this for good reason.

View attachment 3651856

Yeah I usually break up old soil from root mass when I transplant.

Helps it web/bind better with new soil mix