Years ago, when "Air pots" first were shown to the public. A now well known brand gave me a fair amount of them in various sizes to test and review.
My review information was never used. I don't like them and I don't recommend them!
Let me review here. I got frustrated with them real fast! The biggest problem is what many call the pots best quality. This "pruning" thing !!
This creates a very thick and heavy root ball that concentrates it's self in the core of the pot. This leaves a light, almost normal soil area surrounding the root ball. When you water, the watering flows around the core of the root ball and drains out the sides a significant portion of your watering. This leaves the dense part of the core
dry. Some say let it sit and soak up the runoff or pour it back through. Not the best idea! What about the "leeched out content" of that run off? More "salts" ? Watering more creates only waste by making you use more of everything you mix in your feeds.
This problem is called the "umbrella effect". Sure, up potting will let the roots grow into new areas but, you still end up with that overly dense "core". How about that not effectively using that nutrition along those edge's isn't being efficient either.
At harvest, I have cut these root balls in half and compared to root balls from "normal" plastic pots. They don't compare well. The fabric pot has that dry center - even after complete waterings. While the "normal" pot has moisture spread evenly as the roots are spread evenly also. Heavy rooting, spun around the bottom of "normal" pots, shows that the person needs to up pot better and more often! That's a fail on the growers part, NOT the pots part! Bigger is better and at the right time is key.
As far as any argument about getting o2 to the roots in watering. Water smaller amounts more often! I have found that watering everyday at lights on, a metered amount that lasts till the next day at lights on works best for ME. It's not hard to figure that process out!
@MichiganMedGrower - Lovely root ball! Time to up pot! (in my book). I up pot from Solo, to 1 gallons, to 3 gallons and right before the flip, to 5's or 7's (strain dependent), wait 8 - 10 days and flip. The plant (in water only soils) will run to finish with an excellent ending root ball! This method worked just as well when using synthetics! I might have used more 7's then but, it was due to the strains ran.....
Bottom line is. I feel the normal pot requires less attention to detail and saves in the long run. I DO still keep some Reapers, Bhut's and Bishop's (super hot peppers) in 20 gallon fabric pots in the house as they make great looking "tree" style house plants when trimmed properly. Not to mention they make peppers for my favorite hot sauces (Feel the real BURN) and jellies. The reason being, They make good long-term, large plant pots for indoors.
The bottom line is this.
DO WHAT WORKS FOR YOU!
I did NOT come in here and
slam anyone's growing! I did NOT say anyone was
wrong for using them!
I came in and gave an alternate view, based on personal experience in testing them by corporate request!
Maybe a few folk's
learned something!
Doc
.
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