sparce
Member
OK, before I start, I am a long time farmer/ newbie grower. So my coments are mine and to be taken with a grain of salt. Not that they are wrong but the findings of a newbie grower. Over the past year I have learned much from this site and hope that this post helps others with what I have learned.
*All my pots have been 5 gal. no matter what kind
** After my first run I have been on a continous grow every since.
*** My bud tent is a 4x4x7 with a 400 watt ( I know it's wimpy but I'm old and my neighbor doesn't like me and I return the favor), with 4 to 6 26 watts CFL's
for support.
Hardsided containers: Haven't had a problem with roots wrapping. The problems I've had with this type container is more underdeveloped roots. Plant problems only exisited with these pots. This because of underwatering, overwatering, or nute lock ONLY happened in these pots. Maybe this would not be a problem with a more experienced grower but they only happened in these pots no matter. Very little size difference in plant size but a noticable difference in bud production. I believe there are several reasons for this.
Less Oxygen for the roots. (Even the plastic grow bags have holes on the side)
Soil compaction. Soil tends to be firmer than either of the other two options.
Less or slower evaporation
Plastic Grow Bags: Again these are 5 gal. grow bags. Here root wrap does come in. not to the point of being "root bound" but intertwinded. But better root development than those in the hard containers. One of the beauties of this type container is that when you move or turn a bag the soil moves. The soil is not compacted. The plants are healthy and bud production is good. I like these bags. They are cheap. They help allow lower layers of soil to "breathe". They are reusable (wash in a mild chlorine solution).
A couple of notes here. I think some have questioned their stability. Though my grows now are LST my early grows had plants of four feet or more and were turned often. NEVER did one offer to fall over.
Here's a great thing. These bags LOVE LST. Yep, I use landscape staples ( at your local nursery or garden center) to pin down branches. You can tie yarn ( or whatever you use) to the stem or branch and poke a staple through the side of these containers.
Aeration Containers: There are several brands of these (Smartpot, Squareroot, etc.) but all with the same idea. Air root prunning. I don't pretend to really understand this but I do know the roots in these containers are amazing! The soil does not conpact. The soil "breathes". The plants are noticably stronger and bud production is better. Not overwhelming but better. I love these pots. I put them inside a white kitchen trash bag (like I do with the plastic grow bags) to catch any run-off. The trash bags are loose and only pulled halfway up the pot. They do seem to need to be watered more often but I can live with that as long as I get the production.
Now the down side. LST is harder with this type of pot. The soil remains so loose that the staples sometimes loose thier grip and though I've never tried to push the staple through the sides of the pot ( sides seem to be made of a landscape material ) the soil is so loose I still think there would be a problem. Anyway, my LST's with these pots continue to out produce the othe two.
The other downside is price. Though a 5 gal plactic pot ( not a free drywall mud container) may cost about the same I can get 10 to 12 plastic grow bags for the cost of one of these babies.
So I use a conbination of grow bags and Aeration container now. I usually have 12 to 16 plants between my Veg and Bud tents.
Hardsided containers are out for me.
I hope this helps someone as this site has helped me a lot. Give them a shot and see what you think.
Thanks!
*All my pots have been 5 gal. no matter what kind
** After my first run I have been on a continous grow every since.
*** My bud tent is a 4x4x7 with a 400 watt ( I know it's wimpy but I'm old and my neighbor doesn't like me and I return the favor), with 4 to 6 26 watts CFL's
for support.
Hardsided containers: Haven't had a problem with roots wrapping. The problems I've had with this type container is more underdeveloped roots. Plant problems only exisited with these pots. This because of underwatering, overwatering, or nute lock ONLY happened in these pots. Maybe this would not be a problem with a more experienced grower but they only happened in these pots no matter. Very little size difference in plant size but a noticable difference in bud production. I believe there are several reasons for this.
Less Oxygen for the roots. (Even the plastic grow bags have holes on the side)
Soil compaction. Soil tends to be firmer than either of the other two options.
Less or slower evaporation
Plastic Grow Bags: Again these are 5 gal. grow bags. Here root wrap does come in. not to the point of being "root bound" but intertwinded. But better root development than those in the hard containers. One of the beauties of this type container is that when you move or turn a bag the soil moves. The soil is not compacted. The plants are healthy and bud production is good. I like these bags. They are cheap. They help allow lower layers of soil to "breathe". They are reusable (wash in a mild chlorine solution).
A couple of notes here. I think some have questioned their stability. Though my grows now are LST my early grows had plants of four feet or more and were turned often. NEVER did one offer to fall over.
Here's a great thing. These bags LOVE LST. Yep, I use landscape staples ( at your local nursery or garden center) to pin down branches. You can tie yarn ( or whatever you use) to the stem or branch and poke a staple through the side of these containers.
Aeration Containers: There are several brands of these (Smartpot, Squareroot, etc.) but all with the same idea. Air root prunning. I don't pretend to really understand this but I do know the roots in these containers are amazing! The soil does not conpact. The soil "breathes". The plants are noticably stronger and bud production is better. Not overwhelming but better. I love these pots. I put them inside a white kitchen trash bag (like I do with the plastic grow bags) to catch any run-off. The trash bags are loose and only pulled halfway up the pot. They do seem to need to be watered more often but I can live with that as long as I get the production.
Now the down side. LST is harder with this type of pot. The soil remains so loose that the staples sometimes loose thier grip and though I've never tried to push the staple through the sides of the pot ( sides seem to be made of a landscape material ) the soil is so loose I still think there would be a problem. Anyway, my LST's with these pots continue to out produce the othe two.
The other downside is price. Though a 5 gal plactic pot ( not a free drywall mud container) may cost about the same I can get 10 to 12 plastic grow bags for the cost of one of these babies.
So I use a conbination of grow bags and Aeration container now. I usually have 12 to 16 plants between my Veg and Bud tents.
Hardsided containers are out for me.
I hope this helps someone as this site has helped me a lot. Give them a shot and see what you think.
Thanks!