Anyone try the Auto Pot easy2grow kit

AutoPot - easy2grow Kit
http://growershouse.com/autopot-easy2grow-kit-24-pot?keyword=&gclid=CKe1pc_6t84CFVYbgQodS2MEDA

I am weary of soil. I think this system was created in the UK and is supposedly idiot proof.
I am not sure if 8.5 litre pots can create big enough plants. Maybe in SCROG.

It looks like a pretty clean set up. Not totally cheap and I probably could build something like this with Home Depot buckets but it may be worth spending the extra money.

Colo MMJ said:

AutoPot - easy2grow Kit
http://growershouse.com/autopot-easy2grow-kit-24-pot?keyword=&gclid=CKe1pc_6t84CFVYbgQodS2MEDA

I am weary of soil. I think this system was created in the UK and is supposedly idiot proof.
I am not sure if 8.5 litre pots can create big enough plants. Maybe in SCROG.

It looks like a pretty clean set up. Not totally cheap and I probably could build something like this with Home Depot buckets but it may be worth spending the extra money.

Click to expand...

That's pretty cool

24 pots is pretty big which is what I am looking for. No electricity. Looks almost idiot proof. I wonder if you might still need a chiller or warmer.

Colo MMJ said:

24 pots is pretty big which is what I am looking for. No electricity. Looks almost idiot proof. I wonder if you might still need a chiller or warmer.

Click to expand...

The only thing I don't get is what the roots do. Do they grow out the bottom into the water? Like a flood drain? I assumed that's what that extra little space in the aqua valve is for. So that once the water is truly gone and all drank up, it doesnt open the float valve immediately. That little space in the valve stays full (in the animation at least) giving the roots time to dry out and load up on o2 before flooding them with water again. I'd just be concerned about there being ZERO dissolved oxygen in that water.

Colo MMJ said:

24 pots is pretty big which is what I am looking for. No electricity. Looks almost idiot proof. I wonder if you might still need a chiller or warmer.

Click to expand...

By the way, I don't think a water "warmer" would ever be a good thing.

Airwalker16 said:

By the way, I don't think a water "warmer" would ever be a good thing.

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Thanks for the comments. This thing looks interesting. Yes, I think you would be better off making sure the room does not get too cold. As long as the room is not too cold then the water will be fine.

Airwalker16 said:

The only thing I don't get is what the roots do. Do they grow out the bottom into the water? Like a flood drain? I assumed that's what that extra little space in the aqua valve is for. So that once the water is truly gone and all drank up, it doesnt open the float valve immediately. That little space in the valve stays full (in the animation at least) giving the roots time to dry out and load up on o2 before flooding them with water again. I'd just be concerned about there being ZERO dissolved oxygen in that water.

Click to expand...

Hmmm? It says no electricity is used? I wonder if adding a bubbler to the reservoir might be a good idea?

I am going to do some more research because it looks like a pretty good setup for a larger grow. Those 7 foot ++ chili plants in those pots with the man standing in front of them is wild. I have been wanting to test out hydro.

Colo MMJ said:

Thanks for the comments. This thing looks interesting. Yes, I think you would be better off making sure the room does not get too cold. As long as the room is not too cold then the water will be fine.

Click to expand...

If your room was 60*F, that'd be great for your reservoir water temp. You'd never want to "warm" it. The ambient air, for the plants, yes.

I just ordered an autopot system... two pots, each with their own valve. These easy2grow systems combine two pots per valve and you save a few bucks.

Regarding zero dissolved oxygen, adding a bubbler is a popular remedy. However, from what I gather, it increases your pH substantially over the week. To the point that you have to change your res more than once per seven days (it might also decrease the quality by the end of the res period, breaking down some of the ferts?). Oxygen isn't as much of an issue because you usually use 2 or 3 parts perlite per 1 part coco as a medium. The flood and drain-esque along with the airy medium is usually enough (personal assumption based on research).

Also, there is a disk at the bottom of the each pot that doesn't let the roots grow out.

Previously, I was a soil guy. This is my first time with something that could be described as hydro. I have Heavy 16 nutes that I plan on using, but I'm afraid that Prime might be too organic and clog the pipes.

staygreener said:

I just ordered an autopot system... two pots, each with their own valve. These easy2grow systems combine two pots per valve and you save a few bucks.

Regarding zero dissolved oxygen, adding a bubbler is a popular remedy. However, from what I gather, it increases your pH substantially over the week. To the point that you have to change your res more than once per seven days (it might also decrease the quality by the end of the res period, breaking down some of the ferts?). Oxygen isn't as much of an issue because you usually use 2 or 3 parts perlite per 1 part coco as a medium. The flood and drain-esque along with the airy medium is usually enough (personal assumption based on research).

Also, there is a disk at the bottom of the each pot that doesn't let the roots grow out.

Previously, I was a soil guy. This is my first time with something that could be described as hydro. I have Heavy 16 nutes that I plan on using, but I'm afraid that Prime might be too organic and clog the pipes.

Click to expand...

I Stull don't get it. You can't start seedlings in it right? They need a developed root system for this to work?

You're supposed to treat it like straight coco (hand watering) until the roots reach the bottom. Then mix your res, hook it up, and let it do its thing. I hope we get someone in here who has actually used it, I have a lot of questions.

staygreener said:

You're supposed to treat it like straight coco (hand watering) until the roots reach the bottom. Then mix your res, hook it up, and let it do its thing. I hope we get someone in here who has actually used it, I have a lot of questions.

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I'd rather just run a dripper for sure.

Ive ran 3 grows with autopots and running one now...ask away.
Money maker




GSC.

Youll notice the res is above the trays in tents this is what lets the trays fill up and let float work. What I do is germ my seeds than transfer to solo cups w soil (use what I did when growing soil happy frog and perlite, but doesnt matter really) once the plants outgrow cups they go into final pots in the autopots. I use 70/30 mix coco and coarse perlite. It is correct that for first week you hand water like you would a soil medium. I let mine go a bit longer in solo cups so they have a decent root system once transplanted to auto. You cant run organics in system, in winds up gunking up lines. I ran into that problem w floranectar, ive only used GH floraseries up until now, MM still has GH but the GSC are being fed RO water and AN nutes (bought them a while ago and figured give em a try) even running all synthetic lines tend to get some gack in tiny lines (just had to clear my MM tent because trays were dry) I usually check trays once a day to make sure all is well and lines are clear. So far throughout past harvests I love em. Leaves always "pray" since the ladies take what they need. Each plant is independently fed so if one wants more shell take it. I marked inside of rez at 10 gallons (holds 12 but 10 is nice to round #) fill w water as needed mix nutes, turn little valve and let them drink. If you guys have any ?'s feel free to ask her or shoot PM

Forgot to add that i use an 1" of hydroton in bottom of all pots before adding coco mix. Ill see if I can send pic of roots without wrecking em, theyre scrogged so not easy. The pots have slits in bottom and roots will grow through them and spill over to valve area but its more self contained and stays in pot and or under it for most part.