Does carrying plastic pots harm the roots of plant?

Crazy cat daddy

Crazy cat daddy

Member
My plants are in 23 litres (6 gallons) of plastic pots. I notice that when I hold and raise the pot with plant in it, bottom of the pot bends and makes a slight arch (5 mm) because of the weight of soil and plant. This made me think that this might cause some of the roots to break off. Roots are not flexible after all. Unlike soil in the pot, in nature soil is stable, so plants are not evolved against this danger.

I also notice sometimes the leaves goes a bit down after I carry them. (Not always and not sure the real reason is this or not)

I'm planning to make a hard and non-flexible saucer with handles and carry the pots with them. Do you think am I exaggerating?
 
xtsho

xtsho

Well-Known Member
What do you mean roots are not flexible? They are not brittle. They will bend easily without breaking.

If carrying plastic pots harms the roots of plants how do you explain the millions of plants in plastic pots being moved around from nurseries, to retail outlets, to peoples homes?

There is no need to be making a special tray to carry your plants. When I transplant I physically break up some of the root ball on purpose. You're way over thinking this and in the wrong way.
 
JoeBlow5823

JoeBlow5823

Well-Known Member
Even fabric pots have handles and can be moved pretty easily. Obviously you want to take care while moving them but you can move them. I like the new square plastic pots, much more rigid and sensible than the cheap nursery pots.
 
xtsho

xtsho

Well-Known Member
JoeBlow5823 said:
Even fabric pots have handles and can be moved pretty easily. Obviously you want to take care while moving them but you can move them. I like the new square plastic pots, much more rigid and sensible than the cheap nursery pots.
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I like the square design myself as it's more modular and you can keep things compact and neat. The biggest square pots I have are 1.75 liters. I've always wanted to do a SOG run with a 3' x 3' capillary mat in the 4' x 4' tent with 36 plants in the 8 per tray pots. I've pulled over an ounce off of 12/12 from seed plants many times before. The key is using the right strain. Unfortunately due to plant count limits that I'm allowed to grow I'll never be able to do that run.


 
JoeBlow5823

JoeBlow5823

Well-Known Member
xtsho said:
I like the square design myself as it's more modular and you can keep things compact and neat. The biggest square pots I have are 1.75 liters. I've always wanted to do a SOG run with a 3' x 3' capillary mat in the 4' x 4' tent with 36 plants in the 8 per tray pots. I've pulled over an ounce off of 12/12 from seed plants many times before. The key is using the right strain. Unfortunately due to plant count limits that I'm allowed to grow I'll never be able to do that run.


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Eventually the rules will change and you will be able to do runs like that. Ive got a 12/12 gelato from Canuk that is fucking huge right now. Im expecting 3-4 off of her. I would also like to do more 12/12 runs just for the sake of variety and maybe pheno hunting but for now my limit is 12. I have square pots that go all the way up to 8 gallons (30 liters).
 
vostok

vostok

Well-Known Member
Crazy cat daddy said:
My plants are in 23 litres (6 gallons) of plastic pots. I notice that when I hold and raise the pot with plant in it, bottom of the pot bends and makes a slight arch (5 mm) because of the weight of soil and plant. This made me think that this might cause some of the roots to break off. Roots are not flexible after all. Unlike soil in the pot, in nature soil is stable, so plants are not evolved against this danger.

I also notice sometimes the leaves goes a bit down after I carry them. (Not always and not sure the real reason is this or not)

I'm planning to make a hard and non-flexible saucer with handles and carry the pots with them. Do you think am I exaggerating?
Click to expand...
Of more concern is impact, the biz of crushing your plants roots

its why many add 25%? perlite to the soils,

not a biggy but in the growing game we win by millimeters rather than yards,

the small stuff is worth noting

good luck
 
vostok

vostok

Well-Known Member
JoeBlow5823 said:
Eventually the rules will change and you will be able to do runs like that. Ive got a 12/12 gelato from Canuk that is fucking huge right now. Im expecting 3-4 off of her. I would also like to do more 12/12 runs just for the sake of variety and maybe pheno hunting but for now my limit is 12. I have square pots that go all the way up to 8 gallons (30 liters).
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good fer you, intime you may note the difference between the round pot over size and the pinched rootlets of the 'square grower'

in time?
 
Crazy cat daddy

Crazy cat daddy

Member
vostok said:
good fer you, intime you may note the difference between the round pot over size and the pinched rootlets of the 'square grower'

in time?
Click to expand...
I use both round and square pots and it seems they both pros and cons. Considering the width of the pot, square pots holds 2 times more growing medium than the round ones. That means square pots takes up 2 times less area than the round ones.

But plants that I grow in the round pots seems to flourish more. In my grow space except number 5, all round potted plants are bigger than the square ones. (there is step down at the second row, they are much bigger than the first raw. I don't know maybe coincidence?

20130112_175921.jpg
 
JoeBlow5823

JoeBlow5823

Well-Known Member
Crazy cat daddy said:
I use both round and square pots and it seems they both pros and cons. Considering the width of the pot, square pots holds 2 times more growing medium than the round ones. That means square pots takes up 2 times less area than the round ones.

But plants that I grow in the round pots seems to flourish more. In my grow space except number 5, all round potted plants are bigger than the square ones. (there is step down at the second row, they are much bigger than the first raw. I don't know maybe coincidence?

View attachment 4619720
Click to expand...
Your round pots are significantly bigger. If those squares are 5, the rounds are 7 or 8
 
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