Hollatchaboy
Well-Known Member
Not if you want quality and yield. You have to baby them just enough.
living soil aeration
- Thread starter i-keepBurningMyBeard
- Start date
Regarding the fabric pots for living soils...
IME, they work well enough but require a bit of a learning curve. When I first started with them I was drastically under watering everything. By the end of the run the bottom half of the pots had gone completely hydrophobic and was repelling water 100%. Zero biology living in that layer. It took some trail and error to dial them in but in the end, more frequent watering with less volume really helped. Wetting agents like yucca and aloe help to rehydrate if they start to dry a bit. It’s easy to tell if thing are drying out down in the root zone because water will move down through the hydrated soil but as soon as it hits that hydrophobic layer it moves laterally and will be forced out of the side of the pot at that point. If I see this I know to back off the heavy watering cycle and go to a regimen of less volume more frequently. Sometimes I’ll do three days in a row of light watering to get them hydrated to the point where any ( very little) run off exits through the bottom of the pot.
I also see many commercial outfits using them with great success growing huge , healthy plants. Many are using trays below to catch run off and allow it to wick back up into the lower part of the pots. The key with this is to remove any excess water within 15-20 minutes so you don’t drown roots.
In addition, most fabric pots companies are now offering living soil pots and planters that have a non permeable liner around the sidewalls that leaves about three inches of space at the top and the bottom of the pot unlined ( as well as the bottom of the pot) to keep the evaporation out of the sides to a minimum thus allowing for better biology habitats.
IME, they work well enough but require a bit of a learning curve. When I first started with them I was drastically under watering everything. By the end of the run the bottom half of the pots had gone completely hydrophobic and was repelling water 100%. Zero biology living in that layer. It took some trail and error to dial them in but in the end, more frequent watering with less volume really helped. Wetting agents like yucca and aloe help to rehydrate if they start to dry a bit. It’s easy to tell if thing are drying out down in the root zone because water will move down through the hydrated soil but as soon as it hits that hydrophobic layer it moves laterally and will be forced out of the side of the pot at that point. If I see this I know to back off the heavy watering cycle and go to a regimen of less volume more frequently. Sometimes I’ll do three days in a row of light watering to get them hydrated to the point where any ( very little) run off exits through the bottom of the pot.
I also see many commercial outfits using them with great success growing huge , healthy plants. Many are using trays below to catch run off and allow it to wick back up into the lower part of the pots. The key with this is to remove any excess water within 15-20 minutes so you don’t drown roots.
In addition, most fabric pots companies are now offering living soil pots and planters that have a non permeable liner around the sidewalls that leaves about three inches of space at the top and the bottom of the pot unlined ( as well as the bottom of the pot) to keep the evaporation out of the sides to a minimum thus allowing for better biology habitats.
Hollatchaboy
Well-Known Member
In not that experienced yet, and I'm in fabric pots right now, but I've noticed very little runoff, if any. I water 10% by volume. I find moistening the top first, and watering very slowly seems to keep most the water in the soil. I can't say for sure that all the soil at the bottom gets moistened though.
Hollatchaboy
Well-Known Member
I'm thinking of going no till, so I dunno how well fabric will work for that.
Dreminen169
Well-Known Member
Jeremy over @ buildasoil seems to have great luck with the earth boxes. I got a earthbox jr. on the way that I’m going to try out & if I like them I’m probably just gonna build more myself. I’ve been seeing great results lately with the earth boxes. Best part is there super inexpensive & easy to build
Budzbuddha
Well-Known Member
Pumice for the win ... no more dust drama ! LOL
As far as watering , most peat based can get a little hydrophobic ( water races right thru ) , so I have to stand container in catch bin and slow water addition. Also reusing collected water to use again until actual saturation.
As far as watering , most peat based can get a little hydrophobic ( water races right thru ) , so I have to stand container in catch bin and slow water addition. Also reusing collected water to use again until actual saturation.
Hollatchaboy
Well-Known Member
I'm gonna look into one now. Thanks.
Dreminen169
Well-Known Member
They got a couple different sizes here’s the jr
EarthBox Junior Gardening System
The most successful herb planter boxes and growing kit for the novice gardener or urban dweller. Plant and grow herbs inside or outdoors. 100% guarantee.
earthbox.com
Hollatchaboy
Well-Known Member
I let mine sit in the tray for about 10 mins if i do see runoff. Most often times, it just gets absorbed anyways.
Hollatchaboy
Well-Known Member
They seem a lil small fior no till. I pretty much want to cover my tent floor. I believe I'm gonna try a plastic tote.They got a couple different sizes here’s the jr
EarthBox Junior Gardening System
The most successful herb planter boxes and growing kit for the novice gardener or urban dweller. Plant and grow herbs inside or outdoors. 100% guarantee.
Dreminen169
Well-Known Member
Guess it depends how big you want, but If you go on buildasoil’s IG Jermey literally holds your hand & walks you through doing no-till with the earthboxes.
Nutty sKunK
Well-Known Member
I think airpots excel in an automated watering system. This will stop the outer edges from drying up. Then they can really utilising the extra air.
Also air pruning stops those big circling roots and divides them up into finer hairs where the plant can take up more nutrients.
Using a surficant also helps a lot - it’s how I bypass it shooting out the sides.
If it’s just not co-operating stab it with a thin BBQ skewer. Works a charm.
lastly when potting them up it’s crucial to do it in layers. Pushing and compacting a good inch layer into the holes while keep the middle lighter.
Oh yeah - cheap airport knock offs don’t work. You need the original ones I find for best results.
Watering everyday sounds like it takes practice with different stages of growth...
Hollatchaboy
Well-Known Member
I'll look into it. Thanks for the info man.Guess it depends how big you want, but If you go on buildasoil’s IG Jermey literally holds your hand & walks you through doing no-till with the earthboxes.
Hollatchaboy
Well-Known Member
I don't mind them much. I figured with my tendency to overwater, they would be a good choice. I bought smart pots, I believe they are original?
Hollatchaboy
Well-Known Member
Oh wait, air pots. Those are different. I use fabric ones.
Nutty sKunK
Well-Known Member
Yea these ones;
They are autos that’s why they are small but front one is only 69 days old. Yet to run photoperiods in them but on my to do list lol
Hollatchaboy
Well-Known Member
Those are cool and all, but I'm switching to no till. I don't think those will work for that method.
GrownAtHighAltitude
Well-Known Member
Earthboxes FTWJeremy over @ buildasoil seems to have great luck with the earth boxes. I got a earthbox jr. on the way that I’m going to try out & if I like them I’m probably just gonna build more myself. I’ve been seeing great results lately with the earth boxes. Best part is there super inexpensive & easy to build
Mine have the autowatering system and it's basically a hands-free operation.
(Left to right; Alien Kush F3, Tahoe OG, Shoreline OG)
GrownAtHighAltitude
Well-Known Member
The issue with perlite is not a technical one. It works well for the purpose for which it was made.
The OG organic hippie growers had a problem with the energy input and environmental concerns surrounding the manufacturing of it. I can't remember the specifics but this was the thing that rubbed folks the wrong way.
The OG organic hippie growers had a problem with the energy input and environmental concerns surrounding the manufacturing of it. I can't remember the specifics but this was the thing that rubbed folks the wrong way.