Maximizing root growth in soil containers

Root growth/mass(all other factors being equal).

Space is also one of the major concerns for indoor growers, who generally cannot move to bigger and bigger pots to allow for bigger root masses.

However, a lot of container space often goes unused, because roots will not grow into the top inches of soil that are often dried out from powerful lights and low humidity. In addition, since MJ soils are typically very airy and light, when watering the top inches of soil are easily disturbed as the dirt is pushed and moved around by the water. This also inhibits roots from growing into the top inches of soil.


In a 1 foot tall pot the top 3 inches of soil will not allow root growth, you are wasting 25% of your soil mass that could be used for roots. In pots that are wider at the top than the bottom, this wasted soil could be even greater!

How then to use this soil? We need to prevent the soil from being disturbed and keep it moist, and hydro growers have been using an ideal product for this for a long time - Hydroton clay balls!

1. Hydroton clay balls are LIGHT.
They won't compact your soil the way putting pebbles on top would.



2. A layer of hydroton clay balls on top of the soil will help the soil underneath it lose moisture through evaporation and low humidity.

By adding a layer of hydroton on top of the soil, soil disturbance is prevented since the water does not directly touch the soil until it has filtered through the layer of hydroton balls. Soil moisture is then trapped underneath the hydroton and less likely to evaporate due to heat and/or low humidity.

This way it is possible to grow plants with roots stretching up all the way to the top of the soil. Those roots will rapidly provide nutrition to the plant when it is watered. It also will help the plant be able to go a longer time without watering since moisture that would have been lost to evaporation is now available to the plant.

Note:
Use a root stimulator during veg growth to help accelerate the root growth process and make sure there is a strong root mass in flowering. The last things you want in flower are wimpy roots (unless you want wimpy yields).

Good post. I use SunShine, which is a soil-less mix, works real well for root growth. Also heard coco works well for growing monster roots.

i ran out of soil, and used my hydroton to top off one of my pots.

glad to see i did a good thing on accident.

strangely, i'm starting to see thick roots coming out of the top of the soil? What does this mean?...Should I transplant

how the hell do people grow large plants in 16oz cups then. i always heard it was 1 gallon to 1 foot of plant. but they proved that wrong...

what about the significance of transplanting ppl need to heare how it will make a fuller root mass.. in a large pot the roots will grow out and down leaving an unused area in the middle so if you transplant up a few times you will get more use out of your soil, a fuller rootmass and healthier plant

all this info is in the grow faq

jordisgarden said:

how the hell do people grow large plants in 16oz cups then. i always heard it was 1 gallon to 1 foot of plant. but they proved that wrong...

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root bound does not effects a plant strangly... some will just need a lot of water and food others dnt like it... rollitup posted info on how rootbound doesn't exist a few months ago its a good read but i cant find it again

great advice. i am going to go buy that stuff tomorrow

I use hydroton clay balls at the bottom of my pots for drainage, but I'll have to give this method a shot too. +rep

HERBAL ADDICT said:

so is it best to water threw the top of the pot or from the bottom ????????????????/

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How exactly would you water from the bottom of the bucket with soil?

jordisgarden said:

how the hell do people grow large plants in 16oz cups then. i always heard it was 1 gallon to 1 foot of plant. but they proved that wrong...

Click to expand...

16oz cup grows can be a lot of work.
Some people give them nutes every morning and flush every evening, and they grow quite well.
I couldn't be bothered with that routine though.

I Have always waterd from the bottom, allowing my soil to absorb and take in exacly what it wants.its sucked up threw the drainage holes. just because i read that the plants waste and unwanted salts and all the shit comes to the top of the soil (wich is visible) so i dont to water from the top because it forces it all back down to the root ball............ so whats the deal then top water or bottom...?...?....?.....?..... ?
how ever i always let them build a real compact root system before i re-pot otherwise you are right the roots shoot strait to the side then to the bottom leaving a big empty soggy space in the centre of the pot where theres no roots to absorb the moisture
evry time i re-pot i only go up a litre in pot size then by flowering time u have a really efficent rootball ready to plant in your final budding pots / (shit root balls = shit overall yield and quality..in my experience

Im trying a 16 oz grow right now, once it grows a decent amount though and it seems as though the roots are becoming restricted i am planning on transplanting it into a slightly larger cup, once it is transplanted im planning on immediately start a 12-12 light cycle

tallicagolf said:

How exactly would you water from the bottom of the bucket with soil?

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Sit your pot in a bigger pot with your nuits etc in the bigger pot, remove after about 5 mins, your plant will be able to draw up what it needs.

jordisgarden said:

how the hell do people grow large plants in 16oz cups then. i always heard it was 1 gallon to 1 foot of plant. but they proved that wrong...

Click to expand...

I have my almost 2 feet babies in the same 16 oz cups they sprouted in. I will be transplanting in the ground within the next few days but they are all fine.
I water every hot day, but its been raining alot so they don't take much attention.

Root bound? bullshit.

right after 4 days in a glass of water and a day in the towel paper i put the seeds in soil that had root enchancers my plat now is very small and the roots came right down the drainimg hole.

tallicagolf said:

How exactly would you water from the bottom of the bucket with soil?

Click to expand...

hello out there fellow growers just a note most plants find water and nutrients naturally buy digging in and getting it from the ground , if you have a good soil mix you can flash flood and drain no different than filling a catch saucer its all about plants feeding from the bottom

McFly! ...Mar 24, 2007.