Re-potting Plants Growing in Hydroton (Clay Pebbles).

NorthofEngland · Jan 21, 2014

I have a Wilma 20 (with 20 x 6.5lt pots) and 2 x Wilma Big 9's (with 18lt pots).
The 6.5lt pots are for VEG, then I will transplant to the 18lt pots to Flower in a different area.

How difficult (or messy) is it to re-pot plants that are growing in hydroton clay pebbles????

Is there a system for doing it
A technique to limit damage or mess???

JohnDee · Jan 21, 2014

NoE,
That's a tricky one. I've grown in hydroton quite a bit...but never have transplanted up. I just vegged in rockwool and the stuck the rockwool into the hydroton.

At harvest, a hydroton plant will have a well established root mass that holds the hydroton together nicely. Perhaps it might not be a problem. I'm currently trying to find a solution to this issue for a forum friend. One thought I had was to use something like cheesecloth. Then lift the hydroton out using the cheesecloth and just leave it in place in the new pot. But really, it might promote root rot having a foreign substance in there.

So sorry, no definitive answer but looking forward to other replies.
JD

stonedest · Jan 21, 2014

I just debated this myself, but had some substantial root growth underneath the pot (check my journal for pic if interested). I think it would have been very difficult if I tried transplanting. Have you checked below your pots? You may be in a similar situation.

So, I just put the smaller pots inside the bigger pots, with one layer of pebbles below. We'll see how it goes!

NorthofEngland · Jan 22, 2014

stonedest said:
I just debated this myself, but had some substantial root growth underneath the pot (check my journal for pic if interested). I think it would have been very difficult if I tried transplanting. Have you checked below your pots? You may be in a similar situation.

So, I just put the smaller pots inside the bigger pots, with one layer of pebbles below. We'll see how it goes!

I haven't used the Wilma 20 pots. yet.
I have 24 cuttings in the prop, 20 x 6.5lt pots filled with Hydroton and ready to go
and 9 x 18lt pots containing plants on there 22nd day of flower.

It's a part perpetual that just needs the timings perfected.

POT LINERS
I saw some papier mache plant pots (actually a mould and stamp for making the papier mache pots).
Maybe some kind of liner - like the cheesecloth idea - would be the way to proceed?

Or buy more 6.5's and do the pots inside pots thing....?

vostok · Jan 22, 2014

Avoid transplanting at all costs, best to go for the initial 15-18 liter pots from the start, save on hydroton by going coco ...?

NorthofEngland · Jan 22, 2014

vostok said:
Avoid transplanting at all costs, best to go for the initial 15-18 liter pots from the start, save on hydroton by going coco ...?

It's not an option
I have a 4 x 4 tent with the 20 x 6.5lt pots and
a 8 x 4 tent with the 18lt pots.
Small for VEG and big for FLOWER.

I also have the Canna Aqua Vega A&B nutes
and 350lt of hydroton.

Could I veg in rockwool or something - then plant the rockwool in the hydroton for flowering?

Or buy 6.5lt pots that can be planted IN the 18lt pots?
Maybe airpots of something???

anzohaze · Jan 22, 2014

Go by a cheap plastic throw away pot. Slice 1 side open from top edge to bottom center hole so you can open up. put make a bigger center hole on bottom of pot for stalk of plant put it over your small pot turn upsode down remove old pot and slide on new bogger pot then remove the sliced pot

JohnDee · Jan 22, 2014

NofE wrote: Or buy more 6.5's and do the pots inside pots thing....?

That's not a bad idea, especially if you drilled lots of extra holes in the inside pot. They would be covered by the outside pot during veg, but then free for roots to grow through once in the larger pots.
JD

NorthofEngland · Jan 22, 2014

The above link is a picture of a pot of hydroton being held together by the roots of the plant that had been grown in it.

It seems that re-potting 18" high plants, at the end of the VEG phase, can be done as one would do it with plants VEGGED in other grow mediums.
I will still make a point of being gentle and tapping out the plants above a blanket, so any lose pebbles that fall away will not scatter all over the floor.

NorthofEngland · Jan 22, 2014

This picture is the same plant as the hydroton root ball, above.
https://www.rollitup.org/attachments/newbie-central/1207534d1286904653-4-plants-seed-experiment-pict0770.jpg

QUOTE FROM VOSTOK - Avoid transplanting at all costs, best to go for the initial 15-18 liter pots from the start, save on hydroton by going coco ...?
It seems that avoiding re-potting isn't as essential as you, or most of the other posts authors, or me, all assumed to be an obviously problematic situation....
Re-potting hydroton grown plants is no more impossible than transplanting coco or a soil/perlite mix.

stonedest · Jan 22, 2014

Interesting, maybe I will give it a shot next time. Did you have a bunch of roots growing out the bottom like I did?

NorthofEngland · Jan 23, 2014

stonedest said:
Interesting, maybe I will give it a shot next time. Did you have a bunch of roots growing out the bottom like I did?

In my 18lt pots - YES
But I haven't used the 6.5lt pots yet.

I imagine it will be a case of tapping them out very gently over something that will catch any falling debris.
(But I am a bit nervous about trying it).

jondamon · Jan 23, 2014

NorthofEngland said:
The above link is a picture of a pot of hydroton being held together by the roots of the plant that had been grown in it.

It seems that re-potting 18" high plants, at the end of the VEG phase, can be done as one would do it with plants VEGGED in other grow mediums.
I will still make a point of being gentle and tapping out the plants above a blanket, so any lose pebbles that fall away will not scatter all over the floor.

Now that's just plagerism. Lol

Incase anyone is wondering the pics were from me to NoE in a PM.

J

NorthofEngland · Jan 23, 2014

jondamon said:
Now that's just plagerism. Lol

Incase anyone is wondering the pics were from me to NoE in a PM.

J

From the context of the thread no one could think it was my photo
and, in this game, crediting people with responsibility could be perceived badly.

WHAT ABOUT THE 'ROOTS COMING OUT OF THE BOTTOM' THING???
Will that be a problem???

jondamon · Jan 23, 2014

NorthofEngland said:
From the context of the thread no one could think it was my photo
and, in this game, crediting people with responsibility could be perceived badly.

WHAT ABOUT THE 'ROOTS COMING OUT OF THE BOTTOM' THING???
Will that be a problem???

IME I've found a small amount of root damage to an otherwise healthy plant is not a problem.

I mean people hack at roots during normal transplants with razor blades.

A little stress would be fine.

J

NorthofEngland · Jan 24, 2014

I have room for 20 small plants (in 6.5lt Pots of Clay Pebbles/Hydroton).
Earlier today, I spent £4 on 2 Blocks of Rockwool (they are slightly smaller than the 6.5lt Pots).

I will VEG 18 of the plants in Hydroton and 2 in Rockwool.

VEGGING IN ROCKWOOL....???
I'd like to hear from anyone who has taken a cutting all the way to the end of VEG using only Rockwool.
What were your experiences of this system???

jondamon · Jan 24, 2014

Depending upon the size of rockwool you may have to water twice per day.

I vegged 4 plants in 3x3 rockwool blocks for 21 days before adding them to my wilma system.

I was hand watering and checking them daily.

After 21 days of veg they needed watering twice per day.

J

NorthofEngland · Jan 24, 2014

jondamon said:
Depending upon the size of rockwool you may have to water twice per day.

I vegged 4 plants in 3x3 rockwool blocks for 21 days before adding them to my wilma system.

I was hand watering and checking them daily.

After 21 days of veg they needed watering twice per day.
J

You've said something, there!
I didn't think about it but, obviously, the two Rockwool will need different feeding schedule to the 18 Hydroton.

Size
If you squared a full toilet roll
The rockwool squares are about that size.

I'll measure one and get back to you.

NorthofEngland · Jan 24, 2014

NorthofEngland said:
You've said something, there!
I didn't think about it but, obviously, the two Rockwool will need different feeding schedule to the 18 Hydroton.

Size
If you squared a full toilet roll
The rockwool squares are about that size.

I'll measure one and get back to you.

147mm x 147mm x 147mm
or
5 and 5/8" cubed

Re-potting Plants Growing in Hydroton (Clay Pebbles).

NorthofEngland

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JohnDee

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stonedest

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NorthofEngland

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vostok

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