What's the Point of Starting in a 16oz Cup?

Instead of putting the germinated seed in a 16oz cup and transplanting to a 3-5 gallon pot when the roots fill the cup, why can't you just start the seed in the 3-5 gallon? Why is it better to start in the cup? Thanks in advance.

because if u use a bigger pot you cant put the lights as close in a smaller pot/cup you can and your ventilation works more to strengthen ya stems

what nitro said is true but also....... When you start in a small cup like a 16oz party cup or a pint sized pot then once the plant developes its rootball and you transplant, it will be stronger and it will grow larger because the first rootball has already been created. it made more sense when i read it somewhere but i try.

It's convenient and efficient. If you've got a seperate veg area, it's more efficient to have less lights over a smaller area, you can fit a dozen cups in the space 2 buckets take up. Of course, if you're growing from seed to harvest under the same lights it's fine to start them in buckets.

I've always wanted those Kitty Litter buckets, squared, so they'll fit together more compact. With a lot of different strains, I use a sharpie and write the strain on the handle of plastic knives, forks & spoons work also.
I read an article about raising your male to female ratio from 50/50 to 20/80. One major factor, other than not allowing any stress, is not allowing the root system to become 'crowded. The Plant's top 3 priorities are, Survival, Freedom to grow, and to reproduce, in that order. If the plant's rooting system becomes confined at the early stage, the Plant's instinct is to become male, knowing that with a confined rooting area (They don't know they will be moved) the chances are greatly reduced that a female can come to full term with Buds, to reproduce, but has greater chance for a male to quickly grow & pollinate. Whether you believe this or not is a non-issue. Only point is, in Plastic Cups, if I even THINK the rooting system in going to even touch the side of the cup, that's when I transplant to bigger containers. 3 inch strips cut horizonal from a cereal box will allow you to make little 'collars to put around the base of each Baby, to keep cutting things ways.
Happy Growing, everybody.

It makes sense to start in a smaller container for a plethora of reasons. Aside from that large pots take up a heck of a lot more space and the other reasons previously mentioned:

• Appropriately sized containers are much easier to water properly (thoroughly, until run-off).
  I've seen various grow-problem posts featuring people who have started seed in 3-5 gallon containers. They have issues if only because they're afraid to water properly or because doing so is just plain difficult. This is compounded by the fact that the amount of soil in a 5 gal container is going to absorb a lot of water which a seedling\young plant wont be able to utilize. So the soil surface may dry out while the bottom layers are still very wet.
• You're wasting less materials in the event that plants are male or otherwise undesirable.
• Roots want to seek nutrients (and water). Especially when those in their immediate vicinity have become depleted. Transplanting into a new\more diverse (in terms of nutrients and where they are located) mix fosters this instinct.
• Transplanting is fun.