New Grower Airpots and Smart pots

[smw5767]

Hi Fella's,
i've heard good and bad about both,as you always do..lol.I'm thinking of using one or the other with my first Auto's.??? Anyone use either of them Guy's? Like em'?
I've heard how great they both are for a good root systems,equaling a big health plant,root pruning i think they call it.
My two concerns with both are...
AIRPOTS...a bitch to water,you have to pour VERY slowly or you lose most of it? They also dry out very quickly,so more time checking and watering?
SMARTPOTS... Made of a fabric material,look great,but as they're floppy and have no rigid bottom,how do you actually get good drainage and air from the bottom? Or anywhere having said that?
With the conventional plastic pots you kind of 'know where you are',regarding watering /drainage.The two above,both quite new and highly praised by many...But how do they really perform? People say they are great,BUT are they easy to use and PRACTICAL????

like to know your thoughts on this one Guys,if i may.
Cheers,
Steve.

 

[KindredSpirit]

Hey Steve :smokebuds:

I've never used Smart pots, but I have used 0.3, 0.8, and 1.5 gallon Air-pots and will never grow in anything else.

As far as how long it takes to water them, I've found no increase in watering time given the following:
1) Your soil mix has proper drainage
2) You take 5 seconds and use a dinner fork to cultivate the top 1/2" - 3/4" of soil in each pot before watering. This will help the water distribute evenly across the top. Without it, the top soil is similar to hardpan and the water will tend to run to the edges and out the holes before it has a chance to sink down into the pot.

Just my

 

[seraphim19]

hey smw

i have never used airpots but i use a similar thing to smart pots called root pouches(if you want to get some or look at them check ebay) and i have seen a big improvment to my growing.

the root pouches are floppy when empty but when full are pretty sturdy and to me there is little or no difference in watering if you use pots with drainage holes in the bottom.

i used to use polypots so i could just throw them away when i was done but i will never go back to them.

why not get 4 pots and try them side by side with the ones you use now. it wont cost more than a tenner

these are my 8litre root pouches



good luck whatever you chose brother

 

[N.W.]

Hey Steve... I switched to Airpots 18 months ago mate and would never switch back... Yea they can be a pain to water at times especially if you let them dry to much, but the extra benefits they give your plants, way out weighs any watering probs you Could encounter.... I use 1L , 6L and 10L luv'um...
Kindred Spirit gives you some good tips on watering, im not posh enough to use a fork i use my finger.... hahahaha...

 

[smw5767]

Lol...Cheers mate,
I must admit,between the two,after what i've read i am leaning towards the Airpots too.
I must be as thick as shit,as i still cant get my head around the Smartpots????
When they're full they hold their shape like any other pot and are great for root growth.BUT,i still cant figure out how the water actually can drain from the bottom after watering as the bottom is COMPLETELY FLAT?????
Apologies for being a dummy...lol
Appreciate the info though,cheers.
Steve.
ps I just read a post from a Guy who said Airpots are good for Photos but not good for Autos? He said it made his Autos veg for TOO LONG...6 weeks......Maybe Airpots are too GOOD for Autos then?????....strange.

 

[seraphim19]

the root pouches and smart pots are made of fabric so water passes through them like a sieve

i also put my root pouches on a grill and raise it off the floor so air can circulate underneath which boosts root growth and allows excess water to drain away

 

[namvet25]

:smokebuds:I'm also using airpots,and yes a little water may leak out but if you have a catch pan under them its no problem.The only thing is to make sure you keep the soil level above the first set of open holes as the soil will compact over time, so just add a little more soil as needed.

 

[KindredSpirit]

ps I just read a post from a Guy who said Airpots are good for Photos but not good for Autos? He said it made his Autos veg for TOO LONG...6 weeks......Maybe Airpots are too GOOD for Autos then?????....strange.

I'm not entirely sure who posted that, but that's definitely something I've never heard before. If his autos were vegging for six weeks, they weren't autos. I've never had a fully autoflowering strain take any longer than 21 days to show sex.

Here are a couple pics of autos I've grown in Air-pots.

Duurty Dragon, tiered in 0.8 gallon Air-pot:

Diesel Ryder, tiered in 0.8 gallon Air-pot:

One I'm currently growing - SBR 70 at 40 days old, 0.8 gallon Air-pot:

:smokebuds:

 

[smw5767]

Cheers Guys,
big thanks to Kindredspirit! Also,thanks for the great pictures,very impressive!
This Guy i mentioned obviously did'nt know what he was talking about for sure
I will now happily place my Auto's IN Autopts.
Thank you.

 

[TaNg]

Airpots rule.