For organic only? you may believe that but go count the numbers here using them with nutrients, ( I do both nutrients and organics, as the whim suits me ) they work well with either. And i didn't say they are for everyone. And organics and airdomes won't show their effectiveness? I counter they they might work better in a large pot if they actually do anything.
And would it really matter if you go 3-5 days more with your autos? I still average 75-80 days with many strains and can't complain.
And I've grown in auto pots with coco, soil, coco soil mix, coco perlite, and guess what, they all work well in them.
Coco builds up salts, not because it tends to, but because people overfeed their plants. I've run back to back grows in coco without flushing for any reason, not even a rinse of the medium. I never run more than 600 ppms.
Go look up
@Tony21. he grows in coco using flooded trays and never flushes, in fact, he has grown in the same coco for years. I think he rinses it between grows but thats it.
I've used airdomes in the auto pots as well, I've not seen them as effective enough to be worth it. I see claims they work but not one shred of scientific date to prove it, and I like to base my facts on science i've not said they don't work, I'm saying I'm skeptical.
And we use large pots because we want to grow large plants. Smaller pots are available. But considering most states with legal growing restrict your plant count severely, growing a few large plants might be your only option if your making medicine. I myself like small pots sometimes. I've got 36 .75L pots in a flooded tray right now.
You had a flood. If it was working when you left, what caused it? there is very little that can fail. I'll say it again, user error causes 90% of problems. I've 12 pots and have run them almost 3 years. No floods ever. So what was wrong, or defective?
I'll concede, they are a bit expensive, but as most growers will only use maybe 4 on average its not that expensive. People blow more money than that on expensive nutrients without batting an eye.
Drip systems work obviously, and using them because that's your preference is fine, i'm glad they work for you. I've seen some excellent grows done with drips systems. But to tell me its a better system over all is inaccurate. Your comparing a system with multi-part electromechanical systems to a system with 3 moving parts, that barely move in reality. My auto pots will be functioning long after your pumps and timers have burnt out! For someone like Bigsm0, who has limited time and messing with a drip system doesn't sound like it will fit his schedule. You must know that the more pots and drippers you run, the more likely leaks and clogs and burnt out pumps are.
I've left my pots for over a week on vacation, things were as normal when i returned. I'd rather depend on my auto pots than on some electrical pump!
