Grow Mediums Do you use fabric pots with autopots?

[Olderfart]

Thanks. Do you use that root sock? How long does it last for you? I think they have a round copper thing that you can use instead of the sock on there.

I think you need the root sock. You will be shocked at how quickly you will have root tips showing up on the outside of your fabric pots. Without the sock, I expect that roots will get all the way into your autopot valve, which could result in problems, including a flood. I kept mine and will try re-using them.

 

[Olderfart]

Thanks. The xl is the round tray the website uses for the 5 gallon fabric pots right? I would rather use my own fabric pots as they are much less expensive and I want to throw it away between grows instead of cleaning the pot out on there. Do you think that inch or so of open space around the pot in the tray would be a problem or would you cover that with hydroton or something like that on there?

An inch of space around the bottom of your pot will not affect how the valve works, but it may change the moisture pattern in your pot. The volume of the water in the extra space may lengthen the flood cycle in your smaller pot resulting in a wetter soil sequence than with a full sized pot. Might not be a problem, but you never know. If you do this, I would think about filling the space with something to reduce the water volume, but if you use something like hydroton, you would not be able to lift the pot out without a hassle getting everything back in.

The xl trays and standard fabric pots that autopot supplies work extremely well together. You can roll the rims of the pots down to whatever volume you want, I went to ~3 gallons. The pots are not that difficult to clean. They do not need to be pretty, just have the salt buildup and most of the roots removed. The whole job might have taken me 10 minutes for my three pots. When the originals wear out after several grows, you can see whether the rain science ones will fit.

 

[the123321]

Thanks. I think I may do the 5 gallon fabric pots with the autopots on there.

 

[Olderfart]

Thanks. I think I may do the 5 gallon fabric pots with the autopots on there.

That combo will grow you some monsters. Best choose your strains with the size of your tent in mind.

 

[Mizzo81]

That combo will grow you some monsters. Best choose your strains with the size of your tent in mind.

What’s the diameter of the fabric pots they come with.

 

[Olderfart]

What’s the diameter of the fabric pots they come with.

I will get back to you on that.

 

[Mizzo81]

This per autopot website can’t find the same for the fabric pot. This is the original xl hard pot.

 

[Mizzo81]

If that’s the case I will have to measure but I think the 3 gallon rain science bags r 10”. Although they taper so it may be 10” at the top and 9” at the bottom.

 

[MidnightSun]

With fabric pots i cut some PVC to allow the water to reach the water chambers in the Autopot. I was noticing the fabric would sag blocking the water from reaching under the fabric pot. Meaning the water wasn't being distributed to the back or sides...only the front of the pot. The PVC fixed that.

 

[PotDaddy]

I was just at the hydro store and they don't carry Autopots but had some left in the back he offered to me at 25 each. They are the Reg hard ones can I use grow bags instead of the 6 gal pot?? A 3 gal bag fits the whole perfectly.

$25ea seems like a great deal.