Question on Automation, i.e. Autopots or similar

[2budz]

So I have some travels planned over the summer and fall that at the moment are preventing me from dropping any beans despite having 2 tents sitting empty (other than peppers which are going outside next weekend). I've been looking at autopots, earth boxes, things with a reservoir and self watering. I know a ton of people here grow in them and similar things, I'm just curious about pros and cons of going this route. Are either of them able to go 10-11 days without being refilled? Do i have to run coco in them or can I stick to soil?

 

[MIAutomatic]

You could probably set up autopots to go that long, but I am guessing that’s pushing it without someone at least checking in every 3-4 days. I have less experience with earthbox, but since they have built in reservoirs that aren’t that big, I don’t think you could reliably get one to go that long without needing water unless plants were very young.

You can use a mix with some coco in either system, but a pure, or even majority coco medium is not ideal for a SIP grow. Coco needs regular runoff, best case with every watering, so it’s not a good candidate for an SIP system. You can use soil or a soil less mix like Promix or Biobizz, but auto pot recommends that the medium have 50% drainage substrate added to ensure enough air in the root zone. I have seen people here and on ROI who use them with denser mixes, but that is what autopot recommends.

 

[JP1]

I tried autopots for a while and 4 plants in 5 gallons of Coco will go through anywhere from 4-16 gallons of feed per week depending on age of the plants. If you want to stick to soil maybe look into blumats

 

[2budz]

I tried autopots for a while and 4 plants in 5 gallons of Coco will go through anywhere from 4-16 gallons of feed per week depending on age of the plants. If you want to stick to soil maybe look into blumats

That’s exactly the kind of thing I’m looking for. Thank you. Do you know anyone here that uses blumats?

 

[JP1]

That’s exactly the kind of thing I’m looking for. Thank you. Do you know anyone here that uses blumats?

Not off the top of my head but pretty sure I've seen a couple of people on here use them

 

[Bob's Auto's]

So I have some travels planned over the summer and fall that at the moment are preventing me from dropping any beans despite having 2 tents sitting empty (other than peppers which are going outside next weekend). I've been looking at autopots, earth boxes, things with a reservoir and self watering. I know a ton of people here grow in them and similar things, I'm just curious about pros and cons of going this route. Are either of them able to go 10-11 days without being refilled? Do i have to run coco in them or can I stick to soil?

If your water tank is big enough you can grow indefinitely inside an Autopot. You have to take into account that a full grown plant in veg will use up to 10L /day (in an autopot), Mine are currently in 2gallon autopots inside a double Easy2Grow set (4 pots) and I have to add 10L water every day and a half...
You can grow in coco, but then you'll also will need to put nutrients inside the watertank which can result in clogging.
If you use soil with for instance BioTabs, then you can go with water only in the tank and then it's just the question of how big a tank you can install which dictates the time away from home...

 

[2budz]

If your water tank is big enough you can grow indefinitely inside an Autopot. You have to take into account that a full grown plant in veg will use up to 10L /day (in an autopot), Mine are currently in 2gallon autopots inside a double Easy2Grow set (4 pots) and I have to add 10L water every day and a half...
You can grow in coco, but then you'll also will need to put nutrients inside the watertank which can result in clogging.
If you use soil with for instance BioTabs, then you can go with water only in the tank and then it's just the question of how big a tank you can install which dictates the time away from home...

Thanks for that info. As it stands I’m going to have my brother who has no idea come water my outdoor stuff. I might just mix up some jugs before I leave and have him water indoors as well. I need to talk to him and see how he feels about it.

 

[Bob's Auto's]

Thanks for that info. As it stands I’m going to have my brother who has no idea come water my outdoor stuff. I might just mix up some jugs before I leave and have him water indoors as well. I need to talk to him and see how he feels about it.

It is your brother and no one knows him better then you, but secrecy is key.
The less people know the longer you can enjoy your hobby...if you get my drift.
If buying a 1000 liter IBC can prevent my father in law coming by in the summer to 'help' water the plants, I'm sure to do just that.

 

[2budz]

It is your brother and no one knows him better then you, but secrecy is key.
The less people know the longer you can enjoy your hobby...if you get my drift.
If buying a 1000 liter IBC can prevent my father in law coming by in the summer to 'help' water the plants, I'm sure to do just that.

My brother is my best friend. Doesn’t typically partake except on the boat in the summer. But I trust him more than anyone. Outside of my immediate family he is the only person that has seen my grow. But I do absolutely get your drift.
I am in a legal state, although my plant count is just north of where it should be. Definitely always try to keep it secret.

 

[Bob's Auto's]

Definitely always try to keep it secret.

Yeah, if not for nosy neighbors or worse...There's only one person in the whole world who knows and that's the misus. Everyone else just thinks I have the best dealer in the world
Glad to here you have such a close connection to your brother, not the case in my family, I feel more at home with my missus' family then my own...