Root growth/mass(all other factors being equal).

Space is also one of the major concerns for indoor growers, who generally cannot move to bigger and bigger pots to allow for bigger root masses.

However, a lot of container space often goes unused, because roots will not grow into the top inches of soil that are often dried out from powerful lights and low humidity. In addition, since MJ soils are typically very airy and light, when watering the top inches of soil are easily disturbed as the dirt is pushed and moved around by the water. This also inhibits roots from growing into the top inches of soil.


In a 1 foot tall pot the top 3 inches of soil will not allow root growth, you are wasting 25% of your soil mass that could be used for roots. In pots that are wider at the top than the bottom, this wasted soil could be even greater!

How then to use this soil? We need to prevent the soil from being disturbed and keep it moist, and hydro growers have been using an ideal product for this for a long time - Hydroton clay balls!

1. Hydroton clay balls are LIGHT.
They won't compact your soil the way putting pebbles on top would.



2. A layer of hydroton clay balls on top of the soil will help the soil underneath it lose moisture through evaporation and low humidity.

By adding a layer of hydroton on top of the soil, soil disturbance is prevented since the water does not directly touch the soil until it has filtered through the layer of hydroton balls. Soil moisture is then trapped underneath the hydroton and less likely to evaporate due to heat and/or low humidity.

This way it is possible to grow plants with roots stretching up all the way to the top of the soil. Those roots will rapidly provide nutrition to the plant when it is watered. It also will help the plant be able to go a longer time without watering since moisture that would have been lost to evaporation is now available to the plant.

Note:
Use a root stimulator during veg growth to help accelerate the root growth process and make sure there is a strong root mass in flowering. The last things you want in flower are wimpy roots (unless you want wimpy yields).

Good post. I use SunShine, which is a soil-less mix, works real well for root growth. Also heard coco works well for growing monster roots.

i ran out of soil, and used my hydroton to top off one of my pots.

glad to see i did a good thing on accident.

strangely, i'm starting to see thick roots coming out of the top of the soil? What does this mean?...Should I transplant

how the hell do people grow large plants in 16oz cups then. i always heard it was 1 gallon to 1 foot of plant. but they proved that wrong...

__________________
D.A.R.E. to keep kids off drugs: translation: Does Anyone Really Expect-------- to keep kids off drugs
http://www.rollitup.org/grow-journal...rain-grow.html

what about the significance of transplanting ppl need to heare how it will make a fuller root mass.. in a large pot the roots will grow out and down leaving an unused area in the middle so if you transplant up a few times you will get more use out of your soil, a fuller rootmass and healthier plant

all this info is in the grow faq

__________________
supercalavagalisticexpialadankbitch... I do not grow marijuana anymore

root bound does not effects a plant strangly... some will just need a lot of water and food others dnt like it... rollitup posted info on how rootbound doesn't exist a few months ago its a good read but i cant find it again

__________________
supercalavagalisticexpialadankbitch... I do not grow marijuana anymore

great advice. i am going to go buy that stuff tomorrow

__________________
weeds, weeds, weeds...

I use hydroton clay balls at the bottom of my pots for drainage, but I'll have to give this method a shot too. +rep

so is it best to water threw the top of the pot or from the bottom ????????????????/