How many plants under a 600W Light, 4'x4' ?

Originally Posted by Bizzler

I'm getting a 600W HPS light and have a 4 foot by 4 foot grow area.

I will use soil as my medium. I cant decide what size pots and how many to have under the light.
I was originally thinking of having 16 plants in 1 gallon pots.
Does that sound about right? or Should I go 2 gallon pots with 16 plants? Or 24-36 plants 1 gallon would seem to fit?

Any experience with this would help.....

I very seldom grow in anything smaller than 7-gallon pots. Keep in mind that the above soil plant size is pretty close to being equaled by in soil root growth, plants are pretty close to being a 50/50 split size-wise between above soil growth and in soil growth, so your plants roots need some space to grow in if you want happy healthy vigorous growing better yielding plants. If you cram your roots together you stress the plants and your plants will not be all they could be if given more root space.

If you are doing a SOG and will not veg long and will throw your plants into flower very quickly and all you are going for is colas then you can use small pots and cram plants close together but if you want maximum yield per plant then they will need pot space for roots and space in between each other for light penetration to get decent or better production from the lower portions of the plants.

Originally Posted by Brick Top

I very seldom grow in anything smaller than 7-gallon pots. Keep in mind that the above soil plant size is pretty close to being equaled by in soil root growth, plants are pretty close to being a 50/50 split size-wise between above soil growth and in soil growth, so your plants roots need some space to grow in if you want happy healthy vigorous growing better yielding plants. If you cram your roots together you stress the plants and your plants will not be all they could be if given more root space.

If you are doing a SOG and will not veg long and will throw your plants into flower very quickly and all you are going for is colas then you can use small pots and cram plants close together but if you want maximum yield per plant then they will need pot space for roots and space in between each other for light penetration to get decent or better production from the lower portions of the plants.

hey thanks for all advice guys. I plan on doing LST. ill veg in 1gallon for 1-2 months or until they reach 12" wtv comes first then transfer over to 5 gal for flowering....sound ok?

Originally Posted by Brick Top

I very seldom grow in anything smaller than 7-gallon pots. Keep in mind that the above soil plant size is pretty close to being equaled by in soil root growth, plants are pretty close to being a 50/50 split size-wise between above soil growth and in soil growth, so your plants roots need some space to grow in if you want happy healthy vigorous growing better yielding plants. If you cram your roots together you stress the plants and your plants will not be all they could be if given more root space.

If you are doing a SOG and will not veg long and will throw your plants into flower very quickly and all you are going for is colas then you can use small pots and cram plants close together but if you want maximum yield per plant then they will need pot space for roots and space in between each other for light penetration to get decent or better production from the lower portions of the plants.

while the root mass is proportional to the size of the plants its true but there is another factor that is the effectiveness of your roots/feeding system. if you have smaller root space like a hempy bucket 1 gal and you feed once a day they roots absorb nutes more efficiently. soil seems to be a place where the need for root growth is very important because roots are not fed as efficiently or as often becuase of overwatering problems and such. so conclusion if you use a hydro type medium you can have smaller root mass and achieve higher than normal plant size for that amount of rootmass. simply put you get more plant with less roots in a hydro stylie gro

Originally Posted by 2EZY

I'd go for 2 gal pots for more root space. Flower when the plants are around 12" and less for stretchy varieties. Depends on the style of growing as to how many plants in that area. If SOG go lip to lip with the pots(fitting in as many as you can in the space) and flower even earlier, trimming lower growth early in flower.

I decided to do exactly that. 16 2gallon Buckets. in a 4x4' area it fits great with plenty of room to let them grow out. My thought Exactly with the Veg. 12" Then Flower.

i have a similar set up a 600w in a 4 x 4 x8 space i have 3 girls in 5 gallon buckets and a 4 2 gallon buckets and a 1 gallon bucket to see what i get from it and may be sog in one gallon buckets and put shelves in around 3 sides of the room and put some plants up there to more more of my room