Air-Pot vs standard pot grow from clones. 600w in a tent

TechnoMage

Well-Known Member
I’m going to be trying a few new things with this grow. First I’m starting my clones out in the new cab I built (https://www.rollitup.org/do-yourself/462213-cabinet-starting-clones-vegging.html).

Here are the clones which I started this evening. The tray is sitting on heating pad and I’m using two 14w T5 bulbs that put out 1,350 lumens for a total of 2,700 lumens. My old cab used one 54w compact T5 that put out 4,800 lumens which I felt was too much. Right now both bulbs are 3000k because that is what the fixtures came with. I’ve got some 6500k bulbs ordered and once they arrive, I’ll run one of each spectrum.
In the clone cab 9-13-2011 4-32-59 PM.jpg


The next big change is that I’m going to try using Air-Pots this time around. For the experiment I’m going to use two types of Air-Pots and two types of standard pots.

The contenders
On the left you have a standard 1-quart pot. It’s 4.5” tall and 4.5” across. On the right you have the .3 gallon Air-Pot. It’s 4.5” across and 6” tall.
The small ones 9-13-2011 5-20-51 PM.jpg


Some of the height for the airpot is because the base of the pot has a gap between it and the ground. Here’s a shot of the bottoms of each pot. I'm going to veg in these pots and then switch to the larger size for flowering.
Small bottoms 9-13-2011 5-21-02 PM.jpg

On the left you have the 2 gallon Air-Pot, it’s 9.5” across and 10” tall. On the right you have a standard 2 gallon plastic pot, the Classic 600. It’s 9” across and 9” tall.
2 Gallon pots 9-13-2011 5-50-52 PM.jpg

This shot shows the gap at the bottom of the Air-Pot better, it also gives a good side view of the holes in the pot. I'm going to veg and flower in the same pot without transplanting. I'll also be using the same size of pot for flowering of the clones I veg in the smaller pots.
The bottom 9-13-2011 5-51-04 PM.jpg

And here’s a final shot of the four different pots in the veg cab, just waiting for some plants.
Waiting for plants 9-13-2011 5-52-13 PM.jpg


I have high hopes for Air-Pot. They use air pruning to prevent the plant from getting root bound and I’m very interested in seeing how they work over the long term for something like a mother plant.

I’ll be changing up a few other things for this grow. My current grow (see sig) is a 400w HPS in a Home Depot cab I modified. It’s served me well but always seemed a little cramped. This grow is going to be in a Hydro Hut 2x4 tent I just purchased. I’m still waiting on a LumenAire 6” Reflector, Lumatek 600w dimmable ballast and a few fans to show up.
 

TechnoMage

Well-Known Member
So my new bulbs actually arrived today, they were sitting by the front door. Didn't realize until I saw the delivery confirmation in my email. Here's a pic with one of the 3000k bulbs swapped out for a 6500K bulb. You can sorta see the spectrum difference at the end of the bulbs but it's washed out in the middle.
View attachment 1785670
 

PetFlora

Well-Known Member
Subbed. My method is HPA High Pressure Aero. The benefit is the ability to grow roots that look like cotton candy- fluffy, airy, tons of surface area for nutrients to attach, leading to explosive growth and huge buds in a short period of time.

The Air Pots seem like the next best thing for someone who doesn't want the tweakiness of HPA, and it is tweaky! So tweaky, I have set myself back serveral times going through the learning curve. I have stunted plants that I want to move outdoors and was looking for the right container. I haven't seen the prices yet, so that WonderPot in a milk crate might be an excellent cheap alternative. OK, $13/5G is on the steep side, but the 2G $$6.50 or the 3G @ $9.50 should suffice for most <4 ft plants.

I imagine a 3G air pot would be just as good as a 5g non air grow pot, meaning you can get 40% more plants under your light.
 

TechnoMage

Well-Known Member
I ordered a bunch of different sizes. I have, .3, .8, 1.2, 1.5, 2 and 2.4 gallon pots to play with. I chose the .3 and 2 gallon pots for this experiment because they were closest to the plastic pots I already had.
 

TechnoMage

Well-Known Member
And we're off.

Shot of the clones
View attachment 1804640

Couple of shots showing the roots before I plant
View attachment 1804638

View attachment 1804639

Shot of the 2 gallon Air-Pot loaded up
Large Air-Pot 9-23-2011 10-14-30 PM.jpg

And the 2 gallon standard pot
Large Pot 9-23-2011 10-16-02 PM.jpg

Rest of the clones potted. I'm using one standard quart pot and three .3 gallon Air-Pots.
Small Pots 9-23-2011 10-22-17 PM.jpg

For the smaller pots I'm vegging in the upper chamber. I would have put them in the lower vegging chamber but didn't have enough room.
Small vegging 9-23-2011 10-25-29 PM.jpg

And the 2 gallon pots in the lower vegging chamber.
Large vegging 9-23-2011 10-25-46 PM.jpg

The timing on this was good. My reflector, fans, and ballast all showed up this week so I can get my second flower cab (tent) setup. I figure I'll start flowering in about 6 weeks or so but that could change a lot. I'm not in a rush or trying to hit any specific timetable so I'll flower them when they are ready.
 

PetFlora

Well-Known Member
I would like to see the side-by-side (#8) where the Air Pot was 2/3 the size of the regular pot. This would establish whether we can grow more in less soil. hth
 

TechnoMage

Well-Known Member
I would like to see the side-by-side (#8) where the Air Pot was 2/3 the size of the regular pot. This would establish whether we can grow more in less soil. hth
I may try that in a future grow. For now I just wanted to get a good baseline.
 

PetFlora

Well-Known Member
Google Air Pot, I think it was www dot airpot dot com

US peeps, click on the US flag in the upper right corner to find distributors.

I found a Florida distributor who sells direct on line. They have a nice discount while supplies last.
 

TechnoMage

Well-Known Member
So I've found one issue with the Air-Pots that I need to compensate for. Right now the soil in my pots if fairly level. The water spreads out, hit's the holes along the top row that don't have dirt in them and then runs down the side. I really should have seen that one coming. In the future I need to make sure that the dirt along the rim is higher than the center where the plant is
 

a mongo frog

Well-Known Member
to me the regular pot is about to surpass thr air pot by a mile.
would u look at that. no really just look at that.
 

Declectic

Active Member
uh, i don't get it either, unless he's referring to the blunder of the water running out the sides of the airpot

i'm sub'd up dood can't wait to see some outcome!
 

PetFlora

Well-Known Member
No doubt you are looking at a post from someone who does not realize that with APs you will need to water more often
 

PetFlora

Well-Known Member
My APs arrived yesterday. Transplanted one plant from a 6" net pot into a 4" AP: the AP is tall (~8").

I am flipping to 12/12 today (after 3-9 weeks), so not sure I will have any/many potential clones. If not, will start new seeds for the APs and do an A/B v F&D v HPA
 
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