norcalikilla
Member
haha in all seriousness tho hobbes your plants look really healthy and although there is circling i can tell you dont poison your roots from over-nuteing. excellent way to flex nuts!
DIY Air Pruning Pot Experiment - Pictures
- Thread starter Hobbes
- Start date
Hobbes
Well-Known Member
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How Root Constriction creates branching behind the restriction.
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How the Superoots Fielder works
Root tips penetrate the geotextile wall and base, unimpeded, and grow out into the surrounding soil. The fabric allows the root to expand until it reaches a diameter of 3mm, when the fabric stops giving and the root is successfully restricted.
Perfect restriction of a Fraxinus root - showing the large nodule, secondary branching behind the restriction, the point of restriction and the smaller external root.
http://www.superoots.com/fielder_work.htm
How Root Constriction creates branching behind the restriction.
.
How the Superoots Fielder works
Root tips penetrate the geotextile wall and base, unimpeded, and grow out into the surrounding soil. The fabric allows the root to expand until it reaches a diameter of 3mm, when the fabric stops giving and the root is successfully restricted.
Perfect restriction of a Fraxinus root - showing the large nodule, secondary branching behind the restriction, the point of restriction and the smaller external root.
http://www.superoots.com/fielder_work.htm
NickNasty
Well-Known Member
I was looking around on the net and found a thread of a lady who was making DIY Air Pots out that thicker landscaping fabric you have she was just sewing it into a bag shape and using that she said she had be using them for awhile and they were doing exactly what they were supposed to do. So if people have the landscape fabric and a sewing machine they could just do that.You could sew in handles if you wanted. I wish I had bookmarked the thread cause I can't seem to find it now. I also was thinking of other stuff you could line like the 5 gallon buckets you were using and thought milk crates might work out well.
Hobbes
Well-Known Member
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Good research Nick.
The milk crate would work great, if we wanted a taller pot we could stack the crates and cut the bottom out of one.
Did the women making air pruning bags from landscaping fabric mention if she ever used them as liners? I'm wondering if they'll have the same effect pressed between the pro mix and the side of the bucket. I would think so, roots can get in cracks in concrete, woven fiberglass should be no problem.
Great ideas!
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Good research Nick.
The milk crate would work great, if we wanted a taller pot we could stack the crates and cut the bottom out of one.
Did the women making air pruning bags from landscaping fabric mention if she ever used them as liners? I'm wondering if they'll have the same effect pressed between the pro mix and the side of the bucket. I would think so, roots can get in cracks in concrete, woven fiberglass should be no problem.
Great ideas!
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Hobbes
Well-Known Member
Hey norcalikilla
I let the root ball dry up a bit and pull away from the sides of the bucket - easier to remove and tighter so not as likely to fall apart. I transplant 3 times during veg and use the same method, I haven't found any stress from transplant, just slowed growth for a week or so, which could be called a reaction to stress so I guess I have seen some signs of stress.
One of the theories of transplanting a dry root ball into moist medium is to attract the roots to the moist soil quickly. Speeds new root growth. I like to soak the the bucket a week or two after transplant.
Sorry for taking to long to answer, I lost track of the question.
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norcalikilla
Member
no worries bro thanks for the reply. that is extremely informative you have no idea. i think what may have been happening is because i was transplanting wet, the roots mistakenly grew out because they thought the we soil was new soil. now that you have explained it to me i think i will transplant a little dryer but def into really moist soil (i use coco but same idea). right now were currently waiting for a dry day to finish digging out under a house, were re-supporting the foundation and were going to make a flower and veg room. i cant wait but i was wondering if u had any thoughts on sealing it off and cleaning it up so that we would be able to have a disease and mold free enviro to grow successfully in.
(i have my ideas but ill share them with you after so as not to influence)
thanks again! nck
(i have my ideas but ill share them with you after so as not to influence)
thanks again! nck
Don Gin and Ton
Well-Known Member
sorry i was a bit late with the pics but heres the first plants root ball from the airpot
inside was just solid dense root
pics of the airpot vs normal will be up on sun/mon
inside was just solid dense root
pics of the airpot vs normal will be up on sun/mon
Hobbes
Well-Known Member
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Looking good Don! They look solid, like the roots will hold the ball together.
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11 days since transplanted from a 6" pot to a 5 gallon air pruning bucket.
I removed my cover buckets from the buckets I drilled the holes in and lined with fiberglass window screen. Pleasant surprise.
The roots are growing from most of the holes, I'm going to leave the covers off for the afternoon and see how the root tips do open to the air and light. Later I'll put the cover buckets back on and water, leaving the buckets on for 2 or 3 days to get more root tips to grow out of the screen.
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The 1 1/2" hole bucket with 5 layers of fiberglass screen. Apparently if the roots want out they don't care how many layers of screen we have.
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Looking good Don! They look solid, like the roots will hold the ball together.
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11 days since transplanted from a 6" pot to a 5 gallon air pruning bucket.
I removed my cover buckets from the buckets I drilled the holes in and lined with fiberglass window screen. Pleasant surprise.
The roots are growing from most of the holes, I'm going to leave the covers off for the afternoon and see how the root tips do open to the air and light. Later I'll put the cover buckets back on and water, leaving the buckets on for 2 or 3 days to get more root tips to grow out of the screen.
.
The 1 1/2" hole bucket with 5 layers of fiberglass screen. Apparently if the roots want out they don't care how many layers of screen we have.
.
norcalikilla
Member
holy sh*t! those airpot roots look amazing! i cant wait to see the comparison!
great job hobbes. what type of soil are u using again?
great job hobbes. what type of soil are u using again?
Hobbes
Well-Known Member
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"holy sh*t! those airpot roots look amazing! i cant wait to see the comparison!"
Those Air Pots are really ingenious, all the roots directed to the small dry cones while the rest of the outside stays relatively moist. Really impressive.
I'm hoping to get some really thick lateral roots that are as thick as a normal seminal root, with root branching from those. I've seen a pic (haven't been able to find it again yet to post) where the side roots looked like straight branches from a white tree. It could have just been the type of plant as well, marijuana may not ever root like that.
"what type of soil are u using again?"
Pro Mix.
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"would it be wise or even OK to cut away the root as they pop threw the sides"
T5 when I remove the cover bucket next time (Tuesday or Wednesday) I should have some massive long roots. I'll pick a section and clip all of the roots to see what happens. I suspect that after clipping they'll continue to dry and shrivel back to the same point as the roots left to dry.
.
"holy sh*t! those airpot roots look amazing! i cant wait to see the comparison!"
Those Air Pots are really ingenious, all the roots directed to the small dry cones while the rest of the outside stays relatively moist. Really impressive.
I'm hoping to get some really thick lateral roots that are as thick as a normal seminal root, with root branching from those. I've seen a pic (haven't been able to find it again yet to post) where the side roots looked like straight branches from a white tree. It could have just been the type of plant as well, marijuana may not ever root like that.
"what type of soil are u using again?"
Pro Mix.
.
"would it be wise or even OK to cut away the root as they pop threw the sides"
T5 when I remove the cover bucket next time (Tuesday or Wednesday) I should have some massive long roots. I'll pick a section and clip all of the roots to see what happens. I suspect that after clipping they'll continue to dry and shrivel back to the same point as the roots left to dry.
.
norcalikilla
Member
man i really hope this thread didnt die!!!!! come back hobbes!
Hobbes
Well-Known Member
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Hey norcalikilla!
The thread is alive and kicking, the buckets working great.
The first bucket with the small holes and single layer screen is amazing, multiple roots out of all of the lower holes and some upper. Most roots outside the bucket were thick when I took off the cover bucket, thicker than any I've had from other plants. I've had the cover bucket off for a week and the roots are drying up and dying outside the bucket, which should cause a build up of sugars inside the roots and branching off those lateral roots. I'll put the cover bucket back on to water in a week and leave it on for a few days to get more roots growing out of the bucket, then start the cycle again.
The larger holed bucket with 5 layers of screen isn't getting as many roots through the screen but the ones that get through are thick. I'm expecting a lot of root trapping and some spiraling. When the root ball dries up this week I'm going to pop it from the bucket, peal off the screen and line the bucket with landscaping fiberglass. I'll post some pictures so everyone can see the thicker root ends with trapping and air prunning.
The landscaping buckets I believe are working well but I did get a touch of spiraling in a Jack The Ripper I popped from a 6 inch pot. Along with the spiraling there was a fair bit of trapping though, so I still have a lot of hope for this method - no holes in the buckets is a good thing me thinks, but my hole/screen buckets are no more trouble to water/tend than my regular buckets. I have 17 x 5 gallon buckets lined with fabric and screen, another being lined tonight, and I'm repoting all of my 6" pots with fabric.
This experiment has show amazing results quickly, I'm encouraged by the way things are progressing so far.
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Hey norcalikilla!
The thread is alive and kicking, the buckets working great.
The first bucket with the small holes and single layer screen is amazing, multiple roots out of all of the lower holes and some upper. Most roots outside the bucket were thick when I took off the cover bucket, thicker than any I've had from other plants. I've had the cover bucket off for a week and the roots are drying up and dying outside the bucket, which should cause a build up of sugars inside the roots and branching off those lateral roots. I'll put the cover bucket back on to water in a week and leave it on for a few days to get more roots growing out of the bucket, then start the cycle again.
The larger holed bucket with 5 layers of screen isn't getting as many roots through the screen but the ones that get through are thick. I'm expecting a lot of root trapping and some spiraling. When the root ball dries up this week I'm going to pop it from the bucket, peal off the screen and line the bucket with landscaping fiberglass. I'll post some pictures so everyone can see the thicker root ends with trapping and air prunning.
The landscaping buckets I believe are working well but I did get a touch of spiraling in a Jack The Ripper I popped from a 6 inch pot. Along with the spiraling there was a fair bit of trapping though, so I still have a lot of hope for this method - no holes in the buckets is a good thing me thinks, but my hole/screen buckets are no more trouble to water/tend than my regular buckets. I have 17 x 5 gallon buckets lined with fabric and screen, another being lined tonight, and I'm repoting all of my 6" pots with fabric.
This experiment has show amazing results quickly, I'm encouraged by the way things are progressing so far.
.
norcalikilla
Member
so glad to see this thread still has a pulse. you have no idea
also thankful for such a detail oriented experimentor. im a little suprised by the results however. never woulda expected trapping in the larger holed buckets. however there may still hope. anyways ill be back every couples days depending on the living situation. thanks for the post!
and remember hobbes, one goal, one heart. lets get together and feel alright. one love
also thankful for such a detail oriented experimentor. im a little suprised by the results however. never woulda expected trapping in the larger holed buckets. however there may still hope. anyways ill be back every couples days depending on the living situation. thanks for the post!
and remember hobbes, one goal, one heart. lets get together and feel alright. one love
AquafinaOrbit
Well-Known Member
/\Yeah. I'm not chiming in much but been following this thread for awhile so good to know its still going. Hope those pics get up soon.
Hobbes
Well-Known Member
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I popped the root ball for the two pots with holes and screens, they had dried almost completely and shrunk.
The 1 1/2" hole bucket with 5 layers of screen. I didn't put anything on the bottom of these two buckets, when I repotted I put a fabric base for root trapping.
After peeling off 4 layers of screen there were still healthy roots trapped.
No spiraling on this one.
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The single screen bucket, spiraling on the bottom. I put fabric down.
This root ball felt really solid, like I could bounce it and it would stay together. There were healthy roots under the bucket.
A lot more roots than the 5 layer screened bucket.
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The single screen bucket is producing a much more solid root ball than the 5 screen bucket. Very simple and works. To water I set the hole bucket in a regular bucket and soak. After 3 or 4 days I take the cover bucket off and there will be new roots growing from the holes, let the tips dry and die and they remaining root will thicken and branch.
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The fabric buckets should be dry in a week or so, I'll pop the root ball for a couple and see how the root trapping is going. Looking forward to that but we might not see the results until we shake the root ball out after harvest. They feel more solid, the roots seem thicker, very promising results so far. Now we see if we get more yield, faster harvest, more potency, stronger taste, etc. The important things.
.
I popped the root ball for the two pots with holes and screens, they had dried almost completely and shrunk.
The 1 1/2" hole bucket with 5 layers of screen. I didn't put anything on the bottom of these two buckets, when I repotted I put a fabric base for root trapping.
After peeling off 4 layers of screen there were still healthy roots trapped.
No spiraling on this one.
.
The single screen bucket, spiraling on the bottom. I put fabric down.
This root ball felt really solid, like I could bounce it and it would stay together. There were healthy roots under the bucket.
A lot more roots than the 5 layer screened bucket.
.
The single screen bucket is producing a much more solid root ball than the 5 screen bucket. Very simple and works. To water I set the hole bucket in a regular bucket and soak. After 3 or 4 days I take the cover bucket off and there will be new roots growing from the holes, let the tips dry and die and they remaining root will thicken and branch.
.
The fabric buckets should be dry in a week or so, I'll pop the root ball for a couple and see how the root trapping is going. Looking forward to that but we might not see the results until we shake the root ball out after harvest. They feel more solid, the roots seem thicker, very promising results so far. Now we see if we get more yield, faster harvest, more potency, stronger taste, etc. The important things.
.
SeanIzen
Active Member
I'm willing to bet a 5gal paint strainer would be the ticket as they are made to not bio degrage, come in a cylindrical shape and can be purchased in the size bucket you are drilling holes in.. Fine mesh too but I think the reason why the one with more cloth layers is doing better with spiraling is because there is more of a "cushion" or buffer zone for oxygen and support for the roots.. Either way sherwin williams will have them and they sell them in boxes of 25-100 fairly cheap
Don Gin and Ton
Well-Known Member
looks almost there but you can see if it had gone much longer it would have grown roots round the base. i truly think its the fluted peaks that do the air pruning not round holes.