Problems with air pots.

I am currently using 3 gallon air pots, you know the ones with all the holes in them. I knew this would be a problem but I thought the benefits would out weigh the aggravation. Does anyone have a solution to keep water from running out the holes all around the sides when you water? I thought about bottom feeding but I don't like the idea of water setting in a tray all the time. Any ideas would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

Autoflowering grower said:

I am currently using 3 gallon air pots, you know the ones with all the holes in them. I knew this would be a problem but I thought the benefits would out weigh the aggravation. Does anyone have a solution to keep water from running out the holes all around the sides when you water? I thought about bottom feeding but I don't like the idea of water setting in a tray all the time. Any ideas would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

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When you put them together there are a few important steps.
The holes should be on the outside of the cones
The base ring should be in the 2nd or 3rd row up
The closed cones should be at the top to direct water down
When you fill the pot you want to pack the soil outwards into the cones while you fill it

I use hydro halos for feeding and never have a problem with water coming out of the holes.
Without them.......just feed very slowly.
A pic would help.

Nizza said:

When you put them together there are a few important steps.
The holes should be on the outside of the cones
The base ring should be in the 2nd or 3rd row up
The closed cones should be at the top to direct water down
When you fill the pot you want to pack the soil outwards into the cones while you fill it

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Thanks. I will make adjustments.

MickFoster said:

I use hydro halos for feeding and never have a problem with water coming out of the holes.
Without them.......just feed very slowly.
A pic would help.
View attachment 4682460

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Where did you get the hydo halos at? That looks like it will work. Thank you. I will pack the sides with soil as I fill them & try to find the hydro halos. Thank you for the great tips

Saran wrap a few rings of holes shut?

this has a full tutorial

Autoflowering grower said:

Thanks. I will make adjustments.

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Nizza said:

this has a full tutorial

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I had them put together just like this video says. I guess I didn't pack the soil around the sides good enough. I plan on wrapping it in glad cling wrap while filling the pots next run. That way I can pack the sides good without spilling dirt out. Thanks for taking the time to help a grower out. That's what I love about this forum. Lots of experience growers out there.

Autoflowering grower said:

I had them put together just like this video says. I guess I didn't pack the soil around the sides good enough. I plan on wrapping it in glad cling wrap while filling the pots next run. That way I can pack the sides good without spilling dirt out. Thanks for taking the time to help a grower out. That's what I love about this forum. Lots of experience growers out there.

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Here's another tip from a forum member.

Autoflowering grower said:

I had them put together just like this video says. I guess I didn't pack the soil around the sides good enough. I plan on wrapping it in glad cling wrap while filling the pots next run. That way I can pack the sides good without spilling dirt out. Thanks for taking the time to help a grower out. That's what I love about this forum. Lots of experience growers out there.

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dramm makes a great line-up of high quality watering cans, the rosebud at the end really helps with dispersing the water evenly and slowly. 5L is pretty heavy but you don't have to fill it all the time. If you are only doing a few small plants a 2L would help

I epoxied an extendable funnel on my water jug and apply water slowly with no drain hole leakage.

nunyabidness420 said:

Here's another tip from a forum member.

Air pruning pots

Do you have to worry about nutrient solution temps with a hempy bucket? What about PH drift? I'm assuming you're getting better growth/yields with the hempy right? No temperature problems ... just a reservoir outside the tents ... no need for airstones ... just 1 feeding a day. It's drain to...

www.rollitup.org

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I use dry ammendments. Right now just watering every 2 or 3 days

I've used them for years I don't pack them I won't pack any medium, i feed the coco lying in a mixing tub so when I put in the pot then tap it down I get a lighter/more aerated pot, i then feed the clone/seedling using the jiffy plug or rock wool cube to apply feed slowly to let it wick through rather than compress it with a regular watering, if its a repot I'll use the established roots only to feed, seedling and clones sounds like a hassle but your feeding them infrequently so it isn't really.
I keep lids on my air pots and it's not long before the roots have the top tied together that stops a watering can mining holes in the surface.
Does it make a difference idk but I believe we're cultivators of roots as much as plants so it's worth spending time on the details imo.
That's how I do my plants and I get a perfect mould of the pot in the root ball and the whole thing is held together like a giant jiffy plug firm enough to take my weight after after flowering.

Not sure I know exactly what you are talking about but I agree with not packing the medium. Needs to breath.. I grow autos so I start them in the pot they are going to finish in. I just have to water extremely slow. I water in the morning before I go to work so sometimes I water to fast which cause water to run out the side about ½ way down. Do you start your seeds in the rockwool in the pot or in a starter pot. Then transplant to another pot? Thanks for the info. It never stops impressing me all you people willing to help. Thanks everyone.

Autoflowering grower said:

Not sure I know exactly what you are talking about but I agree with not packing the medium. Needs to breath.. I grow autos so I start them in the pot they are going to finish in. I just have to water extremely slow. I water in the morning before I go to work so sometimes I water to fast which cause water to run out the side about ½ way down. Do you start your seeds in the rockwool in the pot or in a starter pot. Then transplant to another pot? Thanks for the info. It never stops impressing me all you people willing to help. Thanks everyone.

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I'm pleased you're taking it on board, you're watering slowly so you don't compact it, I'm wetting it before potting it then in a sense drip feeding the centre and letting capillary wet the coco.
Here's a root ball, the seed was soaked 1st August and I cut it down today.

The roots love it...
I forgot add I started it in the seedling airpot, I've got the full range of sizes up to 10/12 gallon, there amazing pots.

Star Dog said:

I'm pleased you're taking it on board, you're watering slowly so you don't compact it, I'm wetting it before potting it then in a sense drip feeding the centre and letting capillary wet the coco.
Here's a root ball, the seed was soaked 1st August and I cut it down today.
View attachment 4684301View attachment 4684306
The roots love it...

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Less than 7 weeks from seed that must be killer weed lmao

2 weeks from sprout in a 1ltr air pot.

Star Dog said:

I'm pleased you're taking it on board, you're watering slowly so you don't compact it, I'm wetting it before potting it then in a sense drip feeding the centre and letting capillary wet the coco.
Here's a root ball, the seed was soaked 1st August and I cut it down today.
View attachment 4684301View attachment 4684306
The roots love it...
I forgot add I started it in the seedling airpot, I've got the full range of sizes up to 10/12 gallon, there amazing pots.

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Nice healthy looking roots. What strains are you currently growing?

A simple way is to use a bbq skewer and poke loads of holes into it. Helps the water get into the middle instead of the sides.

I lightly and I mean lightly press the edges of the pot in a few layers while potting up so the soil can mould into the holes.

Also if u give a little water wait 20 mins and do the rest it doesn’t shoot out the sides so much.

Autoflowering grower said:

Nice healthy looking roots. What strains are you currently growing?

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Atm sensi blackberry cake.