is 5 gallon bucket a good size for pot?

Organique04

Organique04

Well-Known Member
I was originally going with 3 gallon Home Depot pots. However I hear so much about plants getting root bound, and their growth being stunted in smaller pots. I was thinking of using a 5 gallon bucket. Is that large enough to just plant the seed in directly and avoid any transplanting? I am not planning on a huge tree, but I want ample room for my root system. If I use a 5 gallon bucket I just need to drill holes in the bottom for drainage right?:leaf::leaf:
 
Some people use upwards of 20 gallon containers, but if you're just doing a 'personal' plant, not trying for some 'industrial' size monster, I think 5 is sufficient, but when plant is small with a small root structure, you will need to be more aware of her watering needs.
I drilled 3/8 holes all around the side of my 5 gallon pots to let more air into the soil, and also extra holes in the bottom in addition to the one drain hole already in the bottom.
 
imchucky666 said:
Some people use upwards of 20 gallon containers, but if you're just doing a 'personal' plant, not trying for some 'industrial' size monster, I think 5 is sufficient, but when plant is small with a small root structure, you will need to be more aware of her watering needs.
I drilled 3/8 holes all around the side of my 5 gallon pots to let more air into the soil, and also extra holes in the bottom in addition to the one drain hole already in the bottom.
Click to expand...


Yes just a personal plant no industrial monster. 3/8 Air holes really? I'd Love to see a pic of your pot. I was just planning on using a paddle bit to drill drainage holes around the bottom sides of the pot mad maybe one underneath in the center.
 
Organique04 said:
Yes just a personal plant no industrial monster. 3/8 Air holes really? I'd Love to see a pic of your pot. I was just planning on using a paddle bit to drill drainage holes around the bottom sides of the pot mad maybe one underneath in the center.
Click to expand...
Here's a pic of the pot my Indica is in, the pot for my Sativa I did the same thing, but pot is black, so it's hard to see holes in the pic.
I only did these with a uni-bit, free-hand,smoking and drinking, so no laughing about being straight rows, OK? LOL
On the bottom, I used the uni-bit again, and went around the one hole made when pot was cast, 2 rows between there, and the outer edge of the potI-1oct22_zps7443bd5c.jpgI-1oct17_zps17b46e32.jpg
 

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I'm sorry, that plant looks terrible. And what's the point of the holes in the side of the planter?

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Hint: square containers allow 25% more soil volume in the same space.

7.5 gallon milk crates with a black garbage bag liner are excellent flowering planters. That's 7.5 gallons of soil in almost exactly 1 cubic foot of space. And they last forever with multiple uses.
 
You can also scrap the "buckets" and go bags! I use both but im crazier than a shithouse rat, that being said i have found in the last two grows that dula handle bags like the one's they encourage you to use instead of grocery bags work verywell for my gardens. I have had a couple accidents in the woods that left my lowerback being abrasive at times and extremely painful and for some odd reason handles on the bags are alot easier to move, adjust, and make changes to if needed. Just a thought!
 
Smokenpassout said:
He already said for extra airation of the soil, pay attention :-)
Click to expand...

Must have missed that because of how bad an idea it is.

Now you pay attention.

Holes in the side of the planter will only make it more likely that you leave dry pockets and don't get water to the bottom of the soil mass. You know, where the roots are.
 
smokinrav said:
I'm sorry, that plant looks terrible. And what's the point of the holes in the side of the planter?

=================================

Hint: square containers allow 25% more soil volume in the same space.

7.5 gallon milk crates with a black garbage bag liner are excellent flowering planters. That's 7.5 gallons of soil in almost exactly 1 cubic foot of space. And they last forever with multiple uses.
Click to expand...
No need to apologize, that plant has had very rough life, although the leaf damage you see is just recent from leaving it out at night for a week of 40 degree nights (damage took a week to show, no I did not continue to leave her out after I saw it), and I put the holes, after experimenting with my other plant, and found that with the holes, it made almost a consistent 2 day difference in the length of time that it takes to dry.
And I do plan to hack this one either this weekend, or early next week, so I'm just riding it out.
 
smokinrav said:
Must have missed that because of how bad an idea it is.

Now you pay attention.

Holes in the side of the planter will only make it more likely that you leave dry pockets and don't get water to the bottom of the soil mass. You know, where the roots are.
Click to expand...
You may think it's a bad idea, but I am aware of how I water, and it has worked throughout the grow for me.
 
smokinrav said:
Must have missed that because of how bad an idea it is.

Now you pay attention.

Holes in the side of the planter will only make it more likely that you leave dry pockets and don't get water to the bottom of the soil mass. You know, where the roots are.
Click to expand...
You are incorrect. It will not create dry pockets and it will allow air to be more readily available to the plants root system. Research air pots and you will see the difference it makes on your plants. In my 22 years of growing experience i have heard many claims of ideas and products that increase yield, but this one works. All things being equal i have found it makes on average a 5 to 10 percent increase in my gareden.
 
smokinrav said:
Must have missed that because of how bad an idea it is.

Now you pay attention.

Holes in the side of the planter will only make it more likely that you leave dry pockets and don't get water to the bottom of the soil mass. You know, where the roots are.
Click to expand...



lol, you have no clue what you are talking about.

Holes in the sides of pots are a great way to promote growth. I use superoots airpots and have had great success. Roots like air.

A 5 gallon pot is probably too big for an indoor grow, depending on what you want to do. With 5 gallon pots, you could grow 6 foot tall plants.
I run a 600 watt hps and use 5 gallon superoots airpots. The only reason I use them is that they need to be watered less (coco, ftw).

I could easily get away with 3 gallon pots. I have grown in 3 gallon pots with no reduction in yield.

I like smart pots as well, but you can make your own with landscape fabric or as was mentioned you can use reuseable grocery bags.

You can drill holes in a pot and then line it with landscape fabric. I like hempy buckets with holes lined with landscape fabric.
that is what I would do if I was able to afford superoots airpots.
 
Totally agree with Trousers, 5 gal can get pretty big. Currently have a Choc Kush that vegged for 31 days. It is 54" tall on day 22 of flower under 600w. Glad I have a closet for her, she won't fit in the tent. Good luck.
 
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