Which size pot for 4x4 grow tent?

Well I figure that if I’m going to start getting serious, I should know how to do both. I will prob start out doing both and see how the yields go!

I train extensively, just started a journal. Not saying what I do is best or would be right for you, but it might serve as a kicking off point. Seedlings are at 1 week.
https://www.rollitup.org/t/budget-no-frills-led-bs.975849/#post-14474805

coreywebster said:

5gal will work, better go bigger if using plastic, 5gal cloth pots works good, 7 would be great, more than that is a waste for 4 plants in a 4x4.
3gal up to 7 is fine.
Most of the cloth pots stay the same height while having bigger diameter. (as in 5gal is same height as 10gal)
Plastic usually get slightly taller as size goes up

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I second that, I've been running a 4x4 for years now and have done it all. Less stalks is easier to keep up with and in six weeks veg with the top til you drop method, It's easy to bang out 2+ under a kilowatt with the right strain (Super Lemon Haze is a great one for that). If you're running a kush style plant, I would come down to 3's and up the count to 9 or 16 depending on the variety. Happy growing everybody.

I agree that 5gal-ish is a nice sweet spot for a 4x4, and I also run 4 plants now in my 4x4 to keep things simple. Actually, I think every recommendation I've read in here sounds great. And the peeps are right that bigger pots help make things easier and allow for bigger plants.

One thing to keep in mind is that a "#5" pot is not a 5-gallon pot, it's actually 3.8gallons. I have no idea why this number system is a standard that doesn't correlate with actual gallon size, but that's how it is. Here's a table that will help https://www.octoraro.com/faqs/container-sizes/

Also, if you live in a very arid climate, I recommend sticking with plastic pots over fabric. I tried fabric on several runs, but they just dry out too quickly in my dry climate. Good luck! (oh, and don't go crazy on trimming/pruning your first run. Maybe top a couple times, defoliate lower leaves a couple times, but don't go overboard. Takes a little while to get the hang of it without stressing the plant unwillingly).

I've experimented with 5, 7, and 10 gallon bags, and most always use the 10g's now...The yield is always better that way. I go from red solo cups, to 1 gallon bags, to 10 gallon bags. The bags are great as they allow more air to the roots, and you can wash them and re-use them for years! And definitely DO wash them in between cycles!!!

I don't use a tent any more, but I had 4 x 8 tents and always ran 8 plants in 10 g bags and they did great, averaging 4-6 oz per plant...usually 2+ pounds per run

TreeFiddy350 said:

Thanks! Luckily I have anxiety/ adhd, so it’s working to my benefit to over research everything so that I don’t screw up as much lol I will give y’all updates when my seeds finally come in! Hopefully all goes well!

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Measure twice, cut once.

You’ll find growing will help you live in the moment more. I does for me. Can only push them so far, and have to accept the way they grow, as they grow.

4 plants in a 4 x 4 is perfect.

Any more and you’ll be anxious/stressing over the mass of vegetation you’ll have to deal with. With 4 you’ll have to defoil less and easier to get in to stake and support plants. (I tried 8. Was a mess and spiked my anxiety dealing with it until I learned to accept it as a “Beautiful Mess.)

1lb per is easy once you have a few grows under your belt. Then it’s 1lb minimum.

I used to do 5 gallons in fabric pots with a 4 week vege.

I do coco now myself. 2 gallon pots fed up to 8 times per day. Easier than soil, after you get the hang of things.

And to add, like perception said... plastic is better for hot environment.

Have to switch from fabric to plastic myself as the temp/ventilation I keep my rooms at dries out the pots too much, even with multi feed.

Dries the coco and causes EC rise.

DrKiz said:

And to add, like perception said... plastic is better for hot environment.

Have to switch from fabric to plastic myself as the temp/ventilation I keep my rooms at dries out the pots too much, even with multi feed.

Dries the coco and causes EC rise.

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I have never had that problem, but have never used coco...I'm running super soil, in the 10 g bags, and no issues with them drying out early. But I could see with smaller bags that could be an issue.

Look at the big commercial grows...The ones that grow in soil are most all using 10g bags, of course they also control their environment so it's not getting too hot.

One way to help with high temps at home is to run your lights at night...Plus then God forbid you have a fire or something, you will be there to deal with it. Make damned sure to have at least 1 smoke detector inside and 1 outside your tent, too!!

manfredo said:

I have never had that problem, but have never used coco...I'm running super soil, in the 10 g bags, and no issues with them drying out early. But I could see with smaller bags that could be an issue.

Look at the big commercial grows...The ones that grow in soil are most all using 10g bags, of course they also control their environment so it's not getting too hot.

One way to help with high temps at home is to run your lights at night...Plus then God forbid you have a fire or something, you will be there to deal with it. Make damned sure to have at least 1 smoke detector inside and 1 outside your tent, too!!

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I run LED’s so I’m pushing 82 degrees @ 70 RH.
It’s a humid jungle but they still dry slightly.

It’s either that or my EC is slightly too high, but I digress.

Trying to keep VPD dialed in.

I’m 6 weeks into flower. 6 fans and constant exhaust to keep out bud rot and mildew.


Smoke detectors and a fire extinguisher on hand!

Be careful with the humidity...I'm dealing with powdery mildew and it is a nightmare, and then some...and once you get it, it's like herpies...It keeps coming back!! I have spent a lot of money now dealing with it, not to mention the losses. Keep things super super clean if nothing else...Like no dead foliage laying around, and some preventative maintenance wouldn't hurt.

I was going to also suggest a fire extinguisher, but glad to hear you are thinking ahead!!

Do a 3 gallon, I bet you wouldn't even fill out a 5 gallon half way

Solo to 2 gallon to 5 gallon for the win!

manfredo said:

Be careful with the humidity...I'm dealing with powdery mildew and it is a nightmare, and then some...and once you get it, it's like herpies...It keeps coming back!! I have spent a lot of money now dealing with it, not to mention the losses. Keep things super super clean if nothing else...Like no dead foliage laying around, and some preventative maintenance wouldn't hurt.

I was going to also suggest a fire extinguisher, but glad to hear you are thinking ahead!!

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Yeah man, I do let the humidity drop at night and have constant air movement. Everything is moving top to bottom. Ie: fans top to bottom oscillating.

I’m giving it a go as after reading the stickies at ICMAG in the coco forum. Amazing results with dialed in VPD in coco. (With adequate ventilation)

I’m more worried about it in the heavy indicas than say my Blue Dream or Sativa leaning hybrids.

bigcountryfab said:

I second that, I've been running a 4x4 for years now and have done it all. Less stalks is easier to keep up with and in six weeks veg with the top til you drop method, It's easy to bang out 2+ under a kilowatt with the right strain (Super Lemon Haze is a great one for that). If you're running a kush style plant, I would come down to 3's and up the count to 9 or 16 depending on the variety. Happy growing everybody.

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Hey do you use 5g buckets? I’m going to start either 4 or 5 plants in 5g buckets soon but I’ll be using hempy style, my goal is to make that 1 pound mark or somewhere close.. but if I can make 2 pounds in a small space like a 4x4 in the future that would be pretty awesome!!! Starting out with big bud from sensi seeds btw... hopefully they live up to their name and give me a good yield lol

Jmerc said:

Hey do you use 5g buckets? I’m going to start either 4 or 5 plants in 5g buckets soon but I’ll be using hempy style, my goal is to make that 1 pound mark or somewhere close.. but if I can make 2 pounds in a small space like a 4x4 in the future that would be pretty awesome!!! Starting out with big bud from sensi seeds btw... hopefully they live up to their name and give me a good yield lol

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I run a 4x4 with a 400W hps, 4 - 5 gallon pots. 1 1/4 - 1 1/2lbs in 3 to 4 months.

Kerovan said:

I run a 4x4 with a 400W hps, 4 - 5 gallon pots. 1 1/4 - 1 1/2lbs in 3 to 4 months.

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Nice... so you you top once before going into flower?

Jmerc said:

Nice... so you you top once before going into flower?

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No, not any more. I've topped, I've super cropped, I've fimmed. Now I just let them grow naturally most of the time. . No matter what I did, the yield was pretty much the same. With those methods I got more buds, but they were smaller, so it all came out a wash for me.

Kerovan said:

No, not any more. I've topped, I've super cropped, I've fimmed. Now I just let them grow naturally most of the time. . No matter what I did, the yield was pretty much the same. With those methods I got more buds, but they were smaller, so it all came out a wash for me.

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Mmm I see.... I will try both ways then as well... I was thinking of only fimming once just to see... but I’ll try both ways and see if there is any difference

TreeFiddy350 said:

I have a 4x4x 6.5 inches tall. I plan on growing 4 plants. Veg for about 8 weeks and Flower for 8-10 weeks. I have purchased most of my supplies, but now I’m running into which size pots I should get for the 4 plants. I was thinking starting seeding in red solo cups, then bringing them to 3 Gal, then over to a 5 Gal. Do you think that would be good? Or do you think I would be able to make the jump from 3Gal to 7Gal for the 4 plants with the amount of space I have for the tent? This is my first grow, so I’m tryinf to get everything right as much as I can so I can have a good first grow/ experience

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Read the whole the whole thread it sounds like you are getting some great advice.

Mine would be:

Now that you have some fairly specific direction,
Read every soil / 4x4 grow you can find - you'll get a real world picture as well as a preview of your grow.
Mine are both in my sig - I'm using FFOF, 5 gal fabric pots & LEDs.

I didn't catch what soil you're using, but the FFOF Made Simple thread has become a reference point for me.

aaaand just realized how old this thread is....