Autopot Tray2Grow (or equivalent) users?

I’ve seen posts from people who were considering this system, which I would characterize as an Autopot flood table. They all ended up choosing regular autopots instead.


I have a 2 x 4’ tent, so the tray would fit fairly nicely (the reservoir would have to be outside). I like the versatility a tray offers. For example, I could start with the four 3-gallon fabric pots I have already:

If I like the results, I could expand to eight 2-gallon pots without needing more Autopot gear:

Obviously, a tray lends itself to the sea-of-green growing technique.

Aside from versatility, the simplicity of having only one float-valve and one hose, running from the reservoir to the valve, appeals to me.

Are there advantages to using separate autopots instead that I’m overlooking?

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I have one and used it multiple ways. Once my vegging plants are able I put them on it in 1/2 g or 1 g pots til ready then up pot into 3 gal auto pots. Saves me hand watering/feeding as I use coco. I have also run clones to completion on them.

I thought about going with 2 of those in my 4x4 and grow lots of small pot plants.


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Thanks for the photos – they give me a better visual of what the fit would be like in my 2 x 4’ tent.

I’d go with a coco, too, with some perlite added in, say, a 50/50 mix. Seems like coco and autopots go together nicely.

What reservoir size do you use? I’m thinking there should be a rule of thumb that relates total gallons of growing medium to desired reservoir capacity. For example, with four 3-gallon pots (12 gallons total), use 2X, i.e., a 24-gallon reservoir.

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I bought their 12 gal reservoirs. I have 2 tents a res for each. In flower the plants seem like they drink a half gal a day, maybe more. The only potential problem with the tray is roots coming out of the bottom. I used small containers with pretty big holes so I had to do some root trimming. If I used a auto pot fabric bag on the tray, I would put the copper sock pot on to help with roots.

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The system shown on their website comes with a copper root-control sheet that fits over the capillary matting. The pots sit on the sheet. Perhaps you have an earlier version that lacks it?

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My tray did have it and I used it. I was just thinking if you used fabric pots on it, might want the sock on the bag too. The roots were on my small pots, but I just trimmed them off. I have yet to try a standard 3 or 5 gal bag on the tray. They are a super company to deal with, maybe just call them and ask pros and cons.

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The trays might be the ticket for running multiple clones or small plants like a Sea of Green. I like my Autopots so far, but am doing some tweaks to mine this next grow, Promix and 50 percent perlite instead of coco. I don’t have the ph swings in Promix like I did in coco, and it’s a bit cheaper for me thanks to my medicinal plant growing Amish friends ! $38 for a 60 lb bale.

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I’ve thought about picking up a few of those myself. When you have a bunch of individual trays, sometimes it can be a pain to determine which one is the leaker. With this system you only have one point of failure

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True, I was thinking you could run several smaller plants in one gallon pots to keep the tight together.

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Ditto :love_you_gesture:

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I get most of my ideas after peaking in on what you do :+1:

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How do you know in an Autopot system?

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The leaves tell! I got ph swings causing spots and patches on my leaves, and I did slurries.

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I look forward to the day when I can diagnose problems reliably by looking at my plants. As it is, I need a light meter to tell (for sure) whether the sun is shining. :laughing:

So far, no one’s identified a reason to prefer separate Autopot bases over the tray – at least, for my small tent. It’s reassuring to see that more experienced people have made the same choice and gotten good results.

Thanks to all for all the useful feedback!

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I think the tray is a great choice for you and especially to do a SOG, I just move stuff around and change my footprint so often, multiples work best for me. I’m thinking one might be the ticket for starting lots of seedlings, even if you turned it on and off by need until the roots can take it.

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Being able to go away before they are big enough for the auto pots is a nice advantage, even if you don’t complete them on the tray. I bought mine for that reason. I left my current grow 5 days with no issues.

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Can you estimate how many liters (or gallons) a flowering plant in a 2-gallon pot of coco & perlite would need each day in one of these trays? I’m trying to work out the reservoir size needed to feed eight 2-gallon plants for 3 or 4 days.

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Keep in mind that the Grow tray will be surfaced absorbed versus the regular auto pot where the pot or fabric bag is submerged around 1”-1.5” in the nutrient solution :love_you_gesture:

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I tend to top off and not start a fresh res, but in peak flower I would say a plant takes 1/2 g to 1 g a day of nutrient solution in the autopots. I can tell by how much water they take if they are nearing the end.

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I’ve been growing lettuce and starting other vegetables for outside. This would be a good addition to that as I am tray feeding by hand in a clear tote. As stated, this would be great for starts before potting up.

I have four Autopots and like them. I don’t change out rez but top off like others. Using Jack’s I don’t even have to flush near harvest. Just run them at 950 ppm.

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