I have a 3’x3’x5’ tent that I want to grow two autoflowers in. I hear you should put autoflower seedlings directly into their full size pot since they don’t like transplants.
I want the plants to have enough room to grow as tall as the wish.
I planned to use 5 gallon containers to grow them in.
The problem I’m seeing is a 5 gallon bucket is like 2 feet tall which would greatly reduce their height they can grow.
I hear 5 gallon is recommended, but does it matter the dimensions?
Can I get a 5 gallon container that is less tall and more wide? Or do the roots need more depth?
Like maybe a container that stands a foot or less tall, but is wider and in total is still 5 gallons?
Does the material the container is made of (plastic vs fabric) affect the plant in any way, or is it just a convenience/preference thing?
Material construction and design is important (Air exchanging capability).
Bags grow better for me than plastic buckets with many holes.
3/4 filled with soil allows room for top dressing.
It could be not important if the grower has a “style” that works with plastic.
I tend to over-water so bags dry faster, in summer.
I use 3-gal and 5-gal bags (my age is supposed to consider weight limits when working). I no longer should be moving 10-gal plants or I might give the repaired hernia a hernia.
3x3x5 is a great seedling tent. As you mention, height disappears fast.
Lights 15 inches from top of tent (Mfg recommends). 5-gal bucket 15 inches below light (less burn). 5-gal bucket space. Not much height left for plant.
Most importantly, being able to grow only to then being out of height, disappointing.
You could start growing and then get larger (taller) tent.
Training the plant will help, but taller tenting is best.
If are still looking for seeds then photo is the way to go in that short tent IMO. It will allow a very thorough lst. Can keepem short and spread them out. An auto can flip on you right in the middle of filling the tent wall to wall. Can pull an easy pound or more. Can use 10 gallon pots and train to the walls. I harvested 2+lb in my 3x3 with a 20 gallon pot. Super fimmed. She didnt go over 3.5 feet. I started flip and kept pulling her down and out till it stopped.
I’ve only grown in fabric 3 gal and 5 gal. For autos, I plant directly into 3 gal fabric pots. I have found that 5 gallons is unnecessary and costs me a lot more in nutrition and and soil. I fill them up to about 1 1/2 inches from the very top. If you only fill 3/4 full, you’re wasting space, imho. The roots will do fine in either one. I have found that, when I fill the grow pots, about 30 percent of my fill is perlite, the rest soil, compost, ewc, and some Gaia Green in the mix as fertilizer. The fabric really helps the roots breathe properly. I personally won’t go back to plastic.
