# Switch to autopots when already sprouted? **URL:** \ **Category:** Preparations\ **Created:** [December 27, 2024, 3:50pm UTC](https://ilgmforum.com/t/switch-to-autopots-when-already-sprouted/116688 "2024-12-27T15:50:20Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Truetopath](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/growingmarijuana/user_avatar/ilgmforum.com/truetopath/32/1015080_2.png) [@Truetopath](https://ilgmforum.com/u/Truetopath)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2025, 2:51pm UTC](https://ilgmforum.com/t/switch-to-autopots-when-already-sprouted/116688/21 "2025-01-03T14:51:44Z")
Hey @OGIncognito I got my autopot system and have it set up dry for now. My lady is still in the seedling stage and small but in her 5 gallon final fabric pot. It did fit putting the root sock over the bottom of the pot and putting it in the basin so win! My question is, when do I know the roots are established enough to turn on the system? Is it when the leaves reach the edge of the big pot or is there another way to tell? I’ll be top watering until the on point. ---
**Author:** ![OGIncognito](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/growingmarijuana/user_avatar/ilgmforum.com/ogincognito/32/475294_2.png) [@OGIncognito](https://ilgmforum.com/u/OGIncognito)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2025, 4:36pm UTC](https://ilgmforum.com/t/switch-to-autopots-when-already-sprouted/116688/22 "2025-01-03T16:36:36Z")
I top fed for 10-14 days from transplant on seedlings that were 14-20 days old. You’ll be able to tell from the vertical growth and bigger new fan leaves. It’s. Basically visual sign 🤟 This was the last top feed and the average look when I tune the res on. I let them sit in the trays as I top feed and keep increasing the amount each watering/feeding ![IMG_1171](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/growingmarijuana/original/4X/8/d/7/8d7fb33c7545c1742b65fb3d8f0b97fd288e9364.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![Truetopath](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/growingmarijuana/user_avatar/ilgmforum.com/truetopath/32/1015080_2.png) [@Truetopath](https://ilgmforum.com/u/Truetopath)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2025, 6:00pm UTC](https://ilgmforum.com/t/switch-to-autopots-when-already-sprouted/116688/23 "2025-01-03T18:00:11Z")
So I’m thinking I should expect a bit longer time then since I sowed right in the final 5 gal pot from germination. Is that a right thought process? I’ll have to keep an eye on them ---
**Author:** ![OGIncognito](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/growingmarijuana/user_avatar/ilgmforum.com/ogincognito/32/475294_2.png) [@OGIncognito](https://ilgmforum.com/u/OGIncognito)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2025, 7:05pm UTC](https://ilgmforum.com/t/switch-to-autopots-when-already-sprouted/116688/24 "2025-01-03T19:05:29Z")
Not necessarily, water several inches away from the main stem and could take around a solo cup or more each watering. This will get those roots to spread out searching for moisture 🤟 ---
**Author:** ![Truetopath](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/growingmarijuana/user_avatar/ilgmforum.com/truetopath/32/1015080_2.png) [@Truetopath](https://ilgmforum.com/u/Truetopath)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2025, 7:18pm UTC](https://ilgmforum.com/t/switch-to-autopots-when-already-sprouted/116688/25 "2025-01-03T19:18:23Z")
Perfect! That’s what I’ve been doing. Glad to know I’m on the right path! You rock man! ---
**Author:** ![OGIncognito](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/growingmarijuana/user_avatar/ilgmforum.com/ogincognito/32/475294_2.png) [@OGIncognito](https://ilgmforum.com/u/OGIncognito)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2025, 8:27pm UTC](https://ilgmforum.com/t/switch-to-autopots-when-already-sprouted/116688/26 "2025-01-03T20:27:07Z")
Any time my friend, I’ve tried several methods over the last years using the auto pots and this routine seems to work best 🤟 ---
**Author:** ![Truetopath](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/growingmarijuana/user_avatar/ilgmforum.com/truetopath/32/1015080_2.png) [@Truetopath](https://ilgmforum.com/u/Truetopath)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2025, 8:29pm UTC](https://ilgmforum.com/t/switch-to-autopots-when-already-sprouted/116688/27 "2025-01-03T20:29:54Z")
Awesome! I ended up gently transplanting her into the 5 gallon autopot brand fabric pot from the 5 gallon ACI one. The texture felt different to me, the autopot one felt lighter weight so I swapped them just to make sure the ACI wouldn’t hold too much water in the material. Not sure if it makes a difference, but trying to limit the margin of error lol ---
**Author:** ![OGIncognito](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/growingmarijuana/user_avatar/ilgmforum.com/ogincognito/32/475294_2.png) [@OGIncognito](https://ilgmforum.com/u/OGIncognito)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2025, 8:32pm UTC](https://ilgmforum.com/t/switch-to-autopots-when-already-sprouted/116688/28 "2025-01-03T20:32:39Z")
The ACI wicking cord doesn’t quite do the job like the auto trays that have a constant level of liquid nutrients that the fabric pots sit in. 🤟 ---
**Author:** ![Truetopath](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/growingmarijuana/user_avatar/ilgmforum.com/truetopath/32/1015080_2.png) [@Truetopath](https://ilgmforum.com/u/Truetopath)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2025, 7:46pm UTC](https://ilgmforum.com/t/switch-to-autopots-when-already-sprouted/116688/29 "2025-01-09T19:46:31Z")
Hey @OGIncognito! Wondering if you’d have a ballpark idea based on the pic for when to start running the autopot system. I’m thinking another week or so? I’m top watering around the perimeter in the meantime. 5 gallon fabric pot, groundswell soil and perlite 60/40 ![IMG_7746](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/growingmarijuana/original/4X/b/b/c/bbcb3a675de71f1518478d4b8f7d9d5d6ee3df99.jpeg) ![IMG_7747](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/growingmarijuana/original/4X/9/2/6/926cc36f85a5c043d0139c3e3b16b6202258c633.jpeg) ![IMG_7748](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/growingmarijuana/original/4X/1/d/4/1d4ae2b43105f8c98e0ac269f4f2d1b2606cee83.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![OGIncognito](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/growingmarijuana/user_avatar/ilgmforum.com/ogincognito/32/475294_2.png) [@OGIncognito](https://ilgmforum.com/u/OGIncognito)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2025, 8:16pm UTC](https://ilgmforum.com/t/switch-to-autopots-when-already-sprouted/116688/30 "2025-01-09T20:16:04Z")
1 more week would be my suggestion Grow Bro, nice work and looking good 🤟 ---
**Author:** ![Truetopath](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/growingmarijuana/user_avatar/ilgmforum.com/truetopath/32/1015080_2.png) [@Truetopath](https://ilgmforum.com/u/Truetopath)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2025, 8:18pm UTC](https://ilgmforum.com/t/switch-to-autopots-when-already-sprouted/116688/31 "2025-01-09T20:18:00Z")
Thanks man! Knew you’d have the answer 🤙🏻 ---
**Author:** ![OGIncognito](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/growingmarijuana/user_avatar/ilgmforum.com/ogincognito/32/475294_2.png) [@OGIncognito](https://ilgmforum.com/u/OGIncognito)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2025, 8:31pm UTC](https://ilgmforum.com/t/switch-to-autopots-when-already-sprouted/116688/32 "2025-01-09T20:31:48Z")
My pleasure Brother, better to top feed longer than turn the system on too soon. I think in a week that plant will have a nice root structure to reach mid third of that vessel and absorb the nutrients. What medium is that again? 🤟 ---
**Author:** ![Truetopath](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/growingmarijuana/user_avatar/ilgmforum.com/truetopath/32/1015080_2.png) [@Truetopath](https://ilgmforum.com/u/Truetopath)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2025, 8:53pm UTC](https://ilgmforum.com/t/switch-to-autopots-when-already-sprouted/116688/33 "2025-01-09T20:53:24Z")
Definitely! It’s Mother Earth Groundswell soil that I mixed with perlite 60/40 probably closer to 50/50. Super good drainage. She’s definitely exploded in the growth department the last couple days. ---
**Author:** ![OGIncognito](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/growingmarijuana/user_avatar/ilgmforum.com/ogincognito/32/475294_2.png) [@OGIncognito](https://ilgmforum.com/u/OGIncognito)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2025, 10:37pm UTC](https://ilgmforum.com/t/switch-to-autopots-when-already-sprouted/116688/34 "2025-01-09T22:37:55Z")
Is that soil amended with nutrients? I’ll run coco loco often and water feed only for 6-8 weeks before I start a nutrient routine 🤟 ---
**Author:** ![Truetopath](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/growingmarijuana/user_avatar/ilgmforum.com/truetopath/32/1015080_2.png) [@Truetopath](https://ilgmforum.com/u/Truetopath)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2025, 10:49pm UTC](https://ilgmforum.com/t/switch-to-autopots-when-already-sprouted/116688/35 "2025-01-09T22:49:35Z")
It does have the usual cannabis soil suspects in it, but it find it’s not as hot as even Happy Frog. It gets me an easy 4-6 weeks before I start using Jacks. Once I start the autopot system it’ll be straight water for a couple weeks if my timeline is right. ---
**Author:** ![OGIncognito](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/growingmarijuana/user_avatar/ilgmforum.com/ogincognito/32/475294_2.png) [@OGIncognito](https://ilgmforum.com/u/OGIncognito)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2025, 2:56am UTC](https://ilgmforum.com/t/switch-to-autopots-when-already-sprouted/116688/36 "2025-01-10T02:56:25Z")
Sounds like a plan, I usually don’t count the first 3 weeks or so. The plant is still young and not taking in a lot of nutrients 🤟 ---
**Author:** ![Truetopath](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/growingmarijuana/user_avatar/ilgmforum.com/truetopath/32/1015080_2.png) [@Truetopath](https://ilgmforum.com/u/Truetopath)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2025, 2:56am UTC](https://ilgmforum.com/t/switch-to-autopots-when-already-sprouted/116688/37 "2025-01-10T02:56:53Z")
Agreed! ---
**Author:** ![Truetopath](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/growingmarijuana/user_avatar/ilgmforum.com/truetopath/32/1015080_2.png) [@Truetopath](https://ilgmforum.com/u/Truetopath)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2025, 2:09pm UTC](https://ilgmforum.com/t/switch-to-autopots-when-already-sprouted/116688/38 "2025-01-10T14:09:24Z")
@OGIncognito one other question…I run Jacks321 and add silica blast to my feedings. I’m just running plain water for a couple weeks through the autopot until my lady tells me she’s hungry. Would you add silica to the plain water in the reservoir or wait until I start feeding? ---
**Author:** ![OGIncognito](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/growingmarijuana/user_avatar/ilgmforum.com/ogincognito/32/475294_2.png) [@OGIncognito](https://ilgmforum.com/u/OGIncognito)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2025, 2:46pm UTC](https://ilgmforum.com/t/switch-to-autopots-when-already-sprouted/116688/39 "2025-01-10T14:46:36Z")
You can add that now Brother, keep an eye on the res PH, it can spike using the silica. It’s a great supplement 🤟 ---
**Author:** ![Truetopath](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/growingmarijuana/user_avatar/ilgmforum.com/truetopath/32/1015080_2.png) [@Truetopath](https://ilgmforum.com/u/Truetopath)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2025, 2:48pm UTC](https://ilgmforum.com/t/switch-to-autopots-when-already-sprouted/116688/40 "2025-01-10T14:48:38Z")
Fantastic! Thanks! [Previous page](https://ilgmforum.com/t/switch-to-autopots-when-already-sprouted/116688.md?page=1) [Next page](https://ilgmforum.com/t/switch-to-autopots-when-already-sprouted/116688.md?page=3)