I’ve recently noticed an upward trend with auto pots or bottom wicking style vessels.
This method has worked best for me over the last 4 years and thought I would share my process. Coco and perlite is the preferred medium but some soil mixes like FF coco loco work as well.
I use both the older 2 or 3.8 gallon plastic and 3 gallon fabric vessels and use the same procedure for setting these up
2 gallon plastic pot with approximately 1” of Hydroton covering the root disk
Some helpful tips I’ve picked up:
-Coco and perlite is the preferred medium. I’ve been using FF coco loco due to my work schedule that can take me away from home for weeks at a time. This medium works perfectly if your res empties and the mediums ability to take the dry back period without issues from the medium getting hydrophobic.
-Reservoir PH drift, I do an initial tray fill at the optimum PH. I’ll fill the res with enough to top the tray of at 5.9-6.0 for coco and 6.5 for coco loco or soil. After this I add approximately 6-8 gallons to the reservoir at the bottom of the PH range and let it drift through the week. My normal fill for coco is 5.7 and by weeks end the drift will take it to 6.2. For the coco loco or soil 6.3 and drifts to 6.8.
*** I actually prefer the drift, uptake is experienced from all the micro and macro nutrients optimum/sweet spot.
Good Sunday morning Barry, appreciate that Brother. It was a short and sweet intro but should open the floor for more set up questions. Mixing up 4 reservoirs this morning and thought I would toss this out there
Good stuff, @OGIncognito. Helpful. I’ll probably do a grow this summer and have heard great things from experienced growers re: autopots. I’ll probably do coco this time as well.
Appreciate you that Grow Bro, stoked for you on trying coco and my preferred medium other than hydro. The auto pots work amazingly with a good 70/30 or 60/40 coco/perlite. It’s definitely a hands off set up
morning OG… hope your day in the grow room is a good one…nice info on how you grow in your auto pots…enjoying some KR this morning… still have the tickle cough from the one…both are curing very well…
I purchased 4 / i believe they are 3.9 gallon autopots a few grows ago but have been nervous to use them, skeptical on whether or not that size pot will handle a photoperiod plant.
it is not bad… a tickle really … only need a couple puffs anyway … I have noticed the happy smoke/tickle one is now moving to a more lost in space like the other one…smoking tickle this morning and keep forgetting what I am doing…both are just a pleasure to smoke…
No run off Brother, the trays are gravity fed from a reservoir , the pots or bags sit in the trays which have about 1” of nutrient solution and refills from a float in the trays. Just add to the res weekly
Ok cool, I heard they didn’t work with nutes, but obviously you are feeding. Ill look a bit deeper, any particular brand or is thee only one like this, I think I am thinking of the wicking pots that are water only.