Soil volume and containers

[Jennygrows2]

Hi you guys,

I'm not new to growing but new to soilless medium. I've done some looking around for info on how much soil to use but it's never specific... I'm looking for gallons per square foot for growing indoors. For instance if someone was using nine 5 gallon pots in a 4x4 that would be 45 gallons/16ft = 2.8 gallons per foot, but I come up with different figures looking at different people's grows.

I'm also used to doing ebb/flow so I don't know a lot on the effect of a plant being root bound. Is the goal to have enough media so the plant never get's root bound, or just enough that it get's root bound in the final weeks of flowering?

If I start rooted clones in 3 gallon pots for a 1-2 week veg and transplant to 5 gallon pots going into 12/12 would that be a good plan? The footprint will vary between 15"x15" and 17"x17" per plant, so for the sake of argument assume all my plants will get 16"x16" grow space. I could start in 1 gallon pots, transplant to 3 and then 5, but I'd like to cut out the first pot if possible.

So that's basically three questions, if anyone can help that would be great.

Thanks!

 

[Underground Scientist]

Hi you guys,

I'm not new to growing but new to soilless medium. I've done some looking around for info on how much soil to use but it's never specific... I'm looking for gallons per square foot for growing indoors. For instance if someone was using nine 5 gallon pots in a 4x4 that would be 45 gallons/16ft = 2.8 gallons per foot, but I come up with different figures looking at different people's grows.

I'm also used to doing ebb/flow so I don't know a lot on the effect of a plant being root bound. Is the goal to have enough media so the plant never get's root bound, or just enough that it get's root bound in the final weeks of flowering?

If I start rooted clones in 3 gallon pots for a 1-2 week veg and transplant to 5 gallon pots going into 12/12 would that be a good plan? The footprint will vary between 15"x15" and 17"x17" per plant, so for the sake of argument assume all my plants will get 16"x16" grow space. I could start in 1 gallon pots, transplant to 3 and then 5, but I'd like to cut out the first pot if possible.

So that's basically three questions, if anyone can help that would be great.

Thanks!

1 gallons aren't bad to start in. I go from one gals in veg to my final pot size which is 5 or 7. 7 takes up some space. I even think a 5 gallon is pushing a 16"x16" space, but it can be done. I keep 6 in a 3x5 and I'm using 5's.

 

[Underground Scientist]

Hi you guys,

I'm not new to growing but new to soilless medium. I've done some looking around for info on how much soil to use but it's never specific... I'm looking for gallons per square foot for growing indoors. For instance if someone was using nine 5 gallon pots in a 4x4 that would be 45 gallons/16ft = 2.8 gallons per foot, but I come up with different figures looking at different people's grows.

I'm also used to doing ebb/flow so I don't know a lot on the effect of a plant being root bound. Is the goal to have enough media so the plant never get's root bound, or just enough that it get's root bound in the final weeks of flowering?

If I start rooted clones in 3 gallon pots for a 1-2 week veg and transplant to 5 gallon pots going into 12/12 would that be a good plan? The footprint will vary between 15"x15" and 17"x17" per plant, so for the sake of argument assume all my plants will get 16"x16" grow space. I could start in 1 gallon pots, transplant to 3 and then 5, but I'd like to cut out the first pot if possible.

So that's basically three questions, if anyone can help that would be great.

Thanks!

If you start a clone in a 3 gallon, it's going to take more than a week or two to fill that media with roots enough to do a transplant. I say 1 gallon.

What kind of soilless media you running?

 

[Underground Scientist]

I could start in 1 gallon pots, transplant to 3 and then 5, but I'd like to cut out the first pot if possible.

Cut out the 3 gallon. Go direct to 5.

 

[chemphlegm]

dont ever ever worry about your indoor plant being rootbound to a point where its detrimental.
do you veg for years at a time? are you flowering a strain for 6 month periods ? no rootbound worries.

I've vegged and flowerd in cups, 1 gallon, 3 gallon, 5 gallon, garbage cans and even a 55 gallon drum. Each had roots dangling out of the bottom drains and when emptied they were all twirled round and round. no matter. if all resources are provided in a timely manner your container size barely matters especially in hydro.
I've seen in dirt that the circumference of your pot is related to the circumference of your plant.

one gallon of hydro goodness

 

[RandomHero8913]

Hi you guys,

I'm not new to growing but new to soilless medium. I've done some looking around for info on how much soil to use but it's never specific... I'm looking for gallons per square foot for growing indoors. For instance if someone was using nine 5 gallon pots in a 4x4 that would be 45 gallons/16ft = 2.8 gallons per foot, but I come up with different figures looking at different people's grows.

I'm also used to doing ebb/flow so I don't know a lot on the effect of a plant being root bound. Is the goal to have enough media so the plant never get's root bound, or just enough that it get's root bound in the final weeks of flowering?

If I start rooted clones in 3 gallon pots for a 1-2 week veg and transplant to 5 gallon pots going into 12/12 would that be a good plan? The footprint will vary between 15"x15" and 17"x17" per plant, so for the sake of argument assume all my plants will get 16"x16" grow space. I could start in 1 gallon pots, transplant to 3 and then 5, but I'd like to cut out the first pot if possible.

So that's basically three questions, if anyone can help that would be great.

Thanks!

You won't find a specific answer for the amount of soil to use. Different strokes for different folks. If people are growing no-till style they'll go for a bigger container size to help keep moisture loss in check. If you're just going to be dumping your soil afterwards go with the smallest amount possible.

 

[Underground Scientist]

Is the goal to have enough media so the plant never get's root bound, or just enough that it get's root bound in the final weeks of flowering?

Sometimes it's about maintenance. If you just used 1 gals and had a HPS light, plan on a drip system or watering your ass off. My opinion is the bigger the pot, the more buffer you have with nutes and moisture, and it's easier to bush a plant out in a larger pot. Answering your original question, I like about 1.5-2.0 gals per sf.

 

[Jennygrows2]

If you start a clone in a 3 gallon, it's going to take more than a week or two to fill that media with roots enough to do a transplant. I say 1 gallon.

What kind of soilless media you running?

Thanks for the reply! So it would be better to go from a 1 gallon to a 5 gallon rather than a 3 gallon to a 5 gallon? What if I used 3 gallon pots and only used 1-1.5 gallons of media? I already bought the pots

 

[Jennygrows2]

dont ever ever worry about your indoor plant being rootbound to a point where its detrimental.
do you veg for years at a time? are you flowering a strain for 6 month periods ? no rootbound worries.

I've vegged and flowerd in cups, 1 gallon, 3 gallon, 5 gallon, garbage cans and even a 55 gallon drum. Each had roots dangling out of the bottom drains and when emptied they were all twirled round and round. no matter. if all resources are provided in a timely manner your container size barely matters especially in hydro.
I've seen in dirt that the circumference of your pot is related to the circumference of your plant.

one gallon of hydro goodness

View attachment 3962998

Thanks for the reply. I guess the main consideration then would be how often I water. I'm hoping to have a set day once a week to flush and add nutrient solution then water throughout the week as necessary. It seems like with 1 gallon per plant I would be watering every day. Best case, I'd like to water once a week between feeding but if I can't do that in 5 gallon pots I don't mind watering more often.

 

[Jennygrows2]

You won't find a specific answer for the amount of soil to use. Different strokes for different folks. If people are growing no-till style they'll go for a bigger container size to help keep moisture loss in check. If you're just going to be dumping your soil afterwards go with the smallest amount possible.

I don't plan on keeping soil but I would like to avoid constant watering. I will have to think about that.

@Underground Scientist thanks for answering the question on gallons per foot. Seems like 3 is on the high end. How often do you water with 1.5-2 per foot?

 

[Johnei]

One reason to start a clone in 1gal and not 3, is the watering schedule allowing the pots to dry out and get that water/dry cycle going, too big a pot for too small a plant and the pot will stay wet far too long, and air to the roots is key, yes it can be done placing a tiny baby plant in a huge pot, but you gotta know soil growing and have some experience with it, so I'd stick to 1gal first.

 

[Underground Scientist]

I don't plan on keeping soil but I would like to avoid constant watering. I will have to think about that.

@Underground Scientist thanks for answering the question on gallons per foot. Seems like 3 is on the high end. How often do you water with 1.5-2 per foot?

Depends a little on how developed the roots are and temps, but 2-4 days...like twice a week.

 

[Underground Scientist]

Thanks for the reply! So it would be better to go from a 1 gallon to a 5 gallon rather than a 3 gallon to a 5 gallon? What if I used 3 gallon pots and only used 1-1.5 gallons of media? I already bought the pots

1 gallon pots are cheap, and who knows, you might end up using 3 gallons to flower in if you are using 16"x16" footprints.

 

[chemphlegm]

Thanks for the reply. I guess the main consideration then would be how often I water. I'm hoping to have a set day once a week to flush and add nutrient solution then water throughout the week as necessary. It seems like with 1 gallon per plant I would be watering every day. Best case, I'd like to water once a week between feeding but if I can't do that in 5 gallon pots I don't mind watering more often.

plants at different stages use water at different rates. eat when hungry, drink when thirsty, not on a clock right? stop flushing already. all that work with micros and fungi in the soil web..only to flush it down the drain every week seems silly to me and plants.

 

[Jennygrows2]

Depends a little on how developed the roots are and temps, but 2-4 days...like twice a week.

That would be ideal. It seems like I may have to use three sizes of pots. I'll experiment with both and see which does better. Thanks for the help!

 

[Jennygrows2]

plants at different stages use water at different rates. eat when hungry, drink when thirsty, not on a clock right? stop flushing already. all that work with micros and fungi in the soil web..only to flush it down the drain every week seems silly to me and plants.

I thought that was the point of soilless medium? A couple of the medias I will be testing come loaded with mycorrhizae but once they've established themselves in the roots I don't think they can be flushed out. I'm wanting to flush once a week to keep PH in the optimal range and prevent salt buildup.

 

[Tangerine_]

I thought that was the point of soilless medium? A couple of the medias I will be testing come loaded with mycorrhizae but once they've established themselves in the roots I don't think they can be flushed out. I'm wanting to flush once a week to keep PH in the optimal range and prevent salt buildup.

Just remember "flushing" peat based media will cause a pH dive. Have you considered coco? You'll get the growth rates similar to hydro and leeching the medium is a breeze.

Flowering in 1 gallon pots can be done but it makes no sense, especially if you're hand watering. I go from beer/solo cups, to 1 gal, to final 4-5 gallon. I've done this with peat, coco, and now ROLS. This has always worked for me and going in these stages works well to establish a 'healthy' root system.

 

[Underground Scientist]

I thought that was the point of soilless medium? A couple of the medias I will be testing come loaded with mycorrhizae but once they've established themselves in the roots I don't think they can be flushed out. I'm wanting to flush once a week to keep PH in the optimal range and prevent salt buildup.

What mediums are you testing? Cuz I've been using Advanced Sunshine #4 for 3 or 4 months and experimenting.

 

[chemphlegm]

I thought that was the point of soilless medium? A couple of the medias I will be testing come loaded with mycorrhizae but once they've established themselves in the roots I don't think they can be flushed out. I'm wanting to flush once a week to keep PH in the optimal range and prevent salt buildup.

I used promix in my ebb/flow too and found hydroton to cleaner and easier to work with. cycled every 4 hours was fine in rocks, and I was never comfortable with the pro mix on schedule myself, I hope it works out better for you.
I saw no ph fluctuation in the pro mix or the rocks when I used it. I hand water/organic feed now with no issues in pro mix

 

[Underground Scientist]

I used promix in my ebb/flow too and found hydroton to cleaner and easier to work with. cycled every 4 hours was fine in rocks, and I was never comfortable with the pro mix on schedule myself, I hope it works out better for you.
I saw no ph fluctuation in the pro mix or the rocks when I used it. I hand water/organic feed now with no issues in pro mix

Did you use a chiller?