Convince me to (or not to) go autopot

S

SmokeyExcursion

Well-Known Member
I've been doing my share of reading and have all but convinced myself to get a an autopot system for each of my tents. I guess I just need the final push to order them after next harvest. But before I do that, I wanna hear all the horror stories from them. Floods, lockouts, ph drift, accidental overfeeding on first grows, etc.

My biggest worry is the flooding, and tearing tents down to avoid mold etc. not the room damage, its "water proof". Im sure this can easily be avoided with filters and the root control disc's. My second worry is nutrients. I currently run the GH flora trio in canna coco with perlite following GrowWeedEasy feeding schedule. (1 day of nutrients 1 day water). I'm assuming cutting the solution in half won't work. I'm thinking mix at 1/4-1/3 and ramp up while reading the plants? I don't read EC, or check runoff and have had great success hand watering and listening to what the plants tell me.
 
MustGro

MustGro

Well-Known Member
I've never used an autopot but I switched to hydro from soilless mix and I'll never flower inside in anything but hydro again. I've had one flood but I'm in a basement, no lockouts, PH drift is easy to control usually, never had a bad overfeed or mold issue. I used the full GH line with floranova as a base with great results, but I'm on Jack's 3-2-1 now. I used the GH and Jack's feed schedules mostly. You'll need to check EC and PH in hydro though.
 
S

SmokeyExcursion

Well-Known Member
MustGro said:
I've never used an autopot but I switched to hydro from soilless mix and I'll never flower inside in anything but hydro again. I've had one flood but I'm in a basement, no lockouts, PH drift is easy to control usually, never had a bad overfeed or mold issue. I used the full GH line with floranova as a base with great results, but I'm on Jack's 3-2-1 now. I used the GH and Jack's feed schedules mostly. You'll need to check EC and PH in hydro though.
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I check the ph of the solution before watering. I just don't check runoff. I dunno what the EC is of my tap water, it's probably high tbh. I do know when you take some in for free testing, they think you are pulling a fast one and giving them bottled spring water from the store.

Hydro was my next option. Like a dwc/bubbleponics system. Something with no risk of flooding unless a bucket leaks.
 
GrassBurner

GrassBurner

Well-Known Member
What about sips and organic soil? I just finished up a dwc run, and you couldn't pay me to run hydro again :lol: Plant turned out great, but I can't justify the extra work, time, and money. I get super fast growing plants, but none of the hassle. Water every other day or two, and top dress when I flip to flower, that's it. For the energy put in related to product put out, I don't know what beats a sip. Another thing I really like, if I have to go out of town or have an emergency, anyone who knows how to turn a hose valve on and off can keep my plants alive :bigjoint: Simplicity is sophistication :blsmoke:
 
lusidghost

lusidghost

Well-Known Member
I don’t really understand sips. I looked at some diagrams and it made no sense. I need to watch a video.

The mailman just dropped off 50 Blumat carrots yesterday. 9B34D5DC-28B0-4A92-8D40-842B5D0EFFAE.jpeg
 
GrassBurner

GrassBurner

Well-Known Member
Lol, they're pretty simple. Some type of wick keeps the soil moist, a reservoir holds water, and overflow openings prevent over watering, and allow for an air gap in between the water and the soil. Once the plants roots get down into the reservoir, they just explode.
I've had blumats in my cart so many times :lol: My grow is up in a loft, and I worry about one staying open. Shit happens, and usually to me :eyesmoke: But I see people getting incredible results with them. If I ever have a spot where I can run a big no till bed, I'd run them.
 
R

rollyouron

Well-Known Member
SmokeyExcursion said:
I've been doing my share of reading and have all but convinced myself to get a an autopot system for each of my tents. I guess I just need the final push to order them after next harvest. But before I do that, I wanna hear all the horror stories from them. Floods, lockouts, ph drift, accidental overfeeding on first grows, etc.

My biggest worry is the flooding, and tearing tents down to avoid mold etc. not the room damage, its "water proof". Im sure this can easily be avoided with filters and the root control disc's. My second worry is nutrients. I currently run the GH flora trio in canna coco with perlite following GrowWeedEasy feeding schedule. (1 day of nutrients 1 day water). I'm assuming cutting the solution in half won't work. I'm thinking mix at 1/4-1/3 and ramp up while reading the plants? I don't read EC, or check runoff and have had great success hand watering and listening to what the plants tell me.
Click to expand...
The easiest way to grow. I’ve never had on flood in 6 years. I’ve had a couple get clogged when I was using the 1/4 hose. I’ve since switched to 1/2 inch from rez to 3/8 to pot. Works great.
 
GanjaJack

GanjaJack

Well-Known Member
I would love some autos but have NO idea how to grow them.

What I wished is that someone would breed a "low light" level able to take any duration of light, "big bud producer" so that you could grow a plant in your living room without all the light and nonsense.

You know, like a plant, plant....

I LOVE my plain old DWC hempy buckets.
 
ComputerSaysNo

ComputerSaysNo

Well-Known Member
SmokeyExcursion said:
I've been doing my share of reading and have all but convinced myself to get a an autopot system for each of my tents. I guess I just need the final push to order them after next harvest. But before I do that, I wanna hear all the horror stories from them. Floods, lockouts, ph drift, accidental overfeeding on first grows, etc.
Click to expand...
Seriously, the system is really, really easy to use.

I have an acquaintance who grows for personal use, and he does use quite a bit... The AutoPot is actually the thing I am going to recommend to him, because he is precisely the person who needs a hands-off system with not a lot of room for error.

Basically, the AutoPot system is a float valve which is gravity-fed water from a tank, straight to the bottom of the plant pot. These are also known as "wick systems". The plant sits in a low level of nutrient solution at all times, and the roots and substrate just wick up the water from below according to the plant's needs. There are no "active components" in the system at all. It is all accomplished by gravity and capillary action.

Just make sure you set up the system like the instruction manual recommends (it comes with good instructions, it's also on their web site).

I have used coco and hydroton, and the GH line of nutrients (tri-part at half strength), plus some supplements which should be strictly optional.

There really is not much to say or know about this system at this point. Just use your brain, be careful and meticulous, and then it truly is a very low-maintenance setup. Obviously, if you do stupid things like toppling the tank over, or unplugging the feed line with the valve open, you will have your own "horror story". But there are always ways to mess up a grow, no matter what setup you use.
 
ComputerSaysNo

ComputerSaysNo

Well-Known Member
SmokeyExcursion said:
But before I do that, I wanna hear all the horror stories from them. Floods, lockouts, ph drift, accidental overfeeding on first grows, etc.
Click to expand...
  1. Floods: tilt the tank a little too much, and you will have a 12+ gallon flood. Or just put the tank on a stable support, and don't be a monkey. :-)
  2. Lockouts: just flush from the top and replace the nutrient solution
  3. pH drift: could not observe anything even close. The nutes are wicked from the bottom and used up. There is no recirculating body of water that could "drift".
  4. accidental overfeeding: you have messed up royally when mixing the nutes in the tank. Flush from the top and replace the nutes.
 
Flowki

Flowki

Well-Known Member
If I had the time and energy to set it all up I probably would have went with sip. Doesn't sound straight forward to dial in at first but long term it just seems the best of all worlds. Almost 0 chance of flood and individual reservoirs where you can easily tailor things for lighter feeders etc.
 
N

Nugro21

Member
SmokeyExcursion said:
I've been doing my share of reading and have all but convinced myself to get a an autopot system for each of my tents. I guess I just need the final push to order them after next harvest. But before I do that, I wanna hear all the horror stories from them. Floods, lockouts, ph drift, accidental overfeeding on first grows, etc.

My biggest worry is the flooding, and tearing tents down to avoid mold etc. not the room damage, its "water proof". Im sure this can easily be avoided with filters and the root control disc's. My second worry is nutrients. I currently run the GH flora trio in canna coco with perlite following GrowWeedEasy feeding schedule. (1 day of nutrients 1 day water). I'm assuming cutting the solution in half won't work. I'm thinking mix at 1/4-1/3 and ramp up while reading the plants? I don't read EC, or check runoff and have had great success hand watering and listening to what the plants tell me.
Click to expand...
Use plain water in Res. If you want to feed nutes, take pot out of overflow tray feed from top and let it drain and put back in tray.
 
ComputerSaysNo

ComputerSaysNo

Well-Known Member
Nugro21 said:
Use plain water in Res. If you want to feed nutes, take pot out of overflow tray feed from top and let it drain and put back in tray.
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That takes a lot of convenience away from the setup, and in my experience is not necessary. I'm feeding a complete hydroponic nutrient mix from the tank (coco/clay mix in the pot), and the plant could not look more healthy.
 
TintEastwood

TintEastwood

Well-Known Member
Been doing drain to waste coco.

I'm trying Octopot style this grow. Simple.

www.octopot.com

Octopot Hybrid Grow Systems

Octopot is your modern meets low-tech solution to growing any kind of plants. Yes, even that kind.
www.octopot.com www.octopot.com

Coco/perlite
Promix HP/perlite
Jacks nutes
20210914_163346.jpg
 
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Cycad

Cycad

Well-Known Member
How is an autopot system going to work with felt pots? I won't use plastic anymore, not after seeing the difference in yield.
 
ComputerSaysNo

ComputerSaysNo

Well-Known Member
Cycad said:
How is an autopot system going to work with felt pots? I won't use plastic anymore, not after seeing the difference in yield.
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They have a system with fabric pots (20l/5gal) now. Works just the same as the one with plastic pots.

For my next grow I will paint the inside of the plastic pot with a copper compound, for chemical root pruning. That should make it somewhat similar to a fabric pot in that regard. Experiments pending.
 
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