Pot / container drainage holes.

I am wondering what potential problems we might have here...

Might be a stupid question, but not as stupid as not asking and wasting a summer, so here goes. With hydration being such an issue, sometimes requiring watering every other day, why is immediate drainage so necessary?

What I'm thinking is, 3/5 gall buckets with drainage holes drilled 2 inches up the side. This would create a reservoir for water which could be "wicked" up to the early root zone, or, accessed immediately by the roots.

I understand pots have bottom holes for a reason, roots need oxygen, but what will happen if only most of the roots get oxygen through the soil, while a small part remains submerged.

If it rains every day for a week, roots under the 2 inch level will remain under water that long. I could imagine that in that area there could be enough rain some months to keep th bottom full for a month straight, while other months there maybe no rain at all.

I understand that "gimping" plants in any way will restrict their production somewhat, but it might increase my own productivity greatly, which could be more than worth it.

By creating a "swamp" environment in the bottom of your planter your roots are receiving no oxygen. In a hydro environment oxygen is being pumped in to the water. Having a 2 inch swap in the bottom of your bucket will cause root rot, then it's all up hill work from there, fixing the bad before you can get to the good.
There's products that you mix into your soil that retain moisture so you can go longer between waterings.
Hope this helped...
TMB-

i'm a noob and know not to let your pots to be sitting in water. What i've read this will cause root rot. Ur gonna have to find a saucer and empty it often to keep healthy plants.

treemansbuds said:

By creating a "swamp" environment in the bottom of your planter your roots are receiving no oxygen. In a hydro environment oxygen is being pumped in to the water. Having a 2 inch swap in the bottom of your bucket will cause root rot, then it's all up hill work from there, fixing the bad before you can get to the good.
There's products that you mix into your soil that retain moisture so you can go longer between waterings.
Hope this helped...
TMB-

Click to expand...

So the only problem is Root rot? Nothing else you can think of I should consider?

yes, as i stated in OP, a plant needs O2 from the root system, but does it need it from EVERY PART of the root system? or if 5% is in water, is that ok?

nattybongo said:

i'm a noob and know not to let your pots to be sitting in water. What i've read this will cause root rot. Ur gonna have to find a saucer and empty it often to keep healthy plants.

Click to expand...

My pots wouldn't be sitting in water.

I moved a male that was potted with proper drainage holes away from the females when it showed sign. Just for the hell of it I stuck the pot in a little stream that ran through the area I was growing by. I did this just to see what would happen the pot sat in a few inches of water and the male prospered for weeks. The only reason it died was because I eventually pulled it.. I'm no expert but that plant was pretty damn healthy. The roots were also fully developt...why didn't that male die? I also am always trying to find ways to prolong my visits.

Try it with 1 or 2 let us know how you make out.

i have done that. but i put the holes a half inch up from the bottom. fillled it with stones2 inchs up.and placed a peice of weed barrier in the bucket. to keep dirty out of the stones it worked ok. now i run pumps every day to give them water.

I BUBBLE! Get a cheap aquarium pump or a fish/bait solar aerator if power is not available. 1 stone in the bottom of a plant filled with grow medium will guarantee oxygen is delivered.

My goal is to get the roots submerged in DWC. If you water, and allow some runoff, you should be OK either way you go.

NEPA said:

I moved a male that was potted with proper drainage holes away from the females when it showed sign. Just for the hell of it I stuck the pot in a little stream that ran through the area I was growing by. I did this just to see what would happen the pot sat in a few inches of water and the male prospered for weeks. The only reason it died was because I eventually pulled it.. I'm no expert but that plant was pretty damn healthy. The roots were also fully developt...why didn't that male die? I also am always trying to find ways to prolong my visits.

Click to expand...

I suspect your male did well due to the constant supply of fresh water - it never stagnated.

OP - dont let your pot sit in water. You can fill your saucer(or whatever) with hydroton and then set your plant on top. You can fill the hydroton with water or nutrient solution without fear of your pot sitting in water, and once the plant is big enoug the roots at the bottom of the pot will feed from the hydroton.
Please note that bottom feeding WONT work until the plant is big enough. Also let your hydroton dry out between waterings or mols and mildew and who knows what else will grow in there.

Good luck grower.