Smart Pots or Air Pots

Here is a link from another thread I thought I would share. They tested Air-Pots vs regular containers though. They should do a follow-up study with Smart Pots.

http://hortsci.ashspublications.org/content/45/12/1824.full

Conclusion
The results of this study suggest that the container typology has a strong influence on root system conformation in the two tested species. Plants grown in traditional smooth-sided containers showed the highest percentage of deformed roots compared with plants grown in containers with air-pruning or mechanical impediments.

i make my own pots only way to go last pictures 20 gallon

Well for most folk deformed roots lead to a pretty good harvest.....as alot of people who grow(including industrial)use SMOOTH pot's with great success......

Smart Pots, Coco and Drip Rings for the Win

I have seen smart pots evaporate your nutrients so rapidly through the material that it causes powdery mildew, especially indoor because of to much humidity...?

That said anyone using a pot that uses air prune technology should be sure to add Yucca. Yucca will help nutrients penetrate entire media instead of just choosing the easiest path, also has soponins, micro nutes, and plant protection qualities.

Yield pots. They don't leak water through nearly as bad as other pots and still air prune.

I've been growing in fabric pots non stop for 3 years never had root rot.That being said I have noticed on longer sativa grows some salt build up on the outside of my pots,I am always open to change you guys got me thinking now.

Carolina Dream'n said:

Yield pots. They don't leak water through nearly as bad as other pots and still air prune.

Click to expand...

Very similar to the smart pot. I guess theres different angles to this discussion too. I've always thought along the lines of this guy in the video for the Yield Pot:
http://www.everwoodfarm.com/Gardening_and_Growing/Fabric_Pots

I hated smart pots. Especially the ones without handles. They're awkward to move around .
I've heard many more liking the air pots as opposed to the smart pots. Though if you can find one with handles and get used to the water running straight through them the smart pots aren't completely terrible. Great idea behind them with the root pruning. Maybe try both so you know in the future?

the ability for the roots to grow through the walls of geo pots and the like, water running straight out... It only makes me want to dig a big hole and put the whole bag in the ground. Root protection from critters? I think so. Otherwise, I like normal smooth plastic containers with drainage holes. Works just fine for me.

Cobnobuler said:

Very similar to the smart pot. I guess theres different angles to this discussion too. I've always thought along the lines of this guy in the video for the Yield Pot:
http://www.everwoodfarm.com/Gardening_and_Growing/Fabric_Pots

Click to expand...

An interesting video.....Now for the review.

It had an interesting topic but the argument fell apart when the man rubbed the soil from the YP potted tomato's roots.
The root "ball" was just that,,,,a ball that had a good inch of precious nutrient laden soil surrounding said root ball that was unused or unutilised by those air pruned roots!
As an organic water only soil grower. I want all my soil to be used by my root system. That soil is my nutrient....I need as much roots to contact that soil as I can get.....Not to mention that more roots = more and/or bigger buds!!!
So then, if I use YP pots do you think that after seeing the video. That to get the same size root structure, you should use a size bigger YP (or bigger yet) to equal the root structure of a conventional to gain that root ball size advantage in returns?

Why did they use a 1 gallon conventional pot and compare it to a 3-5 gallon YP?
Why was the soil between the roots and the YP pot wall so dry?
What happens to all the money spent on nutrients by synthetic users, when that feed solution just runs through?

Get the idea?

Doc

P.S. After coming home from the "Dam", where I was working with a cpl of friends on a new breeding project. I can say that I saw NO fabric pots of any type in use over there!
I wonder why?

Dr. Who said:

Why did they use a 1 gallon conventional pot and compare it to a 3-5 gallon YP?

Click to expand...

I noticed that right away. The 2 pots ( and plants ) created an illusion without a doubt.
Indeed an interesting topic for sure. I'm only in my 3rd year of working with this plant and there is still so much to continue to learn. If I ever think I know it all, I'll be done for sure.

Ya know what? Darth's home made pots will do better then any fabric pot and cost far, far less!

If you don't or can't spend money, or even are looking for ways to save money...

@Darth Vapour has shown you the most simple and effective way to start....NICE POTS Darth!

I used plastic pots for years, I switched to smart pots to help with an aphid problem, i got that handled, But I have been thinking of going back to the plastic ones.
as Dr.who stated, In my plastic pots, the entire thing would be a rootball when chopped and thrown away, with the smart pots, They never fill the entire pot, the outer part always falls away and is just dirt. Think I might do a yield comparison to see if there is a difference.

chuck estevez said:

I used plastic pots for years, I switched to smart pots to help with an aphid problem, i got that handled, But I have been thinking of going back to the plastic ones.
as Dr.who stated, In my plastic pots, the entire thing would be a rootball when chopped and thrown away, with the smart pots, They never fill the entire pot, the outer part always falls away and is just dirt. Think I might do a yield comparison to see if there is a difference.

Click to expand...

I find the best pot I have used to be the Plant Warrior pots.

https://4hydroponics.com/plant-warrior-pots

Doc

Hell, you use less soil and get the same results (better plant health) with the PW vs conventional and fabric pots!

Thank you Dr i like the white 17 liter square pails specially out side with simple holes on sides and bottoms its so much easier to water you can watch water run into soil and really know when to stop , and most importantly with the white pails and holes,, soils tend to stay in perfect temps not to hot and not to cold specially when the whole root system is really in ambient room temp inside a grow room ..... Back pots are bad for indoor it takes in to much heat i your room is 80 degrees expect your soil to be hotter specially with chemical changing from nutrients to plants electronic responses like your electrical brain waves ...
people tend to think them air pots are just for gas exchange ?? when it fact chemical change creates heat no different the cooking soils what happens HEAT from chem changes ..
People got really into the black pot myth cause of its bad for roots to see light ?? i have grown lots of plants in clear pots with no issues of light damaging roots its a fucking myth ..
i root clones in clear glass by window sill ??? if you don't believe me anyone i dare you to plant a clone in a clear pail and one in black you might be surprised of the out come ....
the black pots were hordicultural meaning we used them cause when we started plants out it usually in MARCH middle of winter in green houses the black pots helped attract the heat anyways believe it or not does n;t matter that is why we use black plastic pots then again i clone and seed close to 300,000 plants in march every year also prices its cheap ... haha
Thanks again Dr pretty simple making your own pots like i did da hell with buying when you can recycle
here nice plant on home made pot she is a beast for a baby i'll make sure to post what she looks like in 25 - 30 gallon self made pot in a month or 2 anyone wanna see 4 - 7 pound plant ??? lol

Idk- I'll say about a pound.