Air pot or smart pot: grow bags

[Savvage61]

I would appreciate some opinions on my upcoming growth I am going to be growing 4 -Plant Black Lebanon under a scrog I plan on vegging until it fills Under a 4x4 net flipping and then adds another 6" net. So I will be vegging a little longer. anyway before I get lost in a ramble I am trying to decide if I want to go with a 5-gal air pot or a 5gal grow bag. I have read 4 or 5 articles but I trust you guys more than them. so if I could get some ideas of what you prefer I would really appreciate it. I have used grow bags before it was my 2nd grow and I had issues with not getting run off But I made a lot of mistakes on that grow. I thought it was the bag but it was me not growing right. I never could get run off to check my ph. so I am asking you to let me learn from your experience
Thx

 

[Phytoplankton]

I have never used air pots, but I have used bags for years with no issues. You don't say what your media is, I'm assuming soil. You also don't say if your using synthetic or organic nutes, PH is more important with synthetic nutes than organic (within reason). Don't, chase run-off, it will only screw you up. If growing with synthetic nutes you want to add calmag first (if/when you're using it), then wait 15 minutes, then add your other nutes, wait another 15 minutes, then PH your water to about 6.2-6.4. Read @Emilya primer on "how to to properly water a potted plant" The Proper Way To Water A Potted Plant. It will tell you a lot. Best of luck!

 

[Savvage61]

Thx for the reply actually I did read Em's watering post (most read and recommended post ever lol) That's why I am willing to consider Bags again almost everybody loves them That's what leads me to think it was not the bag it was the grower lol. I mean I was just dumping gallon jugs of water to feed and water my plants. Half way thru the Grow I had packed the soil so hard it barely was mid way up the bag that was a horrible grow But I learned so much I look back now and laugh I really considered making a post about " HOW NOT TO GROW POT" cuz I did about everything wrong lol I had been looking at pots for my next grow for 2 days till I read the Geo Flora post I am on a poor man's budget after getting new soil I had a little left and after reading about the about Geo flora I think that would be a better improvement for the money than new pots I already have plenty grow bags so now I get easier and better nutes I appreciate your input and if you havent read about the Geo flora ya might want to check it out under sponsors
Thx bud

 

[TwelveCoffee]

I have never used air pots, but I have used bags for years with no issues. You don't say what your media is, I'm assuming soil. You also don't say if your using synthetic or organic nutes, PH is more important with synthetic nutes than organic (within reason). Don't, chase run-off, it will only screw you up. If growing with synthetic nutes you want to add calmag first (if/when you're using it), then wait 15 minutes, then add your other nutes, wait another 15 minutes, then PH your water to about 6.2-6.4. Read @Emilya primer on "how to to properly water a potted plant" The Proper Way To Water A Potted Plant. It will tell you a lot. Best of luck!

Wait so your supposed to add cal and nuts with no water then add water if this is the case I’ve been doing this wrong >.>;

 

[Phytoplankton]

No, you misunderstood (or I wasn’t clear), you add the cal mag to the water, mix, wait 15 min, add the other nutes, mix, wait another 15 min, then PH the water.

 

[TwelveCoffee]

No, you misunderstood (or I wasn’t clear), you add the cal mag to the water, mix, wait 15 min, add the other nutes, mix, wait another 15 min, then PH the water.

Ah ok that makes sense I was grabbing water with cal mag ph it then grabbed more water and ph’d and added nutes so I still was and am doing it wrong I’ll try it your way tomorrow thanks for the info and help

 

[sinsemilla savant]

honestly air pots and grow bags are pretty much the same? atleast how I see it but as I've only used grow bags I can't say for sure, but my opinion is definitely in favor of grow bags, they're in my opinion more flexible and favourable and storing them after the grow is much more space friendly, air pots are very Rigid and some people like that about them, also the holes in the pot are weird and I'd be constantly worried the medium would run out the side holes with the water, and transplanting seems like it would be hell with airpots though they're definitely a final pot kind of pot, but that just makes grow bags more flexible as you can continually transplant up in sizes if you want

but to address your issues with grow bags, if you're using soil the medium could just lack the proper aeration for the water to flow through it properly especially if you packed it hard like you did, leading to you not getting runoff and the water soaking into the fabric of the bag or the excess water making the medium excessively soaked and wet like a swamp which isn't good

but it always good to learn from your mistakes and improve and that's the beauty of growing so don't blame yourself too hard, every grow can't be perfect and seldom any grows are absolutely perfect, you just improve your craft overtime

 

[Fuzzy Duck]

Air pots are fine but nothing smaller than 3 gallon as they may dry out reasonable quick the holes are said to promote root growth by air pruning creating a more fibrous root system to which they say increases nutrient uptake & there for potential to increase yield.

20210725_183711.jpg

• Fuzzy Duck
• Jul 25, 2021

Tent view.

End of week 9 of flowering.

20210613_202228.jpg

• Fuzzy Duck
• Jun 13, 2021

Part 2 the next grow

 

[Fenderbender]

I vote bags.
Airpots are a bughotel, they can fly into the soil from anywhere and have hundreds of hiding and safe spots.. very hard to treat an airpot, with the bags only way in and out is through the top.
If you pregrow plants to put outside airpots are the way to go, as they make great roots and you can peel them off easily to plant.

 

[013]

plastic air pots is a misnomer. its got nothing to do with air they actually light prune the roots, when you remove container sides roots are visible under the plastic.

airpots are good but ditto FenderBender on fighting pests, with all the access holes they have an advantage

weed roots love air but they won’t tolerate exposure to light

go with fabric grow bags you’ve already got, nuke them out before reuse etc but place them on an elevated grate with drip pan & fan moving air underneath, weed plant chicks don’t like to sit in a puddle

 

[Fenderbender]

ah yes I use the bags too on grates so air can move under them which makes a lot of difference.

 

[Savvage61]

honestly air pots and grow bags are pretty much the same? atleast how I see it but as I've only used grow bags I can't say for sure, but my opinion is definitely in favor of grow bags, they're in my opinion more flexible and favourable and storing them after the grow is much more space friendly, air pots are very Rigid and some people like that about them, also the holes in the pot are weird and I'd be constantly worried the medium would run out the side holes with the water, and transplanting seems like it would be hell with airpots though they're definitely a final pot kind of pot, but that just makes grow bags more flexible as you can continually transplant up in sizes if you want

but to address your issues with grow bags, if you're using soil the medium could just lack the proper aeration for the water to flow through it properly especially if you packed it hard like you did, leading to you not getting runoff and the water soaking into the fabric of the bag or the excess water making the medium excessively soaked and wet like a swamp which isn't good

but it always good to learn from your mistakes and improve and that's the beauty of growing so don't blame yourself too hard, every grow can't be perfect and seldom any grows are absolutely perfect, you just improve your craft overtime

se

honestly air pots and grow bags are pretty much the same? atleast how I see it but as I've only used grow bags I can't say for sure, but my opinion is definitely in favor of grow bags, they're in my opinion more flexible and favourable and storing them after the grow is much more space friendly, air pots are very Rigid and some people like that about them, also the holes in the pot are weird and I'd be constantly worried the medium would run out the side holes with the water, and transplanting seems like it would be hell with airpots though they're definitely a final pot kind of pot, but that just makes grow bags more flexible as you can continually transplant up in sizes if you want

but to address your issues with grow bags, if you're using soil the medium could just lack the proper aeration for the water to flow through it properly especially if you packed it hard like you did, leading to you not getting runoff and the water soaking into the fabric of the bag or the excess water making the medium excessively soaked and wet like a swamp which isn't good

but it always good to learn from your mistakes and improve and that's the beauty of growing so don't blame yourself too hard, every grow can't be perfect and seldom any grows are absolutely perfect, you just improve your craft overtime

@sinsemilla savant you are correct at that time My knowledge of perlite and O2/ water flow
Another factor might be IOm as blind as a bat without my glasses (I had 20/15 vision yrs ago) this time I have changed things around I have 2 drywall mixing tubs 28"long 20"wide and 8 in high so I sit 2 plants on top of bricks Raising the pot off the ground enough to see runoff, works great wet vac & hose and you can do 2 15 gallon flushes with very little effort (make my grandson dump the water) I really think I am going to stick with the Bags I got my used bags and ran them thru the washer with no soap they were dry after the spin cycle That shows me they are perfect if used correctly
Thx for your thoughts they were a help making this decision

 

[cbdhemp808]

I vote bags, too! I am using 15 gal homemade smart pots with handles, made out of black weed cloth purchased by the roll. I figured out the pattern, and my son is a master on the sewing machine. Cost of materials is very cheap. I think we priced our 40 gal bag at less than $5.00 in materials.