Just been looking for an old thread and found some replies
DAKIDD, on Jul 5 2009, 08:17 PM, said:
Ta mate..
Maxigrower, on Jul 5 2009, 08:22 PM, said:
That's great mate,
I do it with the multiflow pots using pebbles and it increases root mass about 33%!
Same for me kinda mate. I swear by it..
Blayz'd, on Jul 5 2009, 08:30 PM, said:
mmm, quite interesting that Bert. I like it. Interesting experiment that.
cheers B
Skinny_Jimmy, on Jul 8 2009, 08:27 PM, said:
interesting, but wouldnt you get the same effect from putting more soil on top?
just my 2p worth
Yes, the extra soil would be colanised but not too the top.
maccer, on Jul 8 2009, 08:35 PM, said:
More roots mean more fruits as a wise old 420 poster once said can't remember who though. What good are more roots above soil? these won't take in nutrients. Is this just for potting up stages or am i missing something?
Like you said mate. more roots more fruits. The point is in using all your medium up, whatever your potting on. Ive found as shown that covering your soil means more roots...
tingting44, on Sep 25 2009, 07:59 PM, said:
Bert, on Apr 24 2009, 12:48 AM, said:
I thought Id share my experiment with uk420.
It just for fun really and not that much of an experiment considering I have no control!
Well just to fill you in...
Ive got a lollipop mother plant thats the original and first canna plant I grew. Its still in the same pot from flowering last year and its roots are hungry little buggers

The plan is to show how keeping your rootballs covered helps stilulate root groth throuout the pot. Just as you would expect to do when growing hydro.
Ive thought about doing this before but didnt think I get much interest so lets hope Im wrong.
Its not gona be a riverting show. kinda of like watching roots grow but I hope to show somthing at least! Like I said its an experiment
Ok lets hope I get the photos in the right order doh!
they are all kept in my gallery btw
This is the mother in question, as you can see I cover the pots to Get More Roots. This time Im using pizza bases. 10"dia and give good light blockage.
1.jpg
Ok this is whats underneath. A jiffy choir (i think!) teabag. Its just been hydrated in my bubbled water, squashed a bit and put on top of the soil. I did move some lose perlite but that moves about whenever I water/feed.
2.jpg
As you can see there are lots of roots pushing above the soil, and as a mini experiment I put a small nugett out of my west+ in there on the weekend and its already been collinised
Here is a closer look..
3.jpg
SO
Im looking forward to some ROOT PORN
I was gona sprinkle some Granules on it but forgot
I might put another in tomorow on lights on and see what diff it makes
Bert...
hi there mate, nice setup, i see for your cloning room you are using the cfl light bulbs, i have made a row like that but with 5 lights in a row, what bulbs r u using as i have got cool white in mine but some people say u need to get the redish/orangey bulbs as the white ones do not work as good, what bulbs are yours and how succsessful have u been
Hi tt44. Ive used what ever are the best quality/value cfls I can find. Tenkos have a good deal on at the moment. They have been brill for keeping the Mother&Baby drode going.
sky, on Sep 25 2009, 08:24 PM, said:
interesting that is

if using pots uncovered how much of the top medium do you reckon is wasted? as in not suitable for roots.
sup sky,
From my grows using this method compared to previous at least the top 1or2 inches of soil remain root free without any covering.
When the pot is covered ALL of the soil is used up my the roots of your plant.
Ive proved it to myself when emptying pots after cropping and sieving the rootballs. All the covered pots are a rightpain in the arse to sort out
Sorry if Ive missed anyone
I looked this up cause Im in the process of choosing a new mother and remembered posting this a while back about my Skunk.
That Jiffy pellet is fixed solid now
Im thinking of a new Project using this method by adding extra soil as a covering while also decreasing the need for ferts. The plan is too feed the soil and not the plant.
Imagine a washing bowl sized pot but deeper (for instance) that you fill up instead of potting up. Does that make sence
Any way This has taken me ages to update so Im off for a doobie
Bert...
pie + picard + fenster = ........