[AmberJay]

This is a snip from my diary, thought it might be useful to show off my experience of how to assemble and fill these new gadgets.

These are really easy to store and clean, this one has been used about five times so far. First part is to lay the base with the pimple pointing up one notch from the base then wrap is around using the plastic screw to hold it in place. Note than there is enough of a gap at the bottom to prevent the plant from sitting in runoff so allowing it to drain easily.




Now comes the tricky bit, I have found that if you do not push the soil into the nodes, water will make a path and you will get nutrients pissing out of holes. The way I do this is I half fill the pot then push the soon into the nodes in a brushing action into the nodes.Once done then I fill the bottom with enough sound and add my PM granules before placing the plant in the hole.


Finally once all the soil has been added I give her a good tap to settle down the soul leaving enough space for some clay pebbles to go on top to help keep things moist.



Thanks for reading.

[rixy]

So you're using soil AND clay pebbles? wow, didn't know you could do that. Doesn't it all wash out into your res?

Nice pics, and thanks for the explanation

Rx

[cf]

I think the pebbles go at the top ?

Nice explanation Amberjay. I've been a less regular visitor to the site recently and there are a few things new to me that I was curious about.

Incidentally I asked a mate about there , he says there used in the nursery for bringing trees on . Tree roots are fussy and don't like the constraint of a normal pot , getting a tree potbound is v bad for the tree ,with an airpot the root grows to the side and dies back rather than circling the pot ....for trees this is preferable apparently

[FAI]

I've got some 6 litre airpots for my next grow....looking forward to seeing how they perform....if I ever get chance to finish re-building my room that is

[Floyd]

Nice post mate, I have been tempted to try airports but Im scared of change
If it ain't broke... but if there is a yield improvement?? then tempting it is!

I also use clay pebbles on the top of my soil when my girls are in there final pots,
like posted above it stops your soil drying out so fast and uneven but it also allows roots to spread over the top of the soil

This post has been edited by GreenFloyd: 08 March 2012 - 12:10 PM

[rixy]

weedmonsta, on 08 March 2012 - 12:01 PM, said:

hes using the pebbles to stop the surface drying out too quick under the light

[vince noir rock n roll star]

im still using the home made mesh pots i knocked up ..i can see me ever going back to 10/11 litre pots when 1.5 litres is more than enough to achieve the same yields

[Floyd]

rixy, on 08 March 2012 - 12:45 PM, said:

weedmonsta, on 08 March 2012 - 12:01 PM, said:

hes using the pebbles to stop the surface drying out too quick under the light

Why the doh rixy mate?

Surely if you don't think its wise then it be better to post your reasons for disagreeing?
Or are you agreeing and simply stating that its obvious?

Its better to let the plant dry your pots out by drinking, that's one reason why its worth doing. They are a few positives for doing this and no negatives imo. The pots still dry up and still go light

This post has been edited by GreenFloyd: 08 March 2012 - 02:58 PM

[FAI]

vince noir rock n roll star, on 08 March 2012 - 02:11 PM, said:

..i can see me ever going back to 10/11 litre pots when 1.5 litres is more than enough to achieve the same yields

That little snippet has got the arse engaged in to gear. I'm gonna have my revamped room up and running next week

[rixy]

GreenFloyd, on 08 March 2012 - 02:36 PM, said:

Why the doh rixy mate?

Surely if you don't think its wise then it be better to post your reasons for disagreeing?
Or are you agreeing and simply stating that its obvious?

Its better to let the plant dry your pots out by drinking, that's one reason why its worth doing. They are a few positives for doing this and no negatives imo. The pots still dry up and still go light

, the doh was only to illustrate that I'm an idiot for not realising that the clay pebbles were just a top layer

This post has been edited by rixy: 08 March 2012 - 03:35 PM

[AmberJay]

@Rixy,
@CF, I have seen them being used for trees very successfully which is where I first got the idea, in fact I have two young fig trees in 15l pots in our conservetory which have born fruit already!
@FIA, 6l are pretty small, I have had success with them but they dry out much quicker than regular pots. For my next grow which will be Haze I am planning on 30l pots as they will get to around 2m in height.
@GreenFloyd, I agree, dont change if you are happy although you could run a few cuttings from the same mother side by side and see how they perform.
@ vince noir rock n roll star, interesting, I'll need to read your thread

One thing I failed to mention about these is that if the solid dries and shrinks, any rewetting will piss out the holes so you need to wet slowly i.e. over three different points allowing the soil to expand again. At the same time because more air can get to the roots you are less likely to cause root rot with overwatering, drainage is good on the pots and plenty of oxygen can get into the soil.

Heres the same plant a day after repotting, I can honestly see that she has straightened up and the stem has thickened.



I have known a few people who say they cannot get on with these pots, I think they are not the easiest to use but if you follow about you can get good results.

This post has been edited by AmberJay: 08 March 2012 - 05:09 PM

[Floyd]

rixy, on 08 March 2012 - 03:30 PM, said:

GreenFloyd, on 08 March 2012 - 02:36 PM, said:

Why the doh rixy mate?

Surely if you don't think its wise then it be better to post your reasons for disagreeing?
Or are you agreeing and simply stating that its obvious?

Its better to let the plant dry your pots out by drinking, that's one reason why its worth doing. They are a few positives for doing this and no negatives imo. The pots still dry up and still go light

, the doh was only to illustrate that I'm an idiot for not realising that the clay pebbles were just a top layer

Emotes confuse me when at work and strait

[DutchPassionTony]

this confirms what I am hearing from a few people, good thread Amber.

[Saddam]

Excellent thread and pictures AJ, top notch. I use AirPots almost exactly the same way as you... Pack well and use clay pebbles as a mulch, the only difference is I wrap mine in cling film before watering. I find that no matter how well you pack the soil or how slowly you water it, the water always wants to find the shortest route to ground and ends up pissing out a hole mid-pot. If you don't find a way of blocking the holes during watering, the roots rarely end up poking out of the bottom of the pot. When you go to pot up, you'll see what I mean.. brilliant roots in the top half of the AirPot and nothing but dry, dusty Plant Magic at the bottom without roots. Cling film was the cheapest solution I could find, I did think about messaging AirPot to see if they could do little plastic plugs so you could block the holes of your choice but I think I'll find something in a fastener or hardware shop. Hope this helps m8.
Saddam