Gday all,
Does anyone have experience with both plastic airpots and fabric pots that could explain some differences?
I am familiar with fabric and used many times but never tried the plastic airpot. With temps lower and the fabrics constant moisture I'm keen to try the airpot as a cleaner winter alternative. My main question, what is the difference in time taken to dry out?
Let's say a 15L fabric is good for hand water once a day and have no concerns of drying up even if had to be left 2 days. Would a 15L airpot be the same? I saw a couple posts saying they dry up alot quicker and needed several hand waters a day or automation.
Seems extreme but would be useless for me if that was the case.
Any other info or help appreciated.
Environment is indoor. Temps and humidity within required range.
Thanks
if youre near Southern CA, I have a bunch of air-pot#2 (4.4 Liter) for sale. Hit me up
Thanks for your input, I should've mentioned I use coco perlite mix.
I haven't encountered the same issue as yourself though and no problem keeping media moist hand watering once a day, 2 days wouldn't even be too dry in only 15L pot. This is half my problem, constant moisture in the fabric in cold months which led me to airpots as I can clean them easily and outside will be mostly dry. Odd your soil is drying quicker than my coco and I'm in 3-4 gallon pots max.
I have had excellent results in the fabric pots for nearly 10 years and would vouch for them over solid pots. Only gripe is the transplant, hate it so tend to start in solids and use fabric for final.
Peace
I have been thinking about using air pots. I have been trying to use fabric pots now for the last 5+ yrs. I have not had the success any of the manufacturers claim. 😒 The issue is that the soil dries out too quickly and you have a zone of soil that doesn't harbor any root life. so you can take about two inches of soil (sides and bottom) that doesn't help, it's just a dry/dead zone (wasted resources). The air pots are going to maintain moisture better and in cannabis growing, soil moisture is critical to good plant health. All the experienced ppl I've heard speak, say that air pots are the best they can field.
Case and point, I am running 15 Gallon fabric pots and one 5 gallon bucket and the bucket is growing a superior plant - Because the soil moisture is being maintained more consistently (less watering, faster growth, less feedings).
Bearing in mind your grow medium will be the major deciding factor.
I am a living soils grower. . .
Also though, the cost is different and not everyone can afford air pots . . .
Hope this helps . .
Good luck for good grows!