When embarking on the adventure of growing cannabis, the most important thing to think about is the right pot for your plants to grow in. Certainly, the good old standard pot does its job. However, there are innovative new types on the market, such as the B. Air Pot, which offer decisive advantages over traditional flowerpots.
Although air pots have their advantages, they also have disadvantages that conventional flowerpots do not have. It all depends on your situation. Here we take a look at the advantages and disadvantages of traditional plant pots and air pots.
Why it’s important to choose the right pot for your cannabis
If you’re not familiar with the mechanics of growing cannabis, you might be wondering why it’s important to use a certain type of pot in the first place. After all, all you have to do is put some soil in there and the plant will find support, won’t it? That is to provide oxygen to the roots. When plants are growing in their natural habitat, the soil is loose enough to allow a little oxygen to pass through. But the roots need this oxygen very badly.
When a plant grows in soil, it can expand its root network far and wide, allowing it to take in all the nutrients it needs.
Of course, growing in pots does not mean that they do not need oxygen and space. This combination of needs is why it is so important to choose the right pot. If the pot is too small and cramped, the roots may suffocate and die. However, if you choose the right pot, you will see your cannabis plant grow into a vigorous specimen that will be able to take full advantage of its genetically determined yield. For this reason, we believe that it is more than worth the time, thought and a little bit of money to choose a quality pot.
What is a normal pot?
The last time you went to your garden, you probably saw a regular pot somewhere. A normal flowerpot is made of plastic or ceramic and has a trivet underneath. These pots have been made over many years and most growers have become accustomed to them.
Of course, even in an ordinary pot, the plants get enough oxygen to keep them alive. Otherwise, these pots would hardly have been used until now. However, the grower must make sure that the pot is not completely closed. A hole should be drilled in the bottom of the pot so that water can collect in a saucer. This simple mechanism is very effective in preventing the roots from drowning or rotting.
It works quite well on its own, but it is by no means without its problems. Here we will break down the advantages and disadvantages of these pots.
Advantages of a normal pot
Let’s start with the advantages of regular pots.
- Inexpensive: You can get plastic pots at any gardening shop for a low price. Ceramic is of course more expensive, but not unaffordable.
- Easy to get hold of: Plant pots can be found in any supermarket. Even if you don’t have a shop near you, there is bound to be a neighbour or family member who has some extra flowerpots.
- What has been tried and tested: As mentioned earlier, growers have been growing cannabis in standard flowerpots for a long, long time and the results are generally satisfactory.
Disadvantages of normal pots
However, normal flowerpots can also encounter a number of problems
- Risk of root rot: The drainage system just described is ineffective unless the saucer is emptied on a regular basis. If this is not done for a while, water can become stagnant and, as a result, root rot can develop. It is fairly easy to prevent, but costly to forget!
- Possible root shrinkage: If your pot is too small for your cannabis plant, the roots may narrow in search of more space, leading to the formation of annular roots.
What is an air pot?
Now that we have explained briefly what an air pot is, let us explain in more detail what it is. Airpots come in a variety of sizes. It is simply a pot with a small hole all around the outside and a soft plastic wall, which allows the roots to grow and find oxygen without being cramped. Otherwise, an airpot looks like a normal pot and serves the same purpose.
Advantages of air pots
So what are the advantages of this new type of pot?
- Roots prune themselves: When the roots feel that they are getting closer to the source of oxygen, they harden off at the top – a process called pruning. This allows them to stop growing while maintaining their health. Usually, especially with mother plants, cannabis growers have to do this by hand. With air-pots, this is done automatically.
- The roots’ length is naturally controlled, so there is no need to worry about the roots getting knotted up in the pot. This allows the plant to concentrate on healthy growth.
- Ease of storage. This is partly to do with the time before and after growing, but Airpots are very easy to store. Each pot is held firmly in place by a single screw. Once this screw is removed, you can simply lay the pot flat and then stack the parts to save space.
Disadvantages of the Air Pot
As practical as it all sounds, there are a few drawbacks to the design.
- The plants have to be watered more frequently. As the soil is exposed to air, these pots dry out quickly. Instead, they need to be watered more frequently than standard pots.
- New irrigation methods. It is not possible to water in a standard pot. Instead, you have to let the water drip slowly over a long period of time, so that the soil absorbs the water and does not run all the way through the holes in the rim.
- They are more expensive than ordinary pots. Given the different technology that goes into the development of these pots, they are a little more expensive than normal pots. Depending on the size, you can get a three-pack of large pots for around $30.
Smart pots for outdoor growing
If you’ve been doing your research, you’ve probably come across something called a Smart Pot. Like the air pot, it is a brand new product. However, this time the pots are not made of plastic, but of breathable fabric. The Smart Pot company is considered to be the primary innovator of these products, but we would like to talk about cloth pots in general.
Firstly, like air pots, fabric pots allow the roots to prune naturally as they can take in more oxygen. This aeration also allows excess water to drain out of the pot, preventing you from overwatering. In return, the roots become more fibrous and branch out.
Smart pots and fabric pots in general are often suitable for larger plants as they are quite wide. They also do not come with a trivet for water drainage. In our opinion, these pots are the best choice for growing cannabis outdoors.
Choosing the right pot for growing Cannabis
While certain pots may have advantages over others, there is no one pot that is perfect for all growers.
The tools and equipment needed for indoor and outdoor growing are different for small and large plantations. It is important to consider the advantages and disadvantages of each, balance them with your own growing conditions, and ultimately decide which pot is right for you.
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