Some Science On Pot / Container Size

[itchybromusic]

ClackamasCoot 

 

One of the #1 challenges I have with newer organic growers is that they will many times cut themselves short by

using a container that is too small. When you are simply holding the plants roots to feed them nutrient bottles you

can grow huge plants out of small containers.... but with organics we are focused on the soil producing all of the

bio-mass without any bottled nutrients. That simply means that more soil will go much further and make your life

easier. I see the most struggles under 5 gallons and the most success over 5 gallons. So you decide what to do

with your space. But if you have more room, I'd suggest going up to 25 gallons or whatever you can still move,

and if you don't need to move the pots around consider a Geo-Planter No-Till indoor grow bed! 

Okay Rant over, here is the science behind doubling your container size

 

Plant scientists have imaged and analyzed, for the first time, how a potted plant's roots are arranged in the soil as the plant develops. In this study, to be presented at the Society for Experimental Biology meeting on 30th June, the team has also found that doubling plant pot size makes plants grow over 40% larger.

From their 3-D MRI root scans, the researchers observed that potted plants quickly extend their roots to the pot's walls. It is likely that the plants use their roots to 'sense' the size of the pot, although the details of how the roots relay the message about the pot's size remain the plants' secret.

They also looked at 65 independent studies across a wide range of species including tomato, corn, pine tree, cactus, wheat, and cotton plants, and found that all species reach larger sizes when grown in a bigger pot. On average, doubling pot size allowed plants to grow 43% larger.

Dr Hendrik Poorter (Forschungszentrum Jülich, Germany) who led the study, said: "There has been commercial interest in seeing how small pots can be, but our aim was to see how big a pot needs to be to avoid affecting plant experiments."

The work is relevant for gardeners too. Poorter added, "After this study, I immediately changed the pot size for all the plants I had in my house."

To understand the pot size effect, the scientists looked at various aspects of the plants' growth. They found that the plants in smaller pots grew more slowly because of a decreased rate of photosynthesis. But, looking for causes for the decrease, the scientists ruled out limitations in water and nutrients and did not find any differences in the thickness of the leaves for plants in smaller pots. It is therefore unlikely that the plants use water and nutrient levels to sense the pot size, supporting the possibility that sensing happens another way, such as by the roots.

 

Question 

“So essentially saying, it would be very hard to run organics in containers 5 gallons or less? Or is it possible?”

Answer

Hi Mike! Thanks for the question.

It is totally possible to run organics in 5 gallons or less but it makes everything about the process more difficult.

Mainly due to plant number restrictions in most areas. I consider 5 gallons to be the starting point for Organics and

have seen many struggle with smaller containers.

Use of TM-7 or Ful-Power by bio-ag along with Kelp Meal Tea and Compost Tea can greatly increase the bio-mass

production in a small container but we are walking that fine line between feeding the plant and feeding the soil.

If you had a large space and could afford any amount of plant #"s I would say that a Sea Of Green 5 gallon buckets

put into flower before they were root bound would produce a very large amount of final product, but most people

are restricted by plant #’s and as such will attempt to Veg for WAY to long in a 5 gallon container. When this happens,

I see lower quality and lower yields.

I’ve also seen people utilize full soil beds in small spaces to allow for more soil volume in one place…. Think a 3×3 or 4×4

Geo Planter with multiple plants in it.

Either way, when growing organically the soil will be producing all of the Bio-Mass and not the nutrient bottles so it only

makes sense to set yourself up for success and use the largest soil volume possible with your space.

If I were to only use a 3 gallon container, I would be putting my plants into flower when young and small to produce the

least amount of stress during flowering. I hope that helps!!!

https://buildasoil.com/blogs/news/14154597-want-bigger-plants

[Harry Bootlace]

good info, as usual, thanks. and of course makes 100% sense.

[Carnage]

ya its wat i said.

 

need to have oxygenated nutrient feed accessible to rootsystems 24/7 to get big plants in little pots

Edited February 27, 2017 by Carnage

[pug1010]

Nice one itchy:)

 

I listen to anything cc says ... I also really appreciate Kalyx, Gimik, Bluejay, Jerry, Arlo, Gas and a few other choice LoSers ... or should I say ... NoTillers ...the first one could be taken the wrong way if capitals aren't used.

 

I've attached the article from CSIRO - if anyone feels like a bit of dunny reading. It is a tragedy what they did to the CSIRO. I reckon the royalties they received from inventing wifi, would have paid operational costs for another 100 years.

Pot size matters - a meta-analysis of the effects of rooting volume on plant growth.pdf

[Dekideks]

If your growing outdoor using soil, loose the pots and plant straight into the earth let those roots spread without any limits.

[Faith]

On it itchy, 10 gal (40Lish) fabric pots....biggest I can shunt

Faith

[itchybromusic]

On it itchy, 10 gal (40Lish) fabric pots....biggest I can shunt

Faith

been thinking indoor beds Faith , but you'd need to have complete control of environment for that one though ,

cos you ain't moven a bed outdoors when not growing canna indoors 

 

Faith IMHO start lookin at SIP's mate , sort of soilless probiotic growing , em-1 , water & regular top dress + your norm IPM