Best Container For Ebb & Flow?

I've considered Smart Pots, but I noticed that roots would grow through them. Would square plastic containers be my best bet? I figured I'd use one of those filled with Hydroton and either Rockwool, Oasis Cubes or Sure To Grow cubes.

Any input on either of these would be helpful. I'm using FoxFarm nutrients.

I prefer just filling up the whole flood table with rocks, it prevents algae and gives max root space

I would like the roots contained so I can move it if necessary, and so the roots won't go down my drain.

Id go straight hydroton for a flood/drain system. Rockwool and STG hold too much water for my liking.

Have you tried the smart pots in ebb/flow yet? I've considered using them. Roots are going to grow out the bottom of regular pots, too.

Yeah but the roots grow through the container, not just the bottom. I've read it was a hassle to remove the leftover roots out of the fabric bag.

If I went straight hydroton, where would my seed sit?

I'm also leaning mainly towards Oasis cubes, they seem to be better than the others.

Anybody else have input on this?

zem said:

I prefer just filling up the whole flood table with rocks, it prevents algae and gives max root space

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This would defeat the purpose of using a flood table, and thats the ability to move stuff around!
algae can be solved by the use of benny tea! But in the long run algae requires light and once
your conopy is going it will shade the table and slow it down. Keep this in mind some of the biggest
and baddest plants i have grown were in a table with a good amount of algae, i dont feel its hurt anything.

I recommend using 6" rockwool blocks . This block is plenty big enough for a full grow and you can move plants around as needed . No need for hydroton rocks. Roots will not grow out of rockwol blocks . Roots will air prune themselves. Just use block covers to cover top of block to prevent algae . I always grow this way and have NEVER had algae in my tray.

Stay away from rockwool, insect magnets, I learned the hard way, I went with clay pellets.

lol , haven't seen any bugs or spidermites in about 6 crops in a row. Rockwool is NOT a insect magnet.
Hydroton is just more cost and more shit to clean at harvest.

I use 4" rock wool cubes at least 2 feet of roots come out of my plants. I've already bought enough hydroton to fill my table since I got one hell of a deal on it, so I was thinking of 6" net pots filled with hydroton using 1" rockwool cubes and the rest of the hydroton filling the table.

The 4" rockwool cubes I'm using now are killer though, I have a monster plant growing out of it, I just want something more contained. You can't move net pots around? I guess it would damage the roots...

I think my roots grow out the cube so much because I have my table covered, and they're just 4".

dadio161 said:

lol , haven't seen any bugs or spidermites in about 6 crops in a row. Rockwool is NOT a insect magnet.
Hydroton is just more cost and more shit to clean at harvest.

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What im saying! Fuck rock and having to clean it!

Bwpz said:

Yeah but the roots grow through the container, not just the bottom. I've read it was a hassle to remove the leftover roots out of the fabric bag.

If I went straight hydroton, where would my seed sit?

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I germ seeds in peat pellets. Once they're about an inch tall i put em into pots with hydroton. If I go clones with an aerocloner, they go straight into hydroton. If I root clones in blocks, (rockwool or peat pellets) I drop the blocks into hydroton once rooted.

I don't do the wet paper towel method because handling the taproot is no bueno. Peat pellets give me the best results for germing seeds. They're loose enough that if the seed germs and the taproot is facing up, there's enough space for them to move around and get oriented right side up. Rockwool is tighter, and the seeds cant always turn themselves around without intervention.

I originally thought you were asking about which medium to fill your pots, not which medium to germ your seeds

I would rather use the 1" rockwool cubes I have if possible. Would the 1" cubes sustain a full plant in a square pot or a net pot with hydroton?

Yea. The hydroton is an anchor, same as any other hydro medium. Only difference it that it retains less water and is reusable. Only need the rockwool cube if it's what youre going to root clones/germ seeds in.

Edit: or you can just go 100% rockwool like dadio and HR advocate. Just gotta change up your watering schedule accordingly

I appreciate the help everyone =]

Would you suggest the net pots with the hydroton filling the table or just 2-gallon square pots filled with hydroton?

If your flooding on a table with hydrotron you will have to flood it real high becouse hydrotron dont wick,
growdan wicks allowing for alot less water during floods.

But if your bound to use tron use the sqaure pots

hellraizer30 said:

If your flooding on a table with hydrotron you will have to flood it real high becouse hydrotron dont wick,
growdan wicks allowing for alot less water during floods.

But if your bound to use tron use the sqaure pots

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I'm bound to use it because I bought it already

Thanks for the help homie