Outdoor Growing In Pots: Question on Size

[Mooose]

I see a lot of folks doing outdoor grows in pots. I see the advantage of this in terms of greater control over the soil, plus portability. My question is what size pot is best for the final stage of veg/flower growth? I've seen many 6ft tall plants in 3 gallon pots, and yet some people use 32 gallon trash bins. Obviously, if I can get away with keeping them in 5-7 gallon pots, that would be great. Feedback appreciated!

Mooose Reviewed by Mooose on 08-20-2010. Outdoor Growing In Pots: Question on Size I see a lot of folks doing outdoor grows in pots. I see the advantage of this in terms of greater control over the soil, plus portability. My question is what size pot is best for the final stage of veg/flower growth? I've seen many 6ft tall plants in 3 gallon pots, and yet some people use 32 gallon trash bins. Obviously, if I can get away with keeping them in 5-7 gallon pots, that would be great. Feedback appreciated! Rating: 5

[Dutch Pimp]

I would go big as possible...but, still be able to move it around ...:thumbsup:..ps..this is not mine..just an example of what can be done...

[BosqueBoy]

Good question! I can only comment on what I've used.
I was lucky enough to score some 10 gal. hard foam traditional style (bigger at the top than bottom )pots, a few years ago, at a garage sale. I grow outboor/organic. I FIM and LST my plants ruthlessly. I veg for 3 Mo. It's rare for me to have a plant taller than 6 ft. (but they're often 6 ft across)I used to grow in 5 gallon pots and let a few of them escape the torture. These plants averaged 13-14 ft at harvest. I encourage you to use the largest pots you can afford to fill. I think size reduction techniques for most outdoor growers is pretty much a neccesity. It also increases the size of the root ball. Big roots=big plants. (strain dependent of course)...Good luck...BB

[bobjob4u]

A tall kitchen trash can works good since it has the depth the roots enjoy. They can fall over easy so i would advise putting it in the ground atleast a foot. most hold 10 gallons of dirt.

[lever2000]

i have mine in 6 gallon it works great for me check out my grow log in this section :smokin:

[LetsSeeYa]

Best thing you can do is start out in small pots and re pot as needed. I have grown this way from the start and has never failed. And some people think that re potting will stress your plants, but if you look in my Sig you will see this is wrong, if you re pot this way. I have one that is in full budding, pics are in current thread in this section. One plant is in a small pot and the others in a bigger pot and one needed a bigger one. This is a way to know just how small you can keep your pots, but this will not keep them small. If you bend them over and tie the main stem to the pot will keep them low, but still keep your yield as if it was straight up grown.:thumbsup:




:rasta:

[Dutch Pimp]

I agree. Start out small ...transplant to little bigger...then a little bigger...still. When rootbound...then transplant...:thumbsup:

[nugssgalore]

Can someone post a pic of bending the main stalk over and tying them to the pot and if I am correct, this is called FIMing? what's that stand for? Is it too late to do this if the plants have not quite started budding yet? Altho it IS hard to tell, I do see white hairs.

[medicalmomma]

I use 100 gal smart pots... next year I plan to use 200 gal... I believe if you have the space and energy get them big.

The only downside is the 100 gal pots use a lot of dirt...!!!

I don't tie back although I used too.... I recommend tying right before the flower because the stalk changes a lot in the flowering phase its better to not stress it out while it is flowering! I also don't recommend waiting until your plants are root bound too transplant... just before it is root bound is better, and don't transplant during the flowering stage... put them in the size pot you want BEFORE it flowers, this will give your plant the opportunity to put all its energy into flowering and not worrying about other things...

[nugssgalore]

OMG....100 gal? 200 gal? Seems to me that is a bit of overkill on the soil. How long do you grow them 6 months? I dont think the potted plants need any more than 10 gal pots, I usually use 5 gal for the last phase with a total growing/flowering time of 4 months or so. any longer than that and you are just spending money on nutes. JMHO.