Fabric pots and overflow pans

Homegrown81 · Jul 20, 2020

Hey all, going to be starting my first indoor grow soon and I've been probably just overthinking it, but does anyone that uses fabric pots set them on anything inside the overflow pan? I was thinking about putting them on a cooling rack that you'd use for cookies and stuff to keep them from sitting in water. Didnt know if anyone has had problems with mold/mildew from sitting directly in pan. Plus I figured it'd give it some more airflow as well. Thoughts?

Dan789 · Jul 20, 2020

I’ve used the spacers as sold by the hydro suppliers, and have used 3/4’ furring strips. The furring strips work somewhat better as there’s less chance of the bag falling off, or tipping off the taller spacers.

sambapati · Jul 20, 2020

Homegrown81 said:
Hey all, going to be starting my first indoor grow soon and I've been probably just overthinking it, but does anyone that uses fabric pots set them on anything inside the overflow pan? I was thinking about putting them on a cooling rack that you'd use for cookies and stuff to keep them from sitting in water. Didnt know if anyone has had problems with mold/mildew from sitting directly in pan. Plus I figured it'd give it some more airflow as well. Thoughts?

Your cooling rack sounds like a smart idea....you can use a turkey baster or something like that to suck up the excess water. I think you are right on, curious what the really smart people say...

Homegrown81 · Jul 20, 2020

sambapati said:
Your cooling rack sounds like a smart idea....you can use a turkey baster or something like that to suck up the excess water. I think you are right on, curious what the really smart people say...

Yeah was just worried about the mold factor, and figured air flowing not only over and around but under the plant as well could be beneficial. They are 9"x9" 3 gallon fabric pots and would fit perfectly on a 10"x10" rack.

Greenjourneyman · Jul 20, 2020

I use these floating floor circles. I’ve seen people just use light gage metal grating on top of upside down seedling pots.

you are right about the potential for mold or other unpleasantness.

Homegrown81 · Jul 20, 2020

Greenjourneyman said:
I use these floating floor circles. I’ve seen people just use light gage metal grating on top of upside down seedling pots.

you are right about the potential for mold or other unpleasantness.

Those look like they work rather well too. Glad I'm not the only one who's thought of this. I'm sure there are many others, I just don't see anyone talking about it. Your ladies look nice too btw.

Dr.B · Jul 20, 2020

Homegrown81 said:
Hey all, going to be starting my first indoor grow soon and I've been probably just overthinking it, but does anyone that uses fabric pots set them on anything inside the overflow pan? I was thinking about putting them on a cooling rack that you'd use for cookies and stuff to keep them from sitting in water. Didnt know if anyone has had problems with mold/mildew from sitting directly in pan. Plus I figured it'd give it some more airflow as well. Thoughts?

Milk crate aeration/drip tray

Super simple, sturdy, self spacing if using more than 1... You basically cut the bottom two inches and most of one side wall off of a milk crate however you please. I use a hacksaw and side cutters. A bit of a sand on the rough edges and drill a bunch of holes for airflow... Done Easy, cheap...

www.thcfarmer.com

Greenjourneyman · Jul 21, 2020

Homegrown81 said:
Those look like they work rather well too. Glad I'm not the only one who's thought of this. I'm sure there are many others, I just don't see anyone talking about it. Your ladies look nice too btw.

Thnams. This picture is a little old though. I fried the poor girls on last fertilizing. Still going to get usable smoke, but will taste a little chemy/ harsh.

One drop · Jul 21, 2020

Yes it best practice indeed I stole my wife’s cooling racks years ago . Warmer dryer roots aids in plant health. But you should check out @Dr.B grow hack for pot risers it’s better than a cooling rack . Regards Od .

quirk · Jul 21, 2020

1 from garage fridge, 1 from Home depot aisle 05, bay 018. Sitting on tote tops.

amekins · Jul 25, 2020

Homegrown81 said:
Hey all, going to be starting my first indoor grow soon and I've been probably just overthinking it, but does anyone that uses fabric pots set them on anything inside the overflow pan? I was thinking about putting them on a cooling rack that you'd use for cookies and stuff to keep them from sitting in water. Didnt know if anyone has had problems with mold/mildew from sitting directly in pan. Plus I figured it'd give it some more airflow as well. Thoughts?

Mine is an outdoor grow and I’ve been monitoring the planks my pots have been on, and today was the day I kicked myself for not checking earlier this week with all the heat and humidity we’ve had.

It’s been addressed now, but I don’t know yet whether my plants have been affected. Time will tell.

sambapati · Jul 25, 2020

Good idea many cookie cooling trays have served so we the farmers can maintain. No runs lots of drips and rips to come

DirtyDave1990 · Jul 30, 2020

For those of you using the fabric pots do you test your leachate to determine ppms in soil? I’m doing my first grow in fabric pots and was wondering if because the water leaks from all sides if it would test as accurately

Pondracer · Jul 30, 2020

I used plastic egg crate, approximately 3/8" tall and 1/2" squares.

amekins · Jul 30, 2020

DirtyDave1990 said:
For those of you using the fabric pots do you test your leachate to determine ppms in soil? I’m doing my first grow in fabric pots and was wondering if because the water leaks from all sides if it would test as accurately

I do not.

DirtyDave1990 · Jul 30, 2020

amekins said:
I do not.
[/QUOTE

do you test your soil ppm at all or just have your own method?

amekins · Jul 30, 2020

Pondracer said:
I used plastic egg crate, approximately 3/8" tall and 1/2" squares.

Where did you get your crates? No one wants to part with any. I have pot toes now.
https://www.amazon.com/Plantstand-PT-12BLHT-12-Pack-Black-toes/dp/B000QDT1B0

Pondracer · Jul 30, 2020

amekins said:
Where did you get your crates? No one wants to part with any. I have pot toes now. https://www.amazon.com/Plantstand-PT-12BLHT-12-Pack-Black-toes/dp/B000QDT1B0

I got mine off Amazon I think. It arrived busted up, had to use pieces

amekins · Jul 30, 2020

I have yet to test the ppm of my runoff. I don’t really have plans to but if a problem arises, I would think that as long as you don’t let the water in the pot really pool above the soil line and let it run in more slowly, you won’t have the issue of runoff that really isn’t skewing your reading.

amekins · Jul 31, 2020

Pondracer said:
I got mine off Amazon I think. It arrived busted up, had to use pieces

I’ll keep looking there. I’m using Fox Farms Ocean Forest for soil and have only added perlite and worm castings to that. They are fed liquid nutrients and the pH of that solution is checked, and I have a pH meter in one of the pots. They are watered using tap water left out for 24 hours. I know the ppm there is 150. I’ve checked the ppm of my feed solution and it was in the 800s. Sort of freaked me out that I was killing these plants. But they’re not dying and are doing reasonable ok for now, so I’m not messing with it. I’m sure there’s a part of the process I’m not managing well or completely screwing up. Dealt with caterpillars that munched leaves and now spider mites. They’re still going going so I stopped sweating the things I was struggling with and I’m trying to enjoy the process more.

Fabric pots and overflow pans

Fabric pots and overflow pans

Homegrown81

Dan789

sambapati

Homegrown81

Greenjourneyman

Attachments

Homegrown81

Dr.B

Milk crate aeration/drip tray

Greenjourneyman

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One drop

Bush Doctor

quirk

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amekins

sambapati

DirtyDave1990

Pondracer

amekins

DirtyDave1990

amekins

Pondracer

amekins

amekins

Fabric pots and overflow pans

Fabric pots and overflow pans

Homegrown81

Dan789

sambapati

Homegrown81

Greenjourneyman

Attachments

Homegrown81

Dr.B

Milk crate aeration/drip tray

Greenjourneyman

Attachments

One drop

Bush Doctor

quirk

Attachments

amekins

sambapati

DirtyDave1990

Pondracer

amekins

DirtyDave1990

amekins

Pondracer

amekins

amekins

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