Plastic pots are the default choice for most growers, but they may be quietly limiting your yields, stressing your plants and stunting your roots. Here is what to do instead.
Growing top-quality cannabis involves time, love and care, but the pots you use play a bigger role in root development than most growers realize. This piece is not meant to give plastic pots a bad name. It is about the benefits of aerating your growing medium to encourage root pruning, and what happens when you do not.
I will cover how and why plastic pots promote root-bound growth, walk through the different types of roots and their roles, and lay out several pot solutions to help you avoid root-bound plants for good.
How Plastic Encourages Root-Bound Plants
We have all been there when repotting. You pick up your plant, turn the pot upside down, and check the roots, only to find them jam-packed, white, tangled and healthy, growing in the exact shape of the pot. In some cases, roots are already pushing through the drainage holes at the base.
It can look impressive. But root-bound cannabis plants come with real problems.
The Signs of Root-Bound Cannabis Plants
If your plants seem off, check this list before assuming it is something else.
Is Your Plant Root-Bound? Check These Signs
Stunted growth: Plants stop vegetating at their usual pace. During flowering, bud development slows and yields drop.
Constantly watering: Growing medium dries out unusually fast after watering.
Roots through the holes: Roots pushing out of drainage holes mean you need to repot immediately.
Nutrient deficiencies: Root-bound plants consume nutrients faster, leading to nitrogen, calcium, magnesium or trace element deficiencies.
Wilting leaves: Root-bound wilting looks almost identical to overwatering. If you have ruled out water issues, check the pot.
Tall, lanky structure: An …
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Author: Stoney Tark / High Times
