AutoPot irrigation systems: Reliability without electricity and timers

For any grow, indoor or outdoor, watering and nutrient supply are extremely important considerations. Without an ideal supply of nutrient solution, even the most dedicated grower will not be able to grow strong plants and reap bountiful harvests. AutoPot offers you various systems, all based on the same principle of electricity-free, particularly reliable plant watering by gravity and special valves.

How does the principle of the AutoPot irrigation systems work?

The heart of all AutoPot irrigation systems are the AQUAvalve5 with their clever and robust design. An adequately sized tank, which only needs to be slightly higher than your plants, supplies the AQUAvalve5 with water through natural gravity. Without any electricity or timer. The valves are mounted in the trays, which in turn contain the plant pots. Because the AQUAvalve5 have two independent floats, they simulate nature's dry and wet cycle - this strengthens plant and root growth and prevents mould in the pot. To prevent roots from growing out of the pots into the trays and the valves, AutoPot supplies special root barriers. These Potsocks and Root Control Discs (RCDs) are simply placed underneath and sometimes inside the pot. All you have to do is make sure there is enough nutrient solution in the tank and, depending on the tank volume / number of plants, you will have peace and quiet for several days to weeks. Since the new AQUAvalve5 has large 9 mm holes, you can also use almost all organic fertilisers. The valves usually do not clog and need only be cleaned thoroughly between two grows (as well as the trays, the tank and, if you use one, your grow box).

What AutoPot systems are available and what are the differences?

AutoPot offers you a wide range of different watering systems, each with different pot sizes. This means that almost any situation can be covered, from small grow boxes to large-scale outdoor grows. Here are the systems in detail:

• easy2grow
• 1Pot
• 1Pot XL
• FlexiPot
• easy2GO (holiday watering)

All systems come with a suitably sized water tank, AQUAvalve5, the necessary hoses, connectors, stopcocks, filters, trays, gaskets, PotSocks / RCDs and pots in the set.

In the easy2grow system, 2 plants are always placed in a tray, with the valve in the middle. You can order sets of 2 to 100 plants, each with pot sizes of 8.5 or 15 litres.

The 1Pot system offers you maximum flexibility and individual care for your plants. Each pot has its own tray with an AQUAvalve5 on the side. This means you can easily move each plant individually. Pots are also available in sizes of 8.5 and 15 litres and you can choose between sets for 1 - 100 plants.

Maximum pot sizes can be found at 1Pot XL. Here AutoPot provides pots with a volume of 25 litres. Each pot has its own tray and valve and there are sets for 1 -100 plants.

A particularly interesting version of the AutoPots are the FlexiPots. The sides of the pots have a slightly porous design. On the one hand, this provides better aeration of the substrate, and on the other hand, it prevents the formation of ring roots. As soon as the root tips meet air on the outer wall of the pots, they stop growing there. As a result, fine hairy roots form there in other directions - better nutrient uptake and stronger plant growth are the result. The pot size is 20 litres and there are sets for 1 - 100 plants.

The easy2GO system is intended as a holiday watering system for growers who do not yet use another AutoPot watering system. The set includes the AQUAvalve and cover with spirit level, filter, hose adapter, hose and seal for your own tank. You place all the plants and the AQUAvalve in a sufficiently high planter, connect the AQUAvalve to the tank with the hose and, depending on the size of the tank, you have the perfect holiday substitute for watering - for up to several weeks.

You can easily combine and expand the different systems!

AutoPot uses 16 mm and 9 mm hoses for all new systems with AQUAvalve5. For multiple and larger pots, the main line from the tank is usually 16 mm, from which the 9 mm lines then branch off to the individual AQUAvalve5. In this way, you can connect e.g. an easy2grow tray to an existing 1Pot system at any time using the appropriate T or cross connector. AutoPot also offers all hose connectors as adapter combinations from 16 mm to 9 mm. Of course, there are extension sets for each system - so as long as your water tank is big enough, you can expand your grow almost indefinitely.

Which substrates work and what do I need to look out for when repotting?

Almost all substrates and combinations of substrates work with AutoPot irrigation systems. Whether Coco / Perlite, Coco / expanded clay, soil / expanded clay, soil / Perlite or, for example, a mixture of rock wool and expanded clay - the AutoPot systems cope very well with all these substrates and ensure ideal watering. First, determine where the Root Control Disc (RCD) should go or whether you should use a PotSock:

• easy2grow: RCD on the bottom of the pot and PotSock in the tray / under the pot (golden side up)
• 1Pot: RCD into tray (golden side up)
• 1Pot XL: RCD on the pot bottom (golden side down)
• FlexiPot: PotSock under the pot (golden side up)

Important: The bottom layer should always be 2.5 - 3 cm of pure expanded clay or coarse perlite! Then fill the substrate up to approx. 2.5 cm below the top edge of the pot. If you use an AirDome in the pot, fill the bottom layer of expanded clay / perlite up to the top edge of the AirDome. Before you repot your young plants into the AutoPots, they should have different minimum sizes depending on the AutoPot pot size:

• easy2grow: 8.5 L = min. 15 cm / 15 L = min. 23 cm
• 1Pot: 8.5 L = min. 15 cm / 15 L = min. 23 cm
• 1Pot XL / FlexiPot: min. 30 cm

After planting, water the pot well outside the tray, let it drain for 15 minutes, then clean the outside and place it in the tray. Important: Do not put the AutoPot system into operation yet! The plants still have to develop longer roots. Here, too, the waiting time depends on the size of the pot.

• easy2grow: 8.5 L = 5 - 7 days / 15 L = 7 - 12 days
• 1Pot: 8.5 L = 5 - 7 days / 15 L = 7 - 12 days
• 1Pot XL / FlexiPot: 10 - 14 days

During this time you should only water sparingly (classic, "from above"), so the roots look for water and develop faster. After the rooting phase, you can start using your new AutoPot irrigation system. If you are using an AirDome, you should wait another 2-3 weeks before using it. Make sure that it does not blow in cold or hot air, temperatures around 20° C are ideal.

Interesting accessories and upgrades

To make cultivation even easier for you and, if possible, to increase yields, Autopot has a few extras on offer. In addition to the AirDome and matching Halilea air pump for better aeration of the substrate, there are, for example, the new AutoPot Propagation Lids for 8.5 and 15 litre pots. With these you can also grow very young plants in the large pots, at the beginning of course still with "watering from above" - same as in the rooting phase after repotting. If you need a particularly large tank (from 100 litres upwards), AutoPot has practical FlexiTanks in its range. If you don't need it in the meantime, you can fold the FlexiTank and store it more easily.

You can also find out how to set up your AutoPot irrigation system, which substrate gives the best results, and how to maintain the system in detail in the Autopot Growers Guide.