Hugh I know lots of people who grow in 5 gallon buckets and have to cut the bottoms off and bury them in the ground because the plant gets so big and roots take up the whole bucket ......no need to stay away from forums just do your homework before you start telling people things won't work when they will just fine. That's all
Cutting the bottom off of the 5 gallon bucket and sinking into the ground is not the same thing. You're comparing apples to oranges.
Cutting the bottom off completely eliminates the drainage problem associated with 5 gal buckets.
5 gallon buckets suck when growing in soil. Why aren't nurseries full of plants in 5 gallon buckets if they work so well? Did you find a nursery pot with the same dimensions yet? The 'ribs' on those nursery pots are there for a reason also. What about drainage hole size and quantity for a 5 gallon bucket?
I'll say the same thing AGAIN.
Can you grow a plant in a 5 gal bucket? Yes.
Are there better pots/containers? Yes.
The OP is a new grower IMO or he wouldn't be asking a question like this. So why perpetuate more stoner wisdom off the web?
Check out the commercial grows all over IG, do you see any of them using 5 gallon buckets?
Oh and BTW
I've been at this a long time, my homework was done probably before you smoked your first joint.
I'll just step on out of this one. Good luck with your Home Depot bucket.