Pot size dictates size of pot..haha?

dolamic said:

Styles of pots [Smart Pots, Aeration Pots, Mesh Pots, Grow Bags etc.] and genetics play into everything. I have an AK-48 in a 1 Gal., and a Maui Wowie in a 1 Gal., [both Smart Pots] when the grow is done I will do a comparison of the root balls and yield. I have a feeling the AK-48 will yield more and the root ball be bigger. Depending on how long you veg them, and how long you will flower them. If you vegged them for 6 months then I would assume they would grow as much as possible. I don't pretend to understand horticulture all the way, but I have a fair understanding of some things in it. If they were outdoors their root growth would only be limited to the nutrients and pathways for them to grow in the soil. It is; to the plant; limitless. Some plants' roots only grow so much, some slightly above ground like Maple and Oak trees, or very shallow to the surface. I guess some roots grow horizontal and others vertical, and I'm sure hybrid variations everywhere in between.

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MyPetSkunk said:

You should examine your root mass when you harvest, it will tell you the story. I would say your buddy is wrong when he says you don't need to worry about root size if you feed them enough. Above ground growth is almost directly linked to below ground growth. The plant won't necessarily grow bigger than what it thinks its roots can handle. But also, if you go straight to a 15 gallon pot, theres a good chance that the plant will only use 30-40% of that, and most of the middle area will have very few roots because alot of times the roots go down and find the bottom and have a circle jerk down there. I like the up-canning a few times method as it really helps the plant establish roots throughout the entire pot.
Although outdoor plants usually have a longer life hence more growth time, there is also a reason they grow to be ginormous if let be in the right soil makeup.
Again, next time you harvest, check out your rootball pretty good and see how well it is using your space. And you say your buddies plants are pretty much the same size? Are these flowering or budding the same, or just size-wise overall. Budding and amount of bud production is more relative than size is.

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