should I seal the container to prevent evaporation?

I'm about to start a new grow in my old clear plastic containers. I'm thinking about sealing these containers in black plastic bags for two reasons:
1. To prevent light coming into the roots and algae growing, and
2. to prevent evaporation of water through the large surface area.
oh, and 3. to prevent leaves falling down on the moist surface area and molding.

My only concern is that sealing the container might creating a nice environment for mold to grow on the surface of the medium and spread up the roots or whatever. Moist places covered in plastic have a tendency to be great for mold and fungi.

Any ideas on this? Don't give me any noob shitty theories, please.

There's a reason no nursery on earth uses anything other than opaque planters.

All bagging anything is going to do is trap moisture between the bag and container and you wind up with mildew and mold among other things. You'll create more problems than you cure.

It's simply shocking to me how people can spend so much money on lights, nutrients, soil and other materials yet for some reason just can't part with 6 dollars to buy a 5 gallon opaque black nursery pot from Home Depot.

Why not just buy black pots or if that's to much to spend buy black plastic grow bags. You'll have less hassles to deal with

Light penetration is the least of my problems, I haven't really ever had a problem with it. I'm more concerned about the evaporation and leaves falling down on to the moist surface and molding. Any pointers on that?

8/10 said:

Light penetration is the least of my problems, I haven't really ever had a problem with it. I'm more concerned about the evaporation and leaves falling down on to the moist surface and molding. Any pointers on that?

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And that is where you are completely wrong. What do you think causes the humidity and excess moisture to begin with? Light penetrating the container, evaporating the water in the plant faster than it is absorbed naturally, and causing excess humidity that is a breeding ground for mold and mildew.

Again, and for the last time, that is why NO NURSERY ON EARTH USES ANYTHING OTHER THAN OPAQUE GROWING CONTAINERS.

Read that about 10 times and hope it sinks in.

Water evaporates to equalize the difference in concentration between the moist medium and the dry air, and will happen no matter the color of the container. At least that's what I thought was happening. But can you stop replying, please?

I'd still want to know how to minimize evaporation and leaves falling on to the medium, if anyone has any ideas.

Use mulch.

And clean up dead leaves.

Pretty simple

I didn't know what mulch was, but it looks like it could be usable, thanks. And I scrog in a super tight space so I can't get to the leaves myself. I'm thinking a sheet of fly net or something might do the trick. It might not be much of a problem at all, but I've seen leaves molding on the surface before, and I really don't like mold.

Paint the pits black on the outside.

I might do that, Vegas, thanks.

VegasWinner said:

Paint the pits black on the outside.

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Bad idea. Paints are toxic and can bleed through the plastic into the soil and contaminate the plant.

For crying out loud...if you can't spring for a 5 dollar container, just give it up.

Can't you trim the lower leaf?

Panda film.
Cut to the shape, size of the top of your pot, or you can buy them on line.

I feel you may have to chop early to avoid any falling leaves. I'm still working on the gravity thing.

Grandpapy said:

View attachment 3785147
Panda film.
Cut to the shape, size of the top of your pot, or you can buy them on line.

I feel you may have to chop early to avoid any falling leaves. I'm still working on the gravity thing.

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You're completely missing the point. His containers are clear plastic. It has nothing to do with the soil level at the top. It has everything to do with the fact he's using a completely incorrect container to plant anything in other than rocks.

TacoMac said:

You're completely missing the point. His containers are clear plastic. It has nothing to do with the soil level at the top. It has everything to do with the fact he's using a completely incorrect container to plant anything in other than rocks.

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Not really, the op is experienced, he knows the dead roots at the edge of the clear container provide darkness for the rest of the mass. After all he's doing it again.

...one day clear containers will be as taboo as pouring gas on ones plant, until then.

1. I've grown many times in these containers with no problem
2. I have always covered the outside with black plastic bags (not the top)
3. When I got these containers I had a very hard time finding something that would fit in my very tight growroom and had to resort to clear (cloudy) plastic containers.

Light penetration is a secondary issue here since I have already dealt with it with black plastic bags for years. What I'm actually curious about is SEALING THE ENTIRE CONTAINER. In addition to minimizing evaporation and preventing leaves from molding on the surface, it blocks light to the roots, but please disregard this last point and focus on the leaves and evaporation, please.

I can't get to the leaves because of tight space, but I know they're inevitable. I can't trim the lower leaves sufficiently to prevent this. Also, In late grow, the canopy is dense and very close to the surface of the medium, which is why I thought minimizing the evaporation might help with humidity levels in the canopy.

The bag probably will not help. If the leaves fall on the bag, they're still going to mold and then you risk mold in your buds. Maybe try some lengths of light weight boards that you can pull out occasionally to get rid of leaves? Or maybe a garbage picker or something to reach in there and grab them out?

Grandpapy said:

Not really, the op is experienced, he knows the dead roots at the edge of the clear container provide darkness for the rest of the mass. After all he's doing it again.

...one day clear containers will be as taboo as pouring gas on ones plant, until then.

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Stupid thought but could a clear container stop the roots from circling the pot?

Michiganmeds1982 said:

Stupid thought but could a clear container stop the roots from circling the pot?

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I'm not sure, I know the roots flourish best in darkness from my exp.

Garbage picker might work, esoteric. Or maybe making a "vacuum garbage picker" with a long pipe attached to the vacuum.