wide shallow pots for shorter grows?

for grow areas where height is an issue, it is possible to use a shallow yet wider pot to grow instead of standard pots? basically what im asking is if roots will have a problem growing horizontally in soil when it cant go downward any further. example: would a plant grow just as well in a 12x12x4'' pot grow the same as a cubic pot of the same volume.

Good Question!
I am gonna sub and wait for info.
peace,
DZ

I've done this for this exact reason but found the drainage Did not work out quite as well as I hoped. The roots will grow out sideways but not nearly as quick as they grow down and because the roots are not as dense far away horizontally from the stock that area is wet longer then it should be and colder. If you beg the plants until the are completely threw the container however, it's fine. I mean really though add a week or 2 to veg if you must.

i prefer the wider ones but to help control heighth be sure to top , lst and supercrop. u should be able to hold the girls at 3' therabouts measuring from the bottom of pot . i have a few at 45" and didnt tie, but cropped pretty good

Yes, it should work OK, but beware of instability... a wide shallow base won't physically support a big plant, it will tend to keel over.