From type and shape to transplanting and spacing, here’s a primer on what to know about cannabis container selection.
There are many container options on the market, and new ones come out every year boasting benefits. Weighing your options and putting proper thought into container selection, which is one of the most overlooked aspects of cultivation, can play into your crop’s success. Here are four considerations when determining what type of container is best for your grow.
Determining the optimal vegetative growth duration for cannabis in 5 gallon containers requires balancing multiple factors. By considering genetics, space, training techniques and target yields, you can maximize veg time to achieve robust, high-yielding plants.
Why Veg Period Matters for Yields
Letting plants veg longer enables more vegetative growth, leading to larger plants with more flower sites. This typically increases yields. Bigger plants before flowering have more branch tips that can develop buds during flowering.
However, unchecked vegetative growth can produce plants too large for the space. Overcrowded, root-bound plants experience stress, slowing flowering development. There are diminishing yield returns from excessive vegging.
Typical Veg Durations for 5 Gallon Pots
The ideal veg time depends on your goals but general guidelines are
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Short veg – 2-4 weeks. Fast turnover of smaller plants.
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Moderate veg – 4-6 weeks. Allows good establishment before flowering. A common duration.
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Extended veg – 6-8+ weeks. Maximizes size and bud sites. Requires ample space and training.
Longer vegging ensures roots fully colonize the container before flipping to flower. At least 4 weeks is recommended, even for short veg periods.
Factors Influencing Ideal Veg Period
The optimal veg duration varies based on:
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Genetics – Sativa-dominant strains need longer veg periods to mature than fast-growing indicas,
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Space – Vertical and horizontal capacity limits maximum size before overcrowding.
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Lighting – Brighter light fuels faster veg growth, shortening time needed.
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Container size – Within reason, larger pots allow longer productive vegging before root-binding.
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Training – Topping, LST etc. keeps plants shorter, enabling longer veg periods.
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Target yield – Longer veg results in larger plants and higher yields if adequate space is available.
Signs It’s Time to End Vegetative Growth
Once plants reach the maximum size your grow area can support, it’s time to induce flowering. Indicators plants are ready include:
- Reaching the edges of the grow space
- Lower leaves yellowing from nitrogen deficiency
- Slowing vertical growth
- Visible roots at the soil surface or drain holes
- Drooping or wilting leaves from being root-bound
- Nutrient deficiencies appearing
Avoiding root-bound plants before flipping provides the best results. Root restriction causes issues like nitrogen and magnesium deficiencies during flowering.
Optimizing Veg Time in 5 Gallon Containers
With proper pots, nutrients, and environment, cannabis can vegetate for extended periods while remaining productive. Take advantage by vegging 5+ weeks once good roots develop. Just ensure to actively use training techniques to control size. With dialed-in inputs and environment, longer veg cycles can maximize yields from 5 gallon plants.
Vegging Too Short vs Too Long
Vegging too short wastes the growth potential of plants in 5 gallon pots. But vegging excessively long causes oversized, stressed plants. Find the sweet spot based on your space, strains, and target yields. 5-6 weeks is a good starting point for vigorous, high-yielding 5 gallon cannabis plants.
Tips for Productive Vegging in 5 Gallon Pots
Follow these tips to get the most from vegging cannabis in 5 gallon containers:
- Use transplanting to minimize root disturbance when repotting
- Amend soil with perlite for aeration and drainage
- Use vegetative nutrients until flower initiation
- Employ targeted training like topping and LST
- Monitor for pests like spider mites and root aphids
- Check root health by gently removing plants from pots
- Address issues immediately to prevent stunting
- Transition gradually to flowering to avoid stress
By optimizing your vegetative practices, you can maximize the benefit of extended veg times in 5 gallon pots. This powers vigorous branching and flowering, boosting your cannabis yields.
Select proper container sizes based on plant height and facility layout.
Each type of container has multiple size options. However, there are a few considerations that can dictate container size and how many different pot sizes you will have.
First, think about how large you want plants to grow. Is your space set up for a sea of smaller, shorter plants grouped together? Or, do you plan to grow plants that each fill up a 16-square-foot area? Usually when picking a pot size, growers start with 5 gallons of soil for every 3 feet of height on your average-size cultivar (3 to 5 feet). So, for example, 5 gallons of soil for a 3-foot plant is a solid start, and for a 6-foot plant, a 10-gallon pot is a good choice.
There are tall or squat options in most pots as well as many options in between multiples of 5 gallons. A slightly smaller or bigger pot may work best depending on your grow environment and how your plants absorb water.
Then, consider how to best space containers for efficiency and effectiveness, whether through a sea-of-green technique, in which many plants simultaneously grow to modest sizes, or by cultivating a smaller number of robust plants for higher per-plant yields.
If you have the availability, time and space, trial container sizes to see which option is best for cost, efficiency, yield and plant health for your grow. Yarygin| iStockPhoto
Set a budget and weigh convenience and durability.
Container selection starts by determining your budget and how much you are willing to spend on containers. There are myriad options, including fabric pots, blow-molded pots, injection-molded pots, plastic bag pots, mesh pots, plastic disposable cups and more.
If your budget is small, opting for less-expensive plastic cups for small plants and plastic bag pots for later stages may be the most feasible option at startup. Whether you select plastic cups or plastic bags, hundreds of each can cost less than $100, making them affordable choices for limited-budget operations.
Other options include hard plastic blow-molded and injection-molded pots, which tend to be more durable and easier to clean between harvests. Both last multiple years and are easy to clean, fill, empty and move while protecting roots because of their hard sides. While they stack and store well, they can take up lots of space, depending on the size of your pot and facility.
Mesh and fabric pots have become popular choices because they dry quickly, provide optimal aeration and drain well. With mesh and fabric pots, cleaning and storage are easy and convenient, with the ability to stack and squeeze many of them. They are more expensive; a 5-gallon pot is about $7, depending on your source and order size.
Remember: Spending a little more can make a huge difference on the quality and quantity of the product you produce, but at the end of the day, your budget is your budget, so make the most out of what you can afford.
How Long Should You Veg Your Cannabis Plants For
FAQ
How often should I water 5 gallon pots?
Plants are happy and in need of water every 3 days. For 5 gallons, try 4 liters of water. If you want some runoff then maybe 5 or 6 liters.
How tall is a plant in a 5 gallon bucket?
Plants in #5 containers will range in height anywhere from 12-54″ depending on their age, growth rate, and cultivar.
What can I plant in 5 gallon pots?
- Tomatoes. Container: 1 plant per 5-gallon pot. …
- Beans, snap. Container: 5-gallon window box. …
- Broccoli. Container: 1 plant per 5-gallon pot, 3 plants per 15-gallon tub. …
- Carrots. Container: 5-gallon window box at least 12 inches deep. …
- Cucumbers. Container: 1 plant per 1-gallon pot. …
- Eggplant. …
- Lettuce. …
- Onions.
How long should I Veg in 5 gallon pots?
How long should i veg for in 5 gallon pots? As long as you want. It’ll double in size usually when you hit flower so whatever room you have to grow in tends to dictate veg time. IMO or the visa versa should you have a dominant sativa strain mix in there!
Can you grow a photo plant in a 5 gallon pot?
I recommend using the 5 or 7 gallon fabric pots you can grow some nice big plants in pots. Thanks, that’s a good idea. @hawkmaster1 This plant is in a 5 gallon fabric pot. @hawkmaster1 you can grow a pretty large photo plant in a 5 gal indoors as long as you give plenty of time for veg and all the nutes she can handle.
Can you grow vegetables in a 5 gallon bucket?
As we all know, 5-gallon volume pots and buckets, which are usually 12 inches deep and of around similar diameter, are pretty common, easy to find, and considered a standard for growing most container plants. We created this list of Vegetables to Grow in 5-gallon Buckets to help container gardeners. Why Grow Vegetables In 5 Gallon Buckets?
How long do you Veg a plant?
I veg and flip my plants at all different stages based on my situation. A plant will grow to about twice its size during the flowering time. I veg some plants for weeks. Sometimes as long as 9 to 15 weeks. That could be considered average or long. I know some folks here that veg some plants for months to train them to their desired height or size.
How long do cannabis plants Veg?
Growing cannabis outdoors is a little different because your plants follow the natural, seasonal light cycle. The vegetative stage lasts until late summer, when the days start to get shorter. For most regions, this means your plants will veg for 8 to 16 weeks. Timing is everything when planting outdoors.
How many potatoes can you grow in a 5 gallon bucket?
A 5-gallon bucket will be sufficient to grow a single potato plant; you will get 10 potatoes from each one. Fill the bucket one-third with growing media, place a seed potato (eyes or chits) on top of the potting mix, and cover it with a growing medium. Find the best potato planting ideas here. 9. Beans