Grow bags grow off!

JL2G

Jesse Loves 2 Grow
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Q-36 Space Modulator
I've looked at the transplant bags and they're really neat. For me they just aren't needed. I tend to keep my plants in the nursery pots until they've comically outgrown them then move them I to their final home these days. But if I was doing fewer larger plants I could definitely see the appeal. Once you get past about half gallon size getting the plants put of traditional pots without damaging them is such a hassle. Also frequently messy.

I'm not sure if any of these guys make transplant pots yet, but they really should!
Sounds like we've got quite similar MO's in our grow practices. Lol.
Mine stay in plastic 2L pots from seed until they've sexed, often to a comical state like you've stated, then to there 10/15 gal final home.
Been using mostly the black felt grow pots along with some plastics since i started. Have always liked the felt ones, and they've lasted a long time for me.
Awesome of you doing this grow off to compare all this new tech in grow pots. Curious to see how they do compared to the old school ones, and each other.
 

Gentlemancorpse

Cannabis Chaotician
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And were off and running. The Rain Science bags are a interestingly a bit bigger than the other two.

For the Radicle bags, I should've wet the soil ahead of time, the spacing in the mesh is actually wide enough that a small amount of soil sifted through. Not enough to be an actual annoyance but definitely noticeable.
 

Orion

CHOOSE YOUR TITLE
I have settled in with 3 gal Rain science... many pros over standard nusery pots or original smart pots...not one con...they clean up and hold up extremely well along with maximum root growth and health.
Will be following along with your comparison.
 

PlumberSoCal

? Guy Fire-y ?
I've bought 60 of these 1 gallon fiber pots
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on Amazon for about $1 each. Some are on their 4th grow and so far only one is not reusable
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I made the mistake of setting this in the garden with a large GDP and a gopher thought it was his. Otherwise these are working well and I'm pretty much going with the plastic nursery pots going forward.
 

jaguarlax

Tactical Gardener
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And by the way, I'd like the thank @jaguarlax for his feedback on the two brands he's tried (the Rain Science and Honest Bags). He's really the only reason I knew these existed and is basically the impetus for this expirement.

In summary he felt like the Honest Bags were worth the extra money, and based off initial impressions alone, I'd agree, they're just plain better. I don't think I would've been willing to try a bag that starts out 50% more expensive than it's most expensive competition without that recommendation.

Jag, feel free to chime in with your experiences with them any time as well if you'd like man.

Im still really partial to the Honor bags tbh. Both were really easy to clean for another run, but I the honor bags are a touch wider and I really like the ones with the handles. Its interesting, the Honors form around the soil really well, and that seems to create a perfect environment for air pruning. Water can also move both ways through the bag, so I am assuming that plenty of air can too. I think the Rain Science bags are a little more restrictive. I really like the idea of not throwing away fabric bags every couple of months.
 

Gentlemancorpse

Cannabis Chaotician
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Im still really partial to the Honor bags tbh. Both were really easy to clean for another run, but I the honor bags are a touch wider and I really like the ones with the handles. Its interesting, the Honors form around the soil really well, and that seems to create a perfect environment for air pruning. Water can also move both ways through the bag, so I am assuming that plenty of air can too. I think the Rain Science bags are a little more restrictive. I really like the idea of not throwing away fabric bags every couple of months.
I keep calling them Honest bags but it's actually Honor isn't it lol. One thing I have to say is Kevin sucks at marketing. The bags are awesome, but only selling them on Etsy through a shop that doesn't even have the companies name on it, then not putting the companies name anywhere on the bag, is not the best way to build your brand lol.

Luckily he has champions like you who not only help promote his product, but also correct stoney consumers like me who can't even get the name right when writing a review of the product... ?
 

jaguarlax

Tactical Gardener
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Administrator
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I keep calling them Honest bags but it's actually Honor isn't it lol. One thing I have to say is Kevin sucks at marketing. The bags are awesome, but only selling them on Etsy through a shop that doesn't even have the companies name on it, then not putting the companies name anywhere on the bag, is not the best way to build your brand lol.

Luckily he has champions like you who not only help promote his product, but also correct stoney consumers like me who can't even get the name right when writing a review of the product... ?
lol dude, you give me too much credit. Im way too baked to differentiate between Honest and Honor at this time of night. I saw the H-word and that was good enough for me.
 

Gentlemancorpse

Cannabis Chaotician
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Moderator
Quick update...

So far I'm not seeing a ton of difference in growth that could be attributed to the bags. They're all working great and for me definitely an improvement over the felt bags.

I do agree with Jag, the Honor bags mold around the soil better while the rain science bags have more rigidity. The Radicle bags also kind of take the shape of the soil better.

I like the honor bags enough that I just ordered two 5 gallons for up-potting the GG4 and Hippy Slayer moms. At this point it's just plain personal preference for supporting a small business run by a one guy more than a suggestion that they're the best bag in the mix.
 

PlumberSoCal

? Guy Fire-y ?
Quick update...

So far I'm not seeing a ton of difference in growth that could be attributed to the bags. They're all working great and for me definitely an improvement over the felt bags.

I do agree with Jag, the Honor bags mold around the soil better while the rain science bags have more rigidity. The Radicle bags also kind of take the shape of the soil better.

I like the honor bags enough that I just ordered two 5 gallons for up-potting the GG4 and Hippy Slayer moms. At this point it's just plain personal preference for supporting a small business run by a one guy more than a suggestion that they're the best bag in the mix.
With few if any differences that's a good reason. I'm thinking about useing those plastic bag material pots?

Seriously, I see no real difference between the thin cheap nursery pots and the fiber. And once a plants roots dig into the bottom and sides you can't transplant without tearing up the roots.

I don't know, I purchased 100 half gallon thin cheap nursery pots and really liking them. For coco grows I should add.?
 

Gentlemancorpse

Cannabis Chaotician
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With few if any differences that's a good reason. I'm thinking about useing those plastic bag material pots?

Seriously, I see no real difference between the thin cheap nursery pots and the fiber. And once a plants roots dig into the bottom and sides you can't transplant without tearing up the roots.

I don't know, I purchased 100 half gallon thin cheap nursery pots and really liking them. For coco grows I should add.?
I definitely see a huge difference between these bags and the cheap felt ones. The roots aren't growing into these bags at all because of the air pruning. The reason the roots grow into those felt bags so often is they don't actually allow for enough air flow to work as advertised. Combined with how they were virtually uncleanable after a certain point is why I stopped using them (and a bunch of stuff about obfuscated supply chains and labor practices and my intense dislike of drop shipping business models, which is all really subjective and quasi-political and therefore not something I'm going to delve too deeply into beyond mentioning its why several products didn't make the thread)

The plastic bag style I definitely get. They're cheap and functional and you don't have the problem with the roots growing into the fabric, or the fabric giving a foothold for pests and contaminants to cling too until your next grow. Plastic definitely has some major advantages and I still use square plastic pots for my coco grows. But again my personal beliefs steer me away from single use or low durability plastic because I don't want to keep contributing to landfills. The square pots I know will last me the rest of my life. Hopefully these higher quality bags will also last for a very long time.
 

Gentlemancorpse

Cannabis Chaotician
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Which, I guess I should clarify a previous statement. I don't see a ton of difference between these bags I'm testing. I see a huge difference between these and the ubiquitous Amazon felt pots. These water better, air prune better, and even after such a short time you can tell they'll stay cleaner.
 

PlumberSoCal

? Guy Fire-y ?
I definitely see a huge difference between these bags and the cheap felt ones. The roots aren't growing into these bags at all because of the air pruning. The reason the roots grow into those felt bags so often is the
y don't actually allow for enough air flow to work as advertised. Combined with how they were virtually uncleanable after a certain point is why I stopped using them (and a bunch of stuff about obfuscated supply chains and labor practices and my intense dislike of drop shipping business models, which is all really subjective and quasi-political and therefore not something I'm going to delve too deeply into beyond mentioning its why several products didn't make the thread)

The plastic bag style I definitely get. They're cheap and functional and you don't have the problem with the roots growing into the fabric, or the fabric giving a foothold for pests and contaminants to cling too until your next grow. Plastic definitely has some major advantages and I still use square plastic pots for my coco grows. But again my personal beliefs steer me away from single use or low durability plastic because I don't want to keep contributing to landfills. The square pots I know will last me the rest of my life. Hopefully these higher quality bags will also last for a very long time.
I reuse everything. Packaging and old plastic sheeting is stuffed under pallet floor boards in small greenhouse for insulation. Everything that can be composted goes into 1 of 3 composting framed and shower door covered boxes or 1 45 gal green waste can. All plumbing waste is recycled. We're even using toilet tank lids to stop weed growth in an empty flower bed and bowls and sinks as planters. I'm right there with ya on the landfills. Just composting makes a world of difference?
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WAY off tract for a thread on fiber pots. It's what happens when I get high?
 
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Gentlemancorpse

Cannabis Chaotician
Staff member
Moderator
I reuse everything. Packaging and old plastic sheeting is stuffed under pallet floor boards in small greenhouse for insulation. Everything that can be composted goes into 1 of 3 composting framed and shower door covered boxes or 1 45 gal green waste can. All plumbing waste is recycled. We're even using toilet tank lids to stop weed growth in an empty flower bed and bowls and sinks as planters. I'm right there with ya on the landfills. Just composting makes a world of difference?
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WAY off tract for a thread on fiber pots. It's what happens when I get high?
I love the sinks as planters! I have a claw foot tub my fiancee insisted I keep from a bathroom reno I was helping with (despite knowing we would never use it, I decide I didn't want to die on that hill) and I'm planning to turn it into a raised bed in my back yard now that she's realized I was right.
 

PlumberSoCal

? Guy Fire-y ?
I love the sinks as planters! I have a claw foot tub my fiancee insisted I keep from a bathroom reno I was helping with (despite knowing we would never use it, I decide I didn't want to die on that hill) and I'm planning to turn it into a raised bed in my back yard now that she's realized I was right.
The shop we deal with had 3 25 gal plastic tubes scratch damaged (I couldn't even see the scratches without getting right on top of them and were going to destroy and stuff into their dumpster. Brought 'em home and hoping to set them along the west side of the large 16' long greenhouse and raise lettuce in the winter on a floating styrofoam lid. Maybe raise fresh water shrimp? Aquaculture? Lots of ideas, not lots of energy. Someday, I hope.
 
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