How Important is Pot Size for Growing Cannabis?

Every indoor cultivator, and some outdoor cultivators, need pot containers in order to grow their cannabis.  And besides, while the concept sounds straightforward enough, there is a factor that a lot of people seem to overlook, which’s the actual size of the pot.  Quite simply, choosing the wrong size pot in which to grow your cannabis can completely sabotage your ability to grow healthy and happy plants, and end up with a successful yield.  Because of that, we’re going to discuss which pot sizes are best for your cannabis, depending on the specifics of what you’re growing and where.

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Why Do Pot Sizes Matter?

When you’re growing cannabis, or any plant for that matter, in a container rather than in the ground, choosing the right pot size is everything.  Basically, the ratio of soil/space to the root of the plant plays an enormous role in the potential for the plant to both grow properly, and to maintain its health through to the yield.

Growing cannabis in a pot that’s too small can mean that the root never gets a chance to expand properly, stunting the growth of the plant, and thus reducing the yield dramatically.  In certain cases, the root can die due to a low soil ratio, as there isn’t enough soil from which the plant can derive its nutrients.  

At the same time, if the pot is too small, you will need to water it far, far more often, as the less soil, the faster it dries out, leaving the plant parched.  Another thing that may happen is that the plant’s roots essentially choke themselves, as they’re unable to spread outward, so they wrap around the root ball, eventually suffocating the plant.

However, that doesn’t mean that the biggest container is the way to go, either.  A pot that’s too big can, in some cases, be more prone to fungal problems.  How come?  Well, because the more soil that’s in there, the longer it will take for that soil to dry in between watering sessions, potentially causing a consistently water-logged cannabis root that eventually rots.  You will certainly recognize that this is a problem, particularly if the root ball feels soggy.  Generally, indoor-grown plants are more likely to experience this problem than outdoor plants, since indoor climate is more conducive to soil that takes a while to fully dry.

With that being said, there is a general rule: for every 3ft” of height your strain can grow, you will need 5 gallons of soil in your pot.  This is a fairly new standard for growing, as we’re seeing a huge trend toward cannabis cultivators choosing 5-gallon pots over any other size.  Also, as you will notice in the next section, there are still some key things to consider.

Pot Size Considerations

Choosing the right pot size for growing cannabis seeds is crucial for the health and productivity of the plants.  So, here are some detailed considerations to keep in mind:

1. Seedling Stage: Start with small pots for your cannabis seedlings, usually around 2-4 inches in diameter.  Small containers help prevent overwatering and allow the soil to dry out more quickly between waterings.
2. Transplanting: As the plant grows, it will need to be moved to larger pots.  A common practice is to gradually increase pot size as the plant matures.  This helps to accommodate the growing root system and avoid stressing the plant with too much or too little space.
3. Final Pot Size: The final pot size depends on your growing space, the strain of cannabis, and how large you want the plant to grow.  Generally, indoor cannabis plants do well in pots that are 5 to 10 gallons, while outdoor plants may require even larger pots to reach their full potential.
4. Material of the Pot: The choice of material can affect the plant’s health.  Fabric pots allow for better aeration and drainage compared to traditional plastic or ceramic pots.  They can also prevent root circling by air-pruning the roots.
5. Drainage: Ensure the pot has adequate drainage holes.  Poor drainage can lead to waterlogged soil, which is harmful to cannabis plants.  It can cause root rot and other health issues.
6. Soil Volume: Larger pots will hold more soil, which retains moisture for longer and requires less frequent watering.  However, larger volumes of soil can also mean more time for the soil to dry out, which can be a concern in arid climates or under intense lights.
7. Root Growth: The size of the pot directly influences how much room the plant’s roots have to grow.  Restricted root growth can lead to stunted plants.  On the other hand, too large a pot for a small plant can lead to water logging in the soil, as the plant isn’t able to absorb the water quickly enough.
8. Mobility: If you need to move your plants frequently, consider the weight and mobility of larger pots, especially if they are filled with wet soil.

By carefully considering these factors above, you can choose the right pot size to ensure healthy growth, yields, and effective resource use, leading to a successful cannabis grow.  As a tip to consider, a recommended way to maximize space efficiency in your pots is to transplant.  You do this by starting a plant in a small pot, which in turn, permits root mass to build up without the roots having to spend too much energy locating nutrients or water in the early growth stages.

What Else Should Be Considered When Choosing Your Pot Size?

Now that we’ve offered something of a general overview of pot size and quick considerations, let’s get down to the specifics.  As you will observe here, there are actually quite a few crucial variables to further take into account when it comes to selecting the best size pot for your cannabis-growing venture.  

Variable #1: Grow Space

Considering the grow space is paramount – especially if you’re growing indoors.  You may simply not be able to fit a bunch of big 10-gallon pots into that small corner of the room where you’re going to be cultivating.  

Variable #2: Strain Type

Yes, the strain is a huge factor to consider.  As we know, some strains grow taller than others, and some grow wider than others.  It’s essential that you recognize the maximum height and width that the strain you’re growing can end up being beforehand, so that you plan accordingly with the proper pot size.  

Remember, while the strain must be considered, the cannabinoid itself does not.  For example, whether you’re growing THCA flower or CBD flower, the plant size should be the same, and so the pot size can be as well.

Variable #3: Indoor vs. Outdoor

Typically, indoor pots can be a bit smaller than pots for cannabis grown outdoors, because if you’re growing indoors with a ton of big pots, it’s unlikely that your indoor light setup can reach all of those plants equally like the sun can.  The result is that bigger pots may not get the proper light that they need if there are several of them in one space, so growing cannabis in somewhat smaller pots, clustered together, ensures proper light exposure for all of them.

Variable #4: Budget

If you’re on a strict budget, opting for massive pots may not be the top option, as you don’t want to go broke doing this.  Not only that, but something like this does require a bit of capital on your part.

Variable #5: How Many Plants and How Much Work

Managing the number of cannabis plants, you’re attempting to grow in a correct manner, is pretty much important.  For example, lots of small pots can work quite well in a small space.  In terms of work, you cannot neglect the fact that large pots require harder work, heavier lifting, and additional cleaning.

Question: For Feminized or Autoflowering Seeds, Does the Pot Size Make a Difference?

More people are turning to feminized or autoflowering cannabis seeds, both of which make for a more efficient growing process.  We just gotta point out that these types of seeds have no impact on which pot size you should use, as ultimately, the plant is going to grow to the same size regardless.

What About for Different Stages?

Currently, we see many cultivators use different pot sizes during different stages of growing.  A lot of people use a 1-gallon pot for the early vegetation stage before transferring it into a larger pot.  And, there’s actually a good reason for this.

A very young plant that finds itself in a pot that’s too large has a good chance of using all of its energy resources to grow bigger roots, rather than develop more above the soil, to grow healthy and abundant stalks, stems, and foliage.  When to transfer depends on the vegetation cycle of the specific cultivar, but typically, it’s some point during the 5-8 week mark.  You can transfer the plant from a 1-gallon to a 5-gallon pot once this stage is complete, and the plant is about to flower, meaning that you don’t have to go up in smaller increments, like 1-gallon to 3-gallon, etc.

How to Transfer Your Cannabis Plant to a Larger Pot

Transferring a cannabis plant to a larger pot, also known as repotting or transplanting, is a crucial process for ensuring the healthy growth and development of the plant. It allows the roots more space to grow and helps prevent root binding.  Obviously, if you’ve never transferred a plant from a smaller to a larger pot before, you need to be sure you’re doing it properly.  

First, prepare the large pot with the proper growing medium.  Make sure the young cannabis plant in the 1-gallon pot is healthy and hydrated before gently removing it from the smaller pot by the root, shaking it gently to remove excess soil.  If the plant is rootbound at all though (in other words, if its roots are growing around the rootball), you can gently break them up with your fingers, so they grow outward in the new pot, rather than around the rootball further.  Another optional method is to dust the roots with a mycorrhizal inoculant to help with root development.

Plant the cannabis plant in the new pot, and make sure to water it very well, as this will reduce the chance of transfer shock – aka, a temporary period in which the plant looks unhealthy because it’s struggling to adapt to its new environment.  During the first few days, keep an eye on it and water as needed, watering a bit more than usual if necessary, while still ensuring the plant has adequate light and a stable environment for growth.

Finding the Right Pot Size is the Beginning Step to Growing Success!

If you’re ready to start a new cultivation hobby, finding the right pot size is the first step after purchasing your seeds from a reputable seller like STRNG Seeds.  Now, you see that the wrong pot size can completely ruin your ability to have a satisfactory yield, so make a point to shop for pots wisely!  Experiment with some different pots and view the results for yourself.  At the end of the day, only you can decide which pots are best for your setup and requirements.  And of course, following these tips and steps will also aid your cannabis plant, especially when it comes time to transition smoothly to its new pot, thus promoting healthy growth and development.

TO BUY CANNABIS SEEDS CLICK HERE