Smart pots come in all types of sizes and shapes. So, it’s pretty common for growers to be indecisive about which smart pot to go for.
This leads us to the question, “What size smart pot for yield?”
Choose a smart pot depending on the season. It’s best to go for 24-26L pots when it’s the start of the season. For indoor cultivation, a 1-gallon pot acquires a 28.35-42.524g yield. Per cubic foot, soil requires 40g of Dolomite and 10g of Gypsum. The airflow needs to be a 1:4 in-out ratio. For mass production 200-300 gallon pots are best.
That’s for a 1-gallon smart pot. We’ve shown the calculation for many other measurements in our discussion.
Keep reading to discover them.
KEY TAKEAWAYS:
- Depending on the smart pot, the yield will vary. So, decide on what smart pot you want to use and then focus on the other factors.
- 5 to 7 gallon smart pot is ideal for most growers.
- To get higher yield, you can use 15 to 20 gallon smart pots. However, they will require extra cost compared to small smart pots.
Factors to Consider for Smart Pot Yield
Unlike other crops, cannabis species are quite vulnerable and require a lot of care. From seeding to the flowering stage a lot of aspects are needed to be maintained.
Without its ideal environment, the plant won’t grow much. And you won’t get the yield you were aiming for. That’s why the following aspects need to be evaluated with great accuracy.
Lighting/Dark Ratio:
Light cycle of cannabis plants is the most crucial cardinal parameter for growth. Its whole life cycle revolves around separate light and dark ratios. The ratio varies depending on the stage the plant is entering.
For example, cannabis plants enter the vegetative state after the 18/6 hour light-dark state. But to enter the flowering state it must need the 12/12 hour light-dark ratio.
Therefore it plays a significant role in the growth of the plant. This means the yield you’re expecting from your production is highly dependable on this cycle.
There are many tools that help growers to achieve the perfect environment.
Such a tool is a quantum PAR sensor. Using it with a digital meter you can measure the perfect lighting and dark ratio. The unit you’ll get from the meter reading is
µmol. Photonsm2. S
It follows the DLI formula to measure the perfect lighting ratio. Even without a quantum sensor, you can use this formula to calculate the perfect measurement.
Below we’ve added a graph that shows the relation between DLI vs yield. From there you can see the higher the DLI is the higher the yield. But there’s a limit to how high the DLI should be.
For example, it should be 60 on a hot summer day for the best yield. You can expect it to be around 1,000 gm^2. For a cloudy day, the best yield comes at 30 DLI. the yield would be around 500 gm^2.
Soil Density:
Cannabis plant roots grow a lot deeper into the soil than you think. When the plant doesn’t get enough soil the roots keep getting coiled. This hampers the growth of the plant.
This is a common problem faced in indoor cannabis cultivation. That’s why smart pots were introduced. The minimum measurement you should start from is 1 gallon. The bigger the better.
With more soil, your plant grows bigger as the roots don’t get restricted. This helps in gaining big yields. These smart pots are designed in such a way that the soil remains aerated.
If the soil density is too high that also hampers the growth of the root. Because it’s hard to collect nutrients if the soil is too dense. The temperature of the soil should remain between 25-30°C.
Watering:
One of the best advantages of using smart pots is the optimal watering of plants. That is for indoor cultivation. Although you’re gonna need lots of water, you’ll hardly ever face overwatering issues.
Usually, you’d have to water them twice a day. But depending on the stages of the plant the number of watering times may increase. Underwatering the plants leads to smaller yields.
Veg Period:
The vegetative period of cannabis plants can last from 3 to 16 weeks. The time can last even longer for outdoor corps. But for indoors it’s mostly between 4 to 8 weeks.
During this time the plant needs 18-hour daylight and a 6-hour dark cycle to grow. The plants require healthy soil with a lot of nitrogen, water, and other nutrients.
The buds start to appear after 4 weeks.
Flowering Period:
Flowering period lasts from 8 to 11 weeks. For outdoor cultivation, it starts when the days get shorter and the nights get longer. More precisely in the autumn season.
For indoors the plants enter the flowering stage after a 12/12 hour light-dark schedule. The plant enters the flowering state only after this condition is fulfilled.
Flowering in different-sized smart pots doesn’t change this fact. Most resinous buds start to appear between 8-9 weeks. But few species of Sativas may take longer.
Nutrients:
If you want bigger yields you’d have to pay careful attention to the soil nutrients. For cannabis production Nitrogen, Phosphorus, and Potassium are the three major macronutrients necessary.
In short, it’s called the NPK ratio. This ratio should be 20:10:20 for bigger and healthier yields. But the ratio will vary depending on different stages.
For example, you’d need more nitrogen in the veg period. In the flowering period, the ratio of nitrogen is decreased. As for other micronutrients, magnesium and calcium are also important.
There are many fertilizers that combine the micronutrients for soil. Such as Dolomitic Organic Lime and Organic Gypsum Powder. Dolomitic is a kind of lime powder that has magnesium and calcium combined.
Per cubic foot of soil requires 40 g of Dolomite. Gypsum is basically calcium sulfate. For a cubic foot of soil, you’d have to use 10 g of Gypsum.
Also, you can use bloom boosters such as Fox Farm Big Bloom Liquid Concentrate Fertilizer or Bud Candy Flower Booster Bloom Enhancer. They can boost your yield by a significant margin.
What Size Smart Pot For Yield
Since there are many smart pots available in different sizes the yield percentage also varies. People think of the optimized outcome where the yield is big with minimal cost.
So here’s a quick overview of different smart pot sizes. This will help you get a broader idea about them.
Quick Overview:
When it comes to cannabis production there are quite a few parameters to maintain. These are the major requirements to get a good yield from cultivation.
You must maintain the light and dark cycle. The nutrients must be in adequate amounts. As too much of nutrients can also lead to health problems for the plant.
In order to make a healthy growing environment, airflow is a must. This is why dehumidifiers or other HVAC units are used for preparing indoor rooms.
The airflow in and out ratio must always be 1:4 for indoor cultivation. For outdoor growing, it’s enough to plant them in a space with a gentle breeze.
Here you can get an approximate value for all the aspects in different smart pot sizes-
Indoor Smart pots:
The following sized smart pots are used for indoor cultivation-
| Smart Pot Size | Light(Per Hour)[Considering Summer Days] | Nutrient (Per Day) | Airflow (Considering A 1,000 Cubic Feet Room) | Yield | Height(Inches) |
| 1 gallon | 3.6mol/M^2.hour | Dolomitic 6.4g, Gypsum 1.6g | Incoming 100 CFM-Outgoing 400 CFM | 28.35-42.524 g | 7-9” |
| 2 gallon | 3.6mol/M^2.hour | Dolomitic 12.84g, Gypsum 3.21g | Incoming 100 CFM-Outgoing 400 CFM | 56.7-85 g | 10-12” |
| 3 gallon | 3.6mol/M^2.hour | Dolomitic 19.2g, Gypsum 4.8g | Incoming 100 CFM-Outgoing 400 CFM | 85-127.5 g | 22-24” |
| 5 gallon | 3.6mol/M^2.hour | Dolomitic 32g, Gypsum 8g | Incoming 100 CFM-Outgoing 400 CFM | 141.75-212.6 g | 32-36” |
| 7 gallon | 3.6mol/M^2.hour | Dolomitic 44.8g, Gypsum 11.2g | Incoming 100 CFM-Outgoing 400 CFM | 198.45-297.64 g | 38-40” |
| 10 gallon | 3.6mol/M^2.hour | Dolomitic 64g, Gypsum 16g | Incoming 100 CFM-Outgoing 400 CFM | 283.5-425.2 g | 45-48” |
| 15 gallon | 3.6mol/M^2.hour | Dolomitic 96g, Gypsum 24g | Incoming 100 CFM-Outgoing 400 CFM | 425.25-637.8 g | 60-62” |
| 20 gallon | 3.6mol/M^2.hour | Dolomitic 128g, Gypsum 32g | Incoming 100 CFM-Outgoing 400 CFM | 567-850.4 g | 75-80” |
| 25 gallon | 5.4mol/M^2.hour | Dolomitic 160g, Gypsum 40g | Incoming 100 CFM-Outgoing 400 CFM | 0.7-1.1 kg | 86-90” |
| 30 gallon | 5.4mol/M^2.hour | Dolomitic 192g, Gypsum 48g | Incoming 100 CFM-Outgoing 400 CFM | 0.85-1.27 kg | 95-100” |
Outdoor Smart Pot:
The following sized smart pots are suitable for outdoor cultivation-
| 35 gallon | 5.4mol/M^2.hour, 6-8 hours sunlight, | Dolomitic 224g, Gypsum 56g | Constant Breeze, Temp (12<30°C) | .992-1.48 kg | 110-115” |
| 45 gallon | 6.84 mol/M^2.hour, 6-8 hours sunlight, | Dolomitic 288g, Gypsum 72g | Constant Breeze , Temp (12<30°C) | 1.2-1.9 kg | 118-125” |
| 50 gallon | 7.2mol/M^2.hour, 6-8 hours sunlight, | Dolomitic 320g, Gypsum 80g | Constant Breeze , Temp (12<30°C) | 1.41-2.1 kg | 130-140” |
| 65 gallon | 9 mol/M^2.hour, 6-8 hours sunlight, | Dolomitic 416g, Gypsum 104g | Constant Breeze , Temp (12<30°C) | 1.84-2.76 kg | 155-170” |
| 100 gallon | 14.4mol/M^2.hour, 6-8 hours sunlight, | Dolomitic 640g, Gypsum 160g | Constant Breeze , Temp (12<30°C) | 2.8-4.25 kg | 200-220” |
| 200 gallon | 30.6mol/M^2.hour, 6-8 hours sunlight, | Dolomitic 320g, Gypsum 1.6g | Constant Breeze , Temp (12<30°C) | 5.67-8.5 kg | 230-250” |
| 300 gallon | 45.9mol/M^2.hour, 6-8 hours sunlight, | Dolomitic 1.92 kg, Gypsum 480g | Constant Breeze , Temp (12<30°C) | 8.5-12.75 kg | 300-330” |
| 400 Gallon | 61.2mol/M^2.hour, 6-8 hours sunlight, | Dolomitic 2.56 kg, Gypsum 640g | Constant Breeze ,Temp (12<30°C) | 11.34kg-17 kg | 350-400” |
1 Gallon Smart Pot for Yield:
1-gallon smart pots are the minimum size you can get started with. Of course, there are even smaller options. But if the yield is the priority, you shouldn’t start off any lower than 1 gallon.
They are also the best option for cultivating cloning and germinating seeds. You can use them for both indoor and outdoor cultivation. But it’s generally used indoors.
The cannabis plant grows at least 7-9” in height in a 1-gallon smart pot. It can grow higher too. But this is the expected height for a good harvest.
You can expect 28.35-42.524 g of yield from a 1-gallon smart pot. To get this output the light needs to be maintained at 3.6mol/M^2hour. This is calculated by measuring the light amount in 60 DLI on hot summer days.
For nutrients using Dolomitic 6.4g and Gypsum 1.6g would suffice. It’s better to dissolve them in the water and use it in watering the plants.
2 Gallon Smart Pot for Yield:
For 2-gallon smart pots the yield expectation is double that of a 1-gallon smart pot. For the optimal harvest, you can expect 56.7-85 g of yield.
The lighting measurement is the same as needed for 1-gallon smart pot. That is because this ratio is measured by considering the maximum yield amount.
For nutrients, you can use 12.84g of Dolomitic and 3.21g of Gypsum. The NPK ratio should be maintained by a 1:2:1 ratio as well. That goes for all smart pots.
Incoming airflow should be 100 CFM and outgoing airflow should be 400 CFM. This is considered in a room of 1000 cubic per foot or 100 square feet.
The expected height of your plant would be around 10-12”. But it can grow larger.
3-Gallon Smart Pot for Yield:
For 3-gallon smart pots the lighting ratio is the same as 1 or 2-gallon pots. That is 3.6mol/M^2 per hour. The airflow should be in a 1:4 ratio. This also applies to all smart pots.
For nutrients, use 19.2g of Dolomitic and 4.8g of Gypsum. The expected height of the plant is around 20-22”. As for the yield, you can look forward to 85-127.5 g of yield.
5 Gallon Smart Pot for Yield:
Lighting amount is the same as the previous smart pots. Since our expected yield is within 1000. For that, we must take 60 DLI as the best ratio. Airflow is to be maintained at 100-400 CFM.
That is for a 100 sq. ft. room. Use 32g of dolomitic and 8g of gypsum for the nutrients. Maintaining the NPK ratio the plant is expected to reach 32-36” in height.
The yield amount to be anticipated is 141.75-212.6 g in a 3-gallon smart pot.
7-Gallon Smart Pot for Yield:
The expected amount of crops from a 7-gallon smart pot is 198.45-297.64g. Light and dark cycles should be maintained properly. There should be no light pollution in the dark cycle.
That go for all plants. Considering the best output the light cycle is calculated at a 60 DLI rate. Following the graph of DLI vs yield the lighting should be 3.6mol/M^2 per hour.
44.8g Dolomitic and 11.2g Gypsum would suffice for nutrients. In and out ratio of airflow must be at 1:4. The expected height of the cannabis tree would be 38-40”.
10 Gallon Smart Pot for Yield:
Keep the lighting at a 3.6mol/M^2 per hour rate. For a 12-hour flowering period, it should be around 43.2mol/M^2 per hour. The airflow rate is fixed to follow the in-and-out ratio.
For nutrition apply 64g Dolomitic and 16g Gypsum in the water. The height should reach at least 45-48”. You can hope for 283.5-425.2 g of yield.
15 Gallon Smart Pot for Yield:
Per hour lighting rate is 3.6mol/M^2. Use 96g Dolomitic and 24g Gypsum for soil nutrition. The plant’s height is to be reached around 60-62”.
From a 15-gallon smart pot, you can get 425.25-637.8 g of corps.
20 Gallon Smart Pot for Yield:
Lighting should be at a 3.6mol/M^2 ratio per hour. Indoor airflow should be controlled. Dolomitic and Gypsum should be used at 128g and 32g a day.
Healthy cannabis would get 75-80” high. That offers about 567-850.4 g of harvest.
25 Gallon Smart Pot for Yield:
For smart pots as bigger as 25 gallons the lighting rate per hour would increase. It should be around 5.4mol/M^2 per hour. Because in a 25-gallon smart pot, the yield expectation crosses 1000g.
Use 160g Dolomitic and 40g Gypsum. The harvest would reach about 0.7-1.1 kg. The anticipated height from a 7-gallon smart pot cannabis plant is 86-90”.
30 Gallon Smart Pot for Yield:
30 Gallon is the highest-sized smart pot for indoor cultivation. Bigger than this size are generally used for outdoor cultivation. Keep the light ratio at 5.4mol/M^2hour.
Apply 192g Dolomitic and 48g Gypsum. From 95-100” tall cannabis plants you’d get 0.85-1.27 kg yield.
45 Gallon Smart Pot for Yield:
45 gallons or higher sized pots are suitable for outdoor growing. Maintain the light cycle at 5.4mol/M^2hour. Daily intake for nutrients would be 288g Dolomitic and 72g Gypsum.
As for the environment, the place should have a gentle breeze, not too windy. Keep the temperature between 12 and 30°C. The plants would be as tall as 118-125” or higher.
The expected harvest is around 1.2-1.9 kg from 45-gallon pots.
50 Gallon Smart Pot for Yield:
Keep 6.84 mol/M^2.hour for the light cycle and maintain 6-8 hours of sunlight. The yield can reach 1.41-2.1 kg. So the light ratio here should be pushed more.
But not more than 7.2 mol/M^2.hour. For outdoor growth of 50 gallons maintain a constant breeze on the plants and a cool temperature. Too hot or too cold an environment leads to poor harvest.
The plant would get 130-140 inches tall at least or even taller.
65-Gallon Smart Pot for Yield:
The minimum 9 mol/M^2 of light per hour is to be applied to 65-gallon pots. The yield reaches as far as 1.84-2.76 kg. The plant grows about 155-170” tall.
Maintain a gentle breeze and a temperature around 12 and 30°C. Use 416g of Dolomite and 104g of Gypsum daily.
100-Gallon Smart Pot for Yield:
100-gallon pots are an ideal size for outdoor harvesting. You can collect as much as 2.8-4.25 kg yield from them. For that, the light cycle needs to be controlled at 14.4 mol/M^2hour.
The plants would require 6-8 hours in the light cycle. With the proper environment, they can grow as tall as 200-220”. For the soil, apply Dolomite 640g and Gypsum 160g daily.
150 Gallon Smart Pot for Yield:
For a 150-gallon container, maintain the light at 22.68 mol/M^2hour. The yield is hoped to be about 4.25-6.3 kg. For soil nutrients, dissolve 6 kg of DOlomite in the water.
Also, use 1.5 kg of Gypsum in the same water. Use this water for the soil and maintain a cool environment. The plant could reach 220-230” tall.
200-Gallon Smart Pot for Yield:
A 200-gallon smart pot offers 5.67-8.5 kg of dried harvest. To get this yield amount you should keep the plants in light for 6-8 hours. The light ratio should be about 30.6mol/M^2 every hour.
As soil nutritions Dolomitic 320g, Gypsum 1.6g would be enough. In the best environment, the plant grows 230-250” or taller.
300-Gallon Smart Pot for Yield:
A 300-gallon smart pot is for the mass production of cannabis. The expected amount of corps from 300 gallons would be 8.5-12.75 kg. The trees grow up to be 300-330” or more.
For such a massive amount of soil maintaining the nutrients is a little hard. Almost 1.92 kg of Dolomitic and 480g of Gypsum are necessary per day.
400-Gallon Smart Pot for Yield:
If you want something even bigger, a 400-gallon smart pot would be good. Although maintaining the soil quality for such a big smart pot isn’t easy at all.
Especially in terms of maintaining the NPK ratio. You’ll definitely require a good electric conductivity meter to keep the reading accurate.
The plants get as big as 350-400” in such massive pots. They’re kept at 61.2mol/M^2 per hour in the light cycle. Yield production reaches about 11.34kg-17 kg.
For nutrients, 640g of Gypsum and 2.56 kg of Dolomitic are required per day.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs):
What size smart pot is ideal for indoor Autoflowers?
For growing Autoflowers indoors 1.75-2.5 gallon smart pots are ideal. With the proper environment and care the plants grow 1.5-2 feet tall. If you want a bigger SOG setup it’s better to go for 3-gallon smart pots. It’s better not to transplant them into other pots.
When to start seeding cannabis for outdoor cultivation?
The earlier you start seeding cannabis for outdoor cultivation the better it is. Get the clones indoors by April. From April to the beginning of June the plant grows at least 16-24 inches long. The plant grows vertically for the following 8 weeks before the flowering stage.
Are smart pots reusable?
Yes, smart pots are reusable and they last for about 3 to 5 years. Some people even use it for decades and they’re still good to use. For long-lasting use, you’d have to clean and sanitize the pots as necessary. So that you can grow different plants each time you reuse the pot.
Conclusion
That was all from our end regarding What Size Smart Pot For Yield. Hopefully, this discussion was able to help you get a clear idea of the production.
The ideal environment is the first and foremost requirement for bigger yields. All aspects must be measured with accuracy or at least somewhere near.
We’re rooting for your success!
