In today’s interview, we’re chatting with Autopotamus, an experienced cannabis grower who has mastered the art of using Autopot systems to optimize his home grow. From humble beginnings growing in soil and coco coir to discovering the game-changing benefits of Autopots, Autopotamus shares his journey, the lessons learned along the way, and tips for other growers looking to automate their setups. Let’s dive into his insights on how Autopots have made his cannabis cultivation smoother, more efficient, and, dare we say, relationship-saving!
Paul: Can you tell us a bit about your journey into cannabis cultivation and how you discovered the Autopot system?
Autopotamus: Once Canada legalized growing marijuana in October 2018 ,well I quickly decided that I wanted to grow at home. My first grow was 2 plants in soil and 2 plants in coco.
In coco coir substrate, I hand-fed which means hand watering a bunch of times a day from one to like three depending on lifestage, which takes some effort and you also have to manage the runoff (noisy shop-vac). I really liked the plant’s size and resulting product from growing in coco but I just didn’t want to have to hand water and shop-vac the runoff water many times daily anymore. Searching on the internet there are so many watering systems and then I saw this one called AutoPot that seemed to fit the bill. Well it solved everything about growing in coco! All the advantages of coco minus the disadvantages. Using the autopot system with an inert porous medium such as coconut coir is a form of hydroponics called passive sub-irrigation. You really are then growing hydroponically!
Paul: What specific advantages have you noticed when using Autopots compared to traditional watering methods?
Autopotamus: Autopots solve everything about growing in coco. You do not have to hand water anymore at all, the plant drinks as needed and there’s no runoff management at all since it’s a bottom-wicking system. Finally, since it is gravity fed, it is a power-free system unless you use an air-pump for the airdome. You can leave the plants for a while depending on your reservoir size. Prior to using autopots, say I left on a work trip, my partner would have to take care of the plants.. Autopots saved my relationship!
Paul: You mentioned that Autopots saved your relationship by removing the need for constant plant care. Can you share a bit more about how Autopots have impacted your daily routine and overall lifestyle as a grower?
Autopotamus: Previously, just hand-watering was a significant amount of effort each day. Now knowing that watering is taken care of, it leaves a lot more time for other things such as documenting the grow, LST, defoliating or just observing the plants, going out etc. Being able to leave the plant alone for a week at a time is life-changing. Coming back from a work or leisure trip to healthy and huge plants is so satisfying. It also makes growing a lot more enjoyable knowing that the plants are feeding themselves at their own pace. I always tell people, do you think you can hand-water better than the plants can feed themselves?
Paul: For growers new to Autopots, what are some common mistakes to avoid?
Autopotamus: Common mistakes in Autopots would be not leveling the tray and also not making sure that the two little silicones that complete the autopot aquavalve makes a perfect seal for the system to work flawlessly. Finally, if you are running 100 percent coco substrate like me, best to use the airdomes, otherwise use your favorite mix of coco/perlite.
The beauty of the autopot system is that there aren’t too many points of failure. The aquavalve is at the heart of the autopot systems and it works by ways of gravity and essentially the silicone seal controls the flow of water into the tray. When the seal is perfect, it allows the valve to open and close precisely as needed. I advise to check the water level in the tray as much as possible, just a quick check to make sure the level is alternating between the full line and close to empty. If it’s always at the full line or above, something is up and best to reset or check the system.
Paul: How do you optimize your nutrient regimen when using Autopots to ensure your plants get the best results?
Autopotamus: I would suggest not mix and match the nutrient lines, as most nutrient lines are purposely mixed for their own line/brand if that makes sense. I would recommend Canna coco A/B as it is dumb proof, the website has a very useful calculator and I have been using it for many years successfully. I do try out different nutrient lines but canna is still my go-to.
Paul: Can you share any tips on how to maximize plant size and yield using the Autopot system?
Autopotamus: Yes, it is quite simple actually: procuring quality genetics from established breeders, such as Night Owl or Speedrun Seeds, use coconut coir as a substrate and make sure that you understand pH and how to get a proper reading with a quality pH pen. Finally, not really related to Autopots but following a VPD chart is essential for growing the best quality medicine and yield.
Paul: How do you manage the balance between maintaining proper oxygen levels in the root zone and the constant watering provided by Autopots?
Autopotamus: I personally use the airdome/airbase with 100 percent coco substrate.
Paul: Have you experimented with different growing mediums in Autopots? If so, which have you found to be the most effective?
Autopotamus: Mostly coco. I am trying out living soil with buildasoil 3.0 in the Autopot tray2grow and it worked out awesome! Coco is my jazz, as I have used the medium for many years now, and it works wonderfully.
Paul: You’ve had success with coco, and now you’re experimenting with living soil. Can you elaborate on how the results compare between these two mediums in terms of plant health and yield?
Autopotamus: I am about to complete my first living soil, and it has been very easy. I follow guidance by Jeremy @buildasoil, and it is a very simple process. I was expecting smaller plants in soil vs. coco and I have been pleasantly surprised. There are two main possible drawbacks in living soil. First, there is a real potential for pests such as fungus gnats, thankfully it wasn’t much of an issue for me. Second, living soil typically requires a bigger pot, such as the 23.5 gallon planter box from Autopot. It basically means that the plants are less mobile as 23.5 gallons of saturated soil is very heavy, and it is much more difficult to move the plants around for defoliation or any type of LST. Healthwise, not much difference and yield should be similar to my coco grow.
Paul: What are some challenges you’ve encountered with the Autopot system, and how have you overcome them?
Autopotamus: I have had a few floods in my tent. I believe a connector failed. I just cleaned up and replaced the connectors. It’s best to always have spare parts. I have also had a few dried trays; I was trying out a new nutrient line, and it clogged the lines.
Paul: Given the challenges you mentioned, like connector failures and clogged lines, do you have any maintenance tips for Autopot users to prevent these issues?
Autopotamus: Monitoring the Autopot for good functioning is a must, just like any other automated systems. I also highly recommend spare parts like connectors and silicones. When growing with coco, a quality salt-based nutrient line like canna coco will ensure that the nutrient water will not create flocculants or a slurry at the bottom of your res. I have tried other nutrient lines where the resulting nutrient mix tend to precipitate and create a slurry that will potentially block the lines.
Paul: What advice would you give to growers who want to transition from traditional hand-watering to an automated system like Autopots?
Autopotamus: Just do it; there are no drawbacks from using the Autopot system. It saves you time, you can easily grow larger plants. The Autopot company, whether USA or Global, is super responsive on social media, and you can leave the plants to grow for a while depending on your reservoir size. What’s not to like?
Paul: I love that and you said it perfectly. Just do it. The only way you are going to get good at growing cannabis is by getting your hands messy and growing cannabis. Document your grow and learn from your mistakes.