Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
FIGURE 7.9
A 1Pot System. (Courtesy of AutoPot Global, Ltd., Paddington,
Oxfordshire, United Kingdom.)
the unique difference of the AutoPot systems is that it is the only system
that allows the plants to be in control of their own requirements. Their
AQUAvalve is the key to the AutoPot Watering System. It controls the
flow of water or nutrient solution to the plants by gravity pressure from a
tank/reservoir without the use of pumps, timers, and power. Each 4-gal-
lon growing pot sits in a tray beside the AQUAvalve that regulates the
water level to 2 cm (¾ inch) (Figure 7.9). Once the water level of 2 cm is
reached, the AQUAvalve will shut off the incoming water resulting in no
more water being allowed to enter the tray via the AQUAvalve until the
plant has consumed all the water that was previously delivered. The water
level completely drains before any further water is allowed to enter.
The growing pots are connected to a tank/reservoir by a network of poly
tube irrigation lines. There are numerous substrates that can be used; one
that is recommended is a mixture of 1:1 coir to perlite.
The system can be expanded to up to 48 pots for small growers
(Figure 7.10). AutoPot Watering Systems has two types of pot growing
systems: the 1Pot module shown in the photos and the easy2grow system.
Both designs can be used to create large multipot systems. In the hobby
market, both designs are used generally up to 100 pots. For the commercial
growers, using thousands of pots, the system of choice is the easy2grow
extension kit. For commercial growers at present, AutoPot has installed
systems of over 2000 pots. AutoPot claims that there is no limit to the size
of the growing system; it is simply a matter of adding more pots, trays, and
larger tanks.
Prices for the 1Pot System start at $55, $80 for the 2Pot System, $160
for the 4Pot System, $325 for the 8Pot System, $470 for the 12Pot System,
$900 for the 24Pot System, and $1415 for the 48Pot System. The prices for
