The AutoPot Hydroponic System

The AutoPot Hydroponic System is sometimes referred to as a hybrid system, combining several characteristics of some of the other six hydroponic systems.

This method is low maintenance, mainly because there is no need to manually water the plants (except at the start – see below), which are all watered without help in a designed system where gravity does all the heavy lifting.

The plants receive food from the trays below in a variation of the Wick method. These trays receive the nutrient solution via gravity from a large reservoir.

The nutrient solution level remains at an optimum depth by using a valve which turns the supply from the reservoir off when the water and nutrient solution is at a predetermined maximum level. Then, when the levels fall again due to the plants having their fill, the valve causes the gravity-fed nutrient solution to flow in from the reservoir again.

The AutoPot Hydroponic System in detail

The AutoPot Hydroponic System relies on gravity to deliver nutrients to plants from the reservoir. A pipe from the reservoir connects the smaller tubes and trays to the plants in their pots. There can be any number of trays in the system, one for each of your plants. Between the reservoir and trays is an AQUAvalve which regulates the level of the nutrient liquid in the plant trays.

Your nutrient-rich solution flows into each of the trays by gravity via these AQUAvalves. The level of liquid in the plant tray will rise, and the float in the valve does too. When the tray is almost full, the AQUAvalve float will rise and closes the valve at the maximum level, stopping the nutrient supply to the tray.

As the plants feed on the nutrient solution, the nutrient level in the tray will drop. When this happens, the AQUAvalve float drops, and the valve re-opens, causing gravity-fed nutrients to flow from the reservoir again.

As your AutoPot system is entirely gravity fed, there is no need for either a water pump or an air pump. Also, because the AQUAvalves regulate all activity within the system, there is no need for any timer.

Best practice and advice for AutoPot Hydroponic Systems

Here are some tips on preparing and maintaining the AutoPot Hydroponic System.

Manually feed your plants until the plant root systems are well established.

By all means, put your plants in their respective AutoPots from the outset, but it’s best to water them by hand (rather than allow the automated process to water them) in the first instance so that their roots can become well-established and robust. This process can take up to two weeks.

You should feed your plants a nutrient solution which has been much more diluted than usual if you’re using Coco Coir or Rockwool as a growing medium.

Make use of the most appropriate growing medium.

Many growers use a combination of growing media, which aligns with treating AutoPot systems as a hybrid method. You’ll want a growing medium (or a variety of media) that is light, fluffy, well-aerated, absorbent and drains well.

Experienced AutoPot growers use a combination of perlite and Coco Coir (or Rockwool) in equal measure.

Make use of the most appropriate additives and nutrients.

Use nutrients which are mineral based to prevent blockages in the pipes of your system. It’s best to use something other than organic material or anything active biologically, as these block your pipes and even start fermentation. They can also reduce oxygen levels by using oxygen for themselves. Avoid anything thick or glutinous; ideally, you’ll want it to mix readily with water.

Remember to set the AQUAvalve before starting to use this method.

Do this before and after cleaning to get consistent growth across all pots.

The AQUAvalve is the crucial component which controls the filling of your trays at the start of the process. It also refills the trays when the plants have depleted your nutrient solution. So make sure it is working as it should from the start. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions.

Ensure that the pressure of your gravity is set correctly at the start.

This system uses no pumps as it is entirely gravity-fed; the nutrients flow by gravity into the plant trays to nourish them. Make sure you give gravity a head start by sitting your reservoir 15 to 30cm above the tops of the AQUAvalves.

Drain off some nutrient solution every couple of weeks.

Do this to flush through your pipe network to prevent the chance that any sediment might settle there. You do this by turning on the taps on the ends of the pipes.

Clean your AutoPot System after every harvest.

This action is only common sense and should be standard maintenance practice. You should thoroughly wash the AQUAvalves (or let the dishwasher clean them). Also, wash your pipes with a line cleaner.

Advantages of AutoPot Hydroponics Systems

AutoPot systems are very user-friendly. You need no specialist experience or skills to build, install, or maintain them. Common sense and a basic understanding of gravity are the only necessary skills, and no specialist tools are required.

No human intervention is necessary. You just let the gravity-controlled system take care of itself. The AQUAvalves regulate nutrient levels in the plant trays, so you don’t need to worry about that aspect; you don’t need to be there. There is far less time spent looking after the system.

Low water usage. AutoPot systems are very water-efficient. No stones or pumps are necessary for the smooth running of AutoPot systems. And you don’t have to worry about pumps failing.

It doesn’t use electricity for the irrigation process. The AQUAvalve looks after all this, so no pumps are necessary for the actual irrigation process or supply of nutrients. You don’t have to worry about power cuts causing the whole thing to stop, and no need for any backup power supply.

Inexpensive to build and run. With so few moving components, no electrical pumps, and no electricity necessary for the supply of the nutrient solution, this type of system is very inexpensive to install and use.

Irrigation is automatic. The nutrient is supplied according to the demand of the plants, as controlled by the AQUAvalves. At any one time, you can always be sure that precisely the right amount of nutrient solution is getting to your plants.

Recycling the nutrient solution is unnecessary because every drop can nourish the plants with no runoff.

Minimal risk of disease as the plants house individually, so they never come into contact with one another. The nutrient solution passes into the root system only once.

Autopot systems may expand in size to almost any number of plants in their pots and trays. Just remember to increase the reservoir’s capacity according to the volume of nutrient solution needed.

With no disadvantages to mention at length, it’s little wonder that so many hydroponics growers use AutoPot systems as their favourite method. With very little outlay at the start and almost no maintenance needed during the process, AutoPot systems will undoubtedly remain a favourite among growers for a long time.

Check out our range of AutoPot 1Pot and 1Pot XL System kits here.