happytrees

@TheMachinist, Hey, thanks for the info. I always just grew on the old prospect of "bigger roots = bigger harvests" and it's something I always heard in passing from old timers, so I went with it. I do have a massive root ball wrapping all throughout the inner parts as well. You're not wrong about what you said, but there's also a good reason for the root mass being so dense like that on the sides and bottom. Because I didn't have a fabric pot to use at the time, I went with the bigger sized 15L auto pot and put a 2 inch layer of hydroton, air dome and air ring connected to an air pump. I didn't turn the air pump on until I rooted the entire pot. When the air went on, the roots grew out towards that source of air and focused growth all around the moist/aerated hydroton. This dense root growth is something I have little control over. In that situation, my best case scenario was to supplement air to avoid suffocating the roots. I also had to provide necessary enzymes to take care of dead roots and organic matter. I didn't notice any cons, as my ph levels and ppm levels were consistently in line, being monitored every day. Feeding less when I need to, feeding more, etc. You do raise up a lot of good points and if it's something that isn't monitored, it could be a major issue. I appreciate you looking out and bringing it to my attention. Root rot was something I experienced in the past and thanks to that experience, I try to do whatever I can to avoid it. Being limited to an enclosed, tight grow space is a bit of a drawback when things aren't in tune. To improve on this, my next grow will be in a fabric pot placed on a plant caddy elevated from any runoff, with a drip tray underneath. No need to supplement air this time.