AutoPot 1Pot system 12 pots incl. 225L Flexitank

Product detailed description

AutoPot 1Pot for 12 pots - the transition from hobby to a small grow room

Twelve plants are already a step from a hobby tent to a small grow room or greenhouse - and AutoPot 1Pot for twelve 15 l square pots handles it without electricity or pumps. The tank has grown to a 225 l Flexitank and the distribution now runs through a 16 mm main line for the first time.

With twelve plants, the low-maintenance nature shows in full: one Flexitank, one main hose and twelve valves that control watering themselves. The time saved and the certainty that nothing will happen to the plants when you are not there are the main advantages of this size.

How the watering works

Each pot sits on its own tray with an AQUAvalve5 valve. The valve opens the supply on its own and lets the tray fill with nutrient solution to a level of 20 mm - by gravity only, without pumps, mains pressure, electricity or timers. As long as the plant has not used up the water from the tray, the valve does not release another dose. The plant therefore goes through a wet and dry cycle, which aerates the roots and supports healthy growth; once the tray is emptied, the cycle repeats.

Recommended substrates

For 1Pot, always use a freely draining substrate - permeability is key for alternating the wet and dry cycle. The following mixes in a 50% / 50% ratio have proven effective:

• Soil and perlite - 50/50
• Soil and expanded clay - 50/50
• Coco and perlite - 50/50
• Coco and expanded clay - 50/50
• Rockwool and expanded clay - 50/50

If you use expanded clay, rinse the pebbles with water first - some types are not pH stable and could raise the pH of the nutrient solution in the tray. Before placing the pot into the tray, clean the bottom and sides of the pot of substrate; this will maintain the correct function of the AQUAvalve5 valve.

Tank setup and start-up

Twelve plants are supplied by a 225 l Flexitank. Place the tank (Flexitank 225 l) at least 150 mm above the highest AQUAvalve5 valve - gravity does all the work. If the nutrient solution level drops to around 1/3 of the contents, top it up, and never let the tank run completely dry. After planting, water the plants and let them root for 7-10 days; only then start the system. Stronger roots then manage the water from the tray themselves.

Water is distributed to so many modules by a 16 mm main hose from the tank, from which a 9 mm hose branches off via 16->9 mm reducers to the individual AQUAvalve5 valves. This distribution maintains sufficient flow even over a large area and is included in the package.

Mineral fertilisers - and why not organic with 1Pot

For the best results, the manufacturer recommends mineral fertilisers for the 1Pot system - operation is simplest with them and practically maintenance-free. Organic fertilisers are not recommended for the base 1Pot: they tend to settle and clog the narrow 9 mm distribution. (This is different from the larger 1Pot XL and XXL systems, where organic fertilisers are possible with a water pump in the tank.) With mineral fertiliser, it is enough to mix the nutrient solution in the tank and the system takes care of the rest.

Care of the AQUAvalve5 valve

AQUAvalve5 is a simple but very effective device - keep the valve and tray clean and free of obstructions. At the end of the season, wash the valve in warm soapy water (an old toothbrush helps). Remove limescale from the nozzle with a paper clip or blow it through; never clean it with a drill - you would destroy the valve irreparably.

Package contents

• 1x Flexitank 225 l
• 12x 1Pot module (15 l SQUARE pot, 1Pot tray & lid, tray cover)
• 12x 1Pot pack (AQUAvalve5 cam, Root Control Disc, MARIX Disc, tubing, grommets and connectors)
• 16 mm accessories - main distribution from the tank + 16->9 mm reducers to the individual modules
• instructions for use

Expansion and accessories

You can expand the system at any time by adding another 1Pot extension module (9 mm) - the body stays the same, you just connect a new pot on a tray. Spare 1Pot tray & lid and tray cover can be added separately, and for a cleaner root ball and tray, choose the copper PotSock Square, a square sleeve for a 15 l pot (unlike the round PotSock for 1Pot XL). You can buy a spare valve set as an accessory box for 12 pots.

Which size to choose

This set serves 12 plants. A smaller version is available as 1Pot for 8 pots (100 l); for growth, choose 1Pot for 24 pots (400 l). The system body is the same in all sizes - only the number of modules, tank volume and, in larger sets, the 16 mm distribution differ. You can also view the full 1Pot range.

Frequently asked questions

What changes with twelve modules compared with a hobby tent?

A 16 mm main distribution is added: one 16 mm hose runs from the Flexitank and branches off via 16->9 mm reducers to the individual valves. It maintains flow over a larger area, which the 9 mm distribution alone can no longer cover comfortably.

Which substrate is suitable for 1Pot?

Always a freely draining 50/50 mix - soil/perlite, soil/expanded clay, coco/perlite, coco/expanded clay or Rockwool/expanded clay. Permeability is key for alternating the wet and dry cycle; rinse expanded clay before use.

Can I use organic fertilisers in 1Pot?

We do not recommend them for the base 1Pot - organic matter settles in the narrow 9 mm distribution and clogs it. Choose mineral fertilisers; with them, operation is maintenance-free. Organic fertilisers with a pump in the tank are only handled by the larger 1Pot XL and XXL systems.