Extending Your System – With AutoPot

You’ve done it with your hand, you’ve done it with a telescope, you’ve even done it with the legs on your camping table, but have you ever done it with a watering system? We are, of course, talking about the joy and revelation that comes from extending. 

One way or another you may come to realise that you want or need more plant capacity from your existing setup. One way or another you may find that you have more space in which to grow, be it one way, or indeed, another. One way or another you want to make things bigger, but should you do it one way, or should you do it another? Is it going to disturb things? And how much of a hassle is it going to be?

‘Let that which has been joined to grow splendid plants let no one put asunder.’

To an extent that idea holds true. Balance and equilibrium are rightly valued qualities in a watering system. They can be tricky things to achieve. So, if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. But by playing safe it’s easy to fall into a somewhat reverent state with your setup. This can really limit what you’re getting out of the system. Fortunately we offer some very simple ways to expand, achieved in mere minutes, with little-to-no disruption involved.

We don’t want to descend to simply tub-thumping. But it is undeniably true that with no electricity or running water involved AutoPot Watering Systems are an incredibly easy proposition when it comes to expanding. 

Other than the reservoir tap there’s nothing to switch off. Assembly of extension kits involves a bare minimum of parts. When rearranging there are no pump, computer, or timer settings to record, store, and dial back in upon reassembly. Our fittings are quick-fitting, cleanly machined, easily available, and inexpensive. Okay, so it was a little satisfying to commit all that to type, but in doing so we genuinely mean to convey the possibilities that are unlocked by such simplicity.

Preparation

Though it sounds blindingly obvious, figure out what space you have BEFORE shopping for extension kits. By all means be ambitious. But remember that proper plant spacing can be at least as productive as densely packing in more pots.

Airflow really matters to plants, especially when growing indoors / semi-indoors so give them room to breathe and allow space for stale air to escape.

Our Shop by Floorspace tool can help you with this. Usefully it only factors in the number of pots that’ll fit your space (not including the reservoir) so you can easily tot up your total.

Crops And Configurations

Have a think about what you’re growing and (if you’ve the space) the best layout to suit crop type. For example, vine crops are most efficiently and productively grown with pots and trays placed end-to-end in runs that favour length over width. 

Shorter, bushier varieties that can easily be accessed from above are great in square or rectangular spaces. 

If you are setting up in a square or rectangular space such as a grow tent or greenhouse consider whether it’s worth leaving out the extension kit that would otherwise fill the ‘doorway’ space. Access and the ability to fit in climatic controls such as heaters, fans, or dehumidifiers can be just as productive as cramming in an extra plant. 

Water Supply

When extending keep one eye on reservoir capacity. 

A 47L reservoir (supplied with our smaller systems and available separately) can be used to supply either:

• 6x plants when used with easy2grow / 1Pot
• Or 4x plants when used with XL / FlexiPot / XXL
• Or 3x easy2GO Kits
• Or 3x Tray2Grow systems

Beyond these limits you’ll need to increase reservoir capacity according to the size of your layout. We offer a full range of larger reservoirs, larger gauge pipework, and the right fittings to allow you to create layouts of virtually any size.

With larger reservoirs, such as our FlexiTank range, you attach a 16mm click-fit filter and adapter to the reservoir tap and run 16mm pipe from the reservoir. You then use 16-9mm reducer fittings to run 9mm pipe off to the pots and trays

Shopping

There’s a complete range of extension kits for all of our pot-and-tray systems. 1Pot, easy2grow, 1Pot XL, FlexiPot, XXL, they’re all available as individual ‘modules’ with everything you’ll need to add them on to an existing system. 

Don’t be afraid of cross-kitting either. Say you want to add a couple of 1Pot extensions to an XL system, no problem. Likewise all the other different types of extension kit that we offer. They all use the same pipework and fittings. Just keep an eye on reservoir size if adding large capacity extensions to an existing system made up of smaller capacity kits.  

If you want to expand your Tray2Grow or easy2GO setups you’re in for a treat. These both now come with optional fittings that allow you to connect to a bigger setup.

Finally, if you’ve got some kit already and just need a few parts in order to expand or adjust your layout then dip into our extensive range of spares. These can be found with all good AutoPot Stockists and via our online store.

Extending For A New Season

If you’re extending at the start of season (before any plants are in place) you simply ‘build-out’ with reference to the instructions in your extension kits. All extension kits come complete with the fittings you’ll need to enlarge your system.

Extending Mid-Season

In the event that you’re extending mid-season you’ll want your existing system to have drained before adding any kits. To do this simply switch off your reservoir tap and allow your plants to drink up all the water / nutrients solution in the pipework and trays. You can speed up this process by opening the flush tap in your existing system and draining any run-off into a container. 

The water in the pipes, trays, and pots of your existing system will sustain the plants there for longer than you’d think. But you’d ideally want to be assembling extensions, adding them, and switching the system back on in one session (easily done).

Assembling And Joining

Be a tender extender. Tough as our fittings are, they will not benefit from being ripped apart or rammed together. A little warmth or lubricant can help things go much more smoothly. 

Try dipping joined pipe and fittings in hot water to ease them apart. Conversely, cold water can help stiffen pipe when threading through grommets. A very small amount of washing up liquid can help introduce grommets to reservoirs or module trays.

Pipework is easily cut to size using a knife or scissors (but always ask a parent to help you!)

Establishing New Plants Mid-Season

We’ll end on a specialist note, but it’s a note that can resonate in other parts of your system. 

Say you want to add extension kits mid season and plant them up. You need to leave the new plants in your extension kits to establish. But you want to switch the system back on immediately for your other plants. 

In a bind? Not a bit. Simply isolate your extensions using an inline tap. Cut into the pipe leading to your extension, insert one of these invaluable little fittings, and turn to the ‘off’ position. Hey presto! You can control all flows as desired, here or anywhere else in your dream system.