Outside The Pots – Growing Outdoors With AutoPot Watering Systems

If your perception is that doors represent a barrier to growing with AutoPot prepare for a mind-expanding ride to the other side (of those doors). Just like Michael Caine, we’re going to negate your gates, abdicate your apertures, and brazenly blow back breakthrough-binding barricades. Yes, it’s time to find out how you can cultivate outside with our kit. Everybody out!

Previously we’ve explored the means by which you can automatically water and feed outdoor beds and planters using kits such as AQUAbox. But one of the most commonly asked questions we receive is how our modular, pot-and-tray systems fare in the good al-fresco.

The answer is that they work just fine! But, as with indoor-growing, there are a few essentials bear in mind when perfecting pastoral ‘Pot performance.

System choice

Regardless of capacity, our pot-based systems all work equally well outdoors. Some will simply provide a better platform depending on your plant variety of choice. 

easy2grow is brilliant for both short, bushy plants and vines. For vines the modules are best laid out end-to-end in runs, with any kind of overhead frame acting as an ideal means of training.

1Pot is an excellent all-rounder, easily manageable yet capacious enough to handle fairly ambitious projects within its 15L pots. The added advantage here is that every module gets its own AQUAvalve, making it ultra-responsive to individual plant needs. 

Similarly, XL FlexiPot, XL, and XXL modules boast one AQUAvalve-per-module. Here the pot sizes range from 20L to 50L with the option of plastic or fabric pots, allowing you to take on just about any plant type you could care to mention.

Positioning

A little bit of shelter can give you a lot more control when growing outdoors. Not necessarily a roof or anything overhead. It could just be that you position your modules along a wall, a fence, or in a lil nook. 

If you place your modules full-square-bang in the centre of an exposed, billiard-smooth lawn they will look stunning. But in all probability, they’ll work less well than with the help of a modest haven for when the going gets rough out there.

Crucially, you need a level spot on which to set up. Ensure the surface you’re placing your trays on is flat and sound, ideally with reference to a bar spirit level. Avoid setting up on surfaces such as gravel as these aggregates can shift over time.

Watering

Needless to say, you’ll get a little help with irrigation when growing outdoors. During the summer any extra water from the heavens isn’t a huge issue. As long as the position of the system isn’t too exposed and the lids are used on the module trays everything should continue to run smoothly.

Partly this is down to the basic safeguarding function of the AQUAvalve water control device. The AQUAvalve in each module tray only opens to allow refilling once a plant has consumed all the water in the tray from the previous fill. If it is raining then consumption will naturally slow down anyway, so the grow media inside the pot shouldn’t become inundated. The system will not allow a continual, unchecked influx of water.

If it’s proper stair-rods you can always turn off the system for a short while using your reservoir tap. Wait until the media in the pots is drier and the module tray is empty, then switch back on.

Remember, you’ll probably have potted plants in your garden that are receiving just as much rainwater with no negative effects.

Larger systems including Tray2Grow and XXL feature removable overflow plugs in the module trays. Simply take these out when growing outside for extra drainage.

Feeding

If you’re supplying fertiliser to your pots via the reservoir and pipework not much changes when growing outdoors. Recommended ratios, routines, and running regimes remain the same. 

The one thing that you may have to keep an eye on is an external factor – namely reservoir temperature, especially during the summer. Obviously you can’t dial the sun down in the way you might be able to tweak temps indoors. As a result you may find that the fertiliser in your reservoir drops out of solution in extreme or prolonged heat. 

This is where our Reservoir Heat Shield steps-in, or rather ‘slips-on’. This handy jacket features a durable, metallic coating that reflects heat away from a 47L reservoir. By doing this the shield helps to keep water temperatures stable – an essential factor in healthy growth and fruitful harvests. Ideally you should aim for a reservoir water temperature of 18-21°C.

Alternatively you could just pop your reservoir in a shaded area, wrap it in reflective material, plump for a water chiller, or periodically swap in/out sealed 2L bottles of frozen water.

Strategic retreat

Pulling in the pots is no-one’s preferred option. But with AutoPot you at least you can effortlessly bring your plants indoors if the weather turns truly abysmal. And that possibility is pure gold. Better still you don’t have to disassemble or disturb your system to do it. Simply lift the pots out of the trays and retreat inside until the tempest abates.

And there you have it

And there you have it! If you’d like to check out the progress of our outdoor efforts and those of others we’ll not stand in your way. You’re free to visit our Insta and Facebook feeds any time. Our pleasure.