Description
Fabric-pot root health with fully automatic, power-free watering
The AutoPot XL FlexiPot System pairs AutoPot's gravity-fed AQUAvalve5 watering with breathable 20 litre FlexiPot fabric pots on the round XL tray. When root tips reach the porous fabric wall they are air-pruned – stopped by the air outside – so the plant pushes out fresh feeder roots instead of circling the pot. The result is a dense, fibrous root mass with better water and nutrient uptake and more oxygen in the root zone, which lets you grow bigger plants from a smaller pot. Each tray has its own AQUAvalve5 that lets in a shallow fill of solution, closes, and only reopens once the plant has used it, so every plant gets a natural wet-and-dry cycle with no pumps, timers, electricity or mains water. The pots are BPA-free and lead-free, fold flat when empty, wash clean and last for many seasons. Choose from 1 to 100 pots, with AutoPot's matched reservoir or without one from 6 pots up, for grow tents, grow rooms and greenhouses growing in coco or soil mixes.
What's Included
- 1Pot XL trays and lids with 9mm top hat grommet – one per pot
- 20 litre fabric FlexiPots
- Round PotSock for the base of every FlexiPot (root control)
- AQUAvalve5 – one per pot
- 9mm pipe, filter, in-line taps and connectors
- 16mm supply pipe, click-fit tank adaptor and filter, in-line taps and 16mm-9mm connectors on systems of 6 pots and more
- Reservoir (With Tank only) – 47 litre tank with lid and grommet on 1 to 4 pots; FlexiTank on larger systems: 100L (6–9 pots), 225L (12–16), 400L (24–60) or 750L (80–100)
Key Benefits
- Air-pruned roots: fabric walls stop root circling and build a fibrous root system that feeds faster
- More oxygen in the root zone: the porous pot breathes, supporting vigorous growth
- AQUAvalve5 on every tray: each plant waters itself on demand – no over- or under-watering
- No power, no pumps: gravity-fed from a reservoir just 15 cm above the trays
- Light, compact and reusable: FlexiPots fold flat for storage and can be washed between crops
- Modular: add, remove or re-space modules as plants grow
How to Use
- Root control is essential: fit the round PotSock to the base of each FlexiPot, gold face up, before filling.
- Growing medium: a light, free-draining mix – AutoPot suggest around 50% perlite or pH-stable clay pebbles with coco or soil, over a 2.5 cm drainage layer.
- Pot up established plants about 30 cm tall, water each pot through outside the tray and let it drain for 15 minutes.
- Raise the reservoir so the outlet is at least 15 cm above the highest AQUAvalve, connect the pipework and fill.
- Leave the system off for 7–10 days while roots establish (AutoPot's XL FlexiPot instructions), then open the tap.
- Running: refill at one third full with the tap closed, keep the reservoir at 18–21°C and pH 5.5–5.6 in coco or 5.8 in soil, and open the end-of-line taps for a minute weekly to keep the lines clear.
Will fabric pots raise humidity?
A room full of fabric pots gives off more moisture than plastic pots because the sides are exposed and porous – AutoPot point this out themselves. Allow for it with good extraction and airflow, and keep an eye on humidity in smaller grow tents during the later stages of growth.
Technical Specifications
- Type: gravity-fed automatic watering system with fabric pots
- Metering: AutoPot AQUAvalve5, one per pot
- Pot: 20 litre fabric FlexiPot, 280 mm diameter x 355 mm high, BPA-free and lead-free
- Tray footprint: 380 x 285 mm per module (1Pot XL tray and lid)
- Root control: round PotSock per pot
- Pots per system: 1 to 100
- Reservoir (With Tank): 47 litre tank with lid (1–4 pots) · 100L FlexiTank (6–9) · 225L FlexiTank (12–16) · 400L FlexiTank (24–60) · 750L FlexiTank (80–100)
- Pipework: 9 mm pipe (7 mm bore); 16 mm supply pipe (13 mm bore) on 6 pots and more
- Reservoir height: outlet at least 150 mm above the highest AQUAvalve
- Media: coco or soil mixed with perlite or clay pebbles
- Power: none required
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between this and the AutoPot XL System?
Both use the same round XL tray and AQUAvalve5. The XL System comes with 25 litre rigid plastic pots; the XL FlexiPot System uses 20 litre breathable fabric pots that air-prune the roots and pack away flat.
Do I need the PotSock?
Yes. AutoPot say a round PotSock must be fitted to the base of every FlexiPot to stop roots growing into the tray and the valve. One is included for each pot.
Which reservoir comes with each size?
With Tank systems of 1 to 4 pots include the 47 litre rigid tank with lid; 6 to 9 pots a 100L FlexiTank, 12 and 16 pots 225L, 24 to 60 pots 400L and 80 or 100 pots a 750L FlexiTank. No Tank builds include the 16mm click-fit tank adaptor and filter so you can connect your own.
Can I wash and reuse the FlexiPots?
Yes. Empty the pot and let it dry; after a few days the old medium and fine roots brush off. AutoPot say they can also be machine or tub washed in a peroxide solution – let them air dry, never tumble dry.
Works Well With
