Frequently Asked Questions
Does the AutoPot XL FlexiPot System need electricity or a pump?
No. It runs on gravity alone, so there are no pumps, timers or mains power involved. Put the reservoir so its outlet sits at least 15 cm above the highest AQUAvalve5 and the valve in each tray does the metering.
What size reservoir comes with the AutoPot XL FlexiPot System?
It depends on how many pots you buy. 1 to 4 pots get a 47 litre tank with a lid, 6 to 9 pots a 100 litre FlexiTank, 12 to 16 pots a 225 litre FlexiTank, 24 to 60 pots a 400 litre FlexiTank and 80 to 100 pots a 750 litre FlexiTank. Choose No Tank (available from 6 pots) and you supply your own.
What is the difference between the AutoPot XL FlexiPot System and the XL System with plastic pots?
The pots. This kit uses 20 litre fabric pots that fold flat and air-prune the roots, while the Autopot Complete System - 25L XL Pots uses 25 litre rigid plastic pots. Both run on an XL tray and an AQUAvalve5.
Do I need a PotSock in an AutoPot FlexiPot?
Yes. AutoPot say a round PotSock must be fitted to the base of every FlexiPot, gold side up, for root control around the valve. One per pot is included in the kit, and spares are on the Autopot PotSock - Round for XL Pot page.
How long should I wait before switching on the AutoPot XL FlexiPot System?
Leave the tap closed for 7 to 10 days after potting up, so the roots have time to establish. Lift a pot, and once it feels light, open the tap.
Will fabric pots make my grow room more humid?
A bit, yes. The fabric is porous, so more moisture leaves the pot than from plastic, and with a lot of pots in a small tent you will notice it. Decent extraction and some air movement sorts it out.
Description
The AutoPot XL FlexiPot System is a power-free, gravity-fed watering kit that pairs 20 litre fabric pots with AutoPot's AQUAvalve5 float valve. It is for growers who want medium to large plants fed on demand, with no pumps, no timers and no mains power, and who like the airy root zone you get from fabric. Pick anything from 1 to 100 pots, with a reservoir, or without one if you have already got a tank.
How the AutoPot XL FlexiPot System works
Each pot sits in its own round XL tray. The AQUAvalve5 in that tray tops up the solution once the plant has drunk what is there, then shuts off. So the plant sets the pace and you get a proper wet and dry cycle without lifting a finger. Roots that reach the fabric wall get air-pruned, which builds a denser, more fibrous root mass instead of roots circling a plastic wall. It all runs off gravity from one reservoir, so there is nothing to plug in and nothing to fail at 3am.
AutoPot XL FlexiPot System specifications
| Spec | Detail |
|---|---|
| Pot | 20 litre breathable fabric FlexiPot, BPA-free and lead-free, folds flat |
| Tray | Round XL tray with lid and 9mm top hat grommet, one per pot |
| Valve | AQUAvalve5 float valve, one per pot, plant-controlled |
| Power | None. Gravity-fed, no pump, no timer |
| Pipework | 9mm pipe (9mm outside, 7mm inside). Systems of 6 pots and up add a 16mm supply line (16mm outside, 13mm inside) |
| Sizes | 1, 2, 4, 6, 8, 9, 12, 16, 24, 36, 48, 60, 80 or 100 pots |
| Reservoir | Optional on 6 pots and up, always included on 1 to 4 pots (see below) |
| Reservoir height | Outlet at least 15 cm above the highest AQUAvalve5 |
| Space per pot | AutoPot rate each module at roughly 0.6m x 0.6m |
| Running targets | Solution at 18 to 21 degrees C, pH 5.5 to 5.6 in coco or 5.8 in soil |
Which reservoir comes with the AutoPot XL FlexiPot System?
| Number of pots | Reservoir with the With Tank option |
|---|---|
| 1 to 4 pots | 47 litre rigid tank with lid |
| 6 to 9 pots | 100 litre AutoPot FlexiTank |
| 12 to 16 pots | 225 litre AutoPot FlexiTank |
| 24 to 60 pots | 400 litre AutoPot FlexiTank |
| 80 to 100 pots | 750 litre AutoPot FlexiTank |
Choose No Tank (6 pots and up) if you already have a reservoir. Keep the outlet 15 cm or more above the highest valve.
What's inside the AutoPot XL FlexiPot System
| Component | Quantity | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| XL tray and lid with 9mm grommet | One per pot | Round XL tray, the same one the plastic XL System uses |
| 20 litre fabric FlexiPot | One per pot | BPA-free, lead-free, washable and reusable |
| Round PotSock | One per pot | Goes on the base of each FlexiPot, gold side up |
| AQUAvalve5 float valve | One per pot | Fills the tray only when the plant needs it |
| 9mm pipe | Supplied to suit the system | Blue 9mm AQUAvalve5 pipe |
| 9mm golf filter, in-line taps and connectors | Supplied to suit the system | Tees and crosses join the pots up to the supply line |
| 16mm supply pipe: 16mm pipe, click-fit tank adaptor and filter, 16mm in-line taps, 16mm to 9mm connectors | 6 pots and up only | The main line from the reservoir to the pot branches |
| Reservoir: 47 litre tank with lid, or AutoPot FlexiTank | With Tank option only | Sized to the pot count, see the table above |
In the Box
Everything in the table, in the quantities for the system you pick. The small stuff people bin by mistake: the round PotSocks (one per pot, they are not optional), the 9mm golf filter and in-line taps, and the tee and cross connectors that look like offcuts of plastic. Keep every bag and the instruction sheet until the pipework is finished and the system is running.
Setting up the AutoPot XL FlexiPot System
- Fit a PotSock to the base of each FlexiPot, gold side up, before you fill it.
- Use a light, free-draining mix: about 50% perlite or clay pebbles with coco or soil, over a 2.5 cm drainage layer.
- Pot up established plants (around 30 cm tall is the sweet spot), water each pot through outside the tray and let it drain for 15 minutes.
- Set the reservoir so the outlet is 15 cm or more above the highest AQUAvalve5, connect the pipework and fill.
- Leave the tap closed for 7 to 10 days while the roots establish, then open it. Refill when the tank drops to about a third, and open the end-of-line taps for a minute each week to keep the lines clear.
AutoPot XL FlexiPot System FAQ
Does the AutoPot XL FlexiPot System need electricity or a pump?
No. It runs on gravity alone, so there are no pumps, timers or mains power involved. Put the reservoir so its outlet sits at least 15 cm above the highest AQUAvalve5 and the valve in each tray does the metering.
What size reservoir comes with the AutoPot XL FlexiPot System?
It depends on how many pots you buy. 1 to 4 pots get a 47 litre tank with a lid, 6 to 9 pots a 100 litre FlexiTank, 12 to 16 pots a 225 litre FlexiTank, 24 to 60 pots a 400 litre FlexiTank and 80 to 100 pots a 750 litre FlexiTank. Choose No Tank (available from 6 pots) and you supply your own.
What is the difference between the AutoPot XL FlexiPot System and the XL System with plastic pots?
The pots. This kit uses 20 litre fabric pots that fold flat and air-prune the roots, while the Autopot Complete System - 25L XL Pots uses 25 litre rigid plastic pots. Both run on an XL tray and an AQUAvalve5.
Do I need a PotSock in an AutoPot FlexiPot?
Yes. AutoPot say a round PotSock must be fitted to the base of every FlexiPot, gold side up, for root control around the valve. One per pot is included in the kit, and spares are on the Autopot PotSock - Round for XL Pot page.
How long should I wait before switching on the AutoPot XL FlexiPot System?
Leave the tap closed for 7 to 10 days after potting up, so the roots have time to establish. Lift a pot, and once it feels light, open the tap.
Will fabric pots make my grow room more humid?
A bit, yes. The fabric is porous, so more moisture leaves the pot than from plastic, and with a lot of pots in a small tent you will notice it. Decent extraction and some air movement sorts it out.
