The Autopot XL Tray System Blanking Cap is for blocking off a pot location in the XL Tray Systems. This could be to allow more space between the pots, or maybe one plant was sick and needed removing. By using an Autopot XL Tray Blanking Cap you prevent light and debris reaching the water beneath.
About the Tray systems
The Autopot Tray system is a great plant irrigation system that allows the watering of many pots, simultaneously. All of the pots share a tray, in which a single Aquavalve controls water flow to the pots. There are a few advantages to this method of growing over the other Autopot systems. First off is space – if you don’t have alot of room, the Autopot Tray system allows more pots into the space. Normal Autopot systems with individual trays need more room for tray footprints as well as pipework. While this does give more space for plants to grow and greater control per pot, it can reduce the number of plants you can grow. Using a Tray System brings the pots much closer together, allowing more plants in the area and maybe even less light fittings.
The Autopot Tray system runs off of a single Aquavalve, meaning there is less maintenance to do on moving parts. Plants can still take only what they require, so there isn’t any more water being used. There is also no run off as it is a self contained system. Setting up is very easy, with the pipe threading through the side wall into the valve. The other end of the pipe then attaches to the water reservoir (or irrigation system). Mouldings on the system keep the amount of water the pots sit in at the perfect level for effective wicking, without waterlogging. There is also a handy access hole so you can easily access the Aquavalve. The lid of the Tray system is a perfect fit for the pot, which stops light and plant debris reaching the water underneath. This eliminates risks of mould, blockages and disease.
There is loads more information and growing tips on the Autopot Website. (opens in a new window).
Alternatives to the Autopot Tray system
At Straight Up Hydro, we have many options when it comes to gravity fed systems, many from Autopot. These include the Autopot 1Pot system, the Easy2Grow System, the 1Pot XL system as well as the Alien EasyFeed with 10L, 16L, 22L
