AutoPot - 1Pot XL 24 pot watering system, optional with FlexiTank water tank

The 1Pot XL system for 24 pots is the largest XL build: twenty-four separate XL trays, each with its own AQUAvalve5. At this scale there is a genuine alternative, and it is fairer to name it than to leave it out.

Twenty-four valves against one per tray

AutoPot also make tray systems, where several pots stand in one large tray filled by a single AQUAvalve5. That is the opposite choice to what you are buying here, and both are defensible.

With separate trays, as in this system, every plant gets its own water level and its own cycle. A large plant beside a small one drinks faster and fills more often, and the other notices nothing. You can mix ages and species, and move or replace one pot without disturbing the rest.

With a tray system you share one level across all pots in that tray. It is cheaper per plant, costs less space because pots stand closer together, and there is one valve to keep clean rather than nine. But the pots then need to be reasonably matched in demand, or the largest draws the level down for the rest.

Which way to go

Choose separate trays if your plants differ, if you grow in cycles with several stages side by side, or if you move individual plants regularly.

Look at a tray system if you grow uniformly: matched plants, matched pot size, matched age, and you mainly want as many plants per square metre as possible.

What this system asks

Twenty-four 25 litre pots is 600 litres of substrate, a reservoir that can stay ahead of that for days, and a floor that carries it. All trays must sit at one level, or the highest fills last and runs dry first.

Technical Specifications:

• Pots: 24 x 25 litres
• Substrate volume: around 600 litres
• Trays: 24 separate XL trays, each with its own AQUAvalve5
• Pipework: 16 mm main with 9 mm branches
• Tank: not included, FlexiTank optional

Frequently asked questions

When would I choose a tray system? With uniform plants where you want maximum density and one valve per tray suffices.

When separate trays? When plants differ or you want to move them individually.

Must all trays be level? Yes, or they fall out of step.

Can I expand further? Yes, with XL expansion sets, provided reservoir and height grow with it.