DIY DIY Airpot Tutorial

[F.N.]

To me it looks like a regular bucket aerated with some holes, nothing looking or functioning like a real Air-Pot®. The purpose of airpots is to guide the roots to air exposure, with inward-curving surfaces (the most important part) focusing/directing roots to the adjacent outer protruding holes. But you're bucket surface area is like 90+% flat, doing nothing to direct roots to the holes. If simple outward-protruding holes worked like an Air-pot, we'd all know that and be using them rather than paying for expensive real Air-pots.

What you might do, to get the functionality of an Air-Pot, is have holes like you have alternating with an inward protrusion you probably form by heating up the plastic and pushing it inward while hot and pliable. Just take a look at a real airpot.

Otherwise, Air-pots work well, are very cost-effective (cheap in context of many other growing expenses) and would likely more than pay for themselves the first time used.

I use botanicare hercules pots that are made for air pruning they look nothing like a airpot I also use airpots too. I know what you say about there design making the roots seek air but the hercules is a completely different design but works just as good at making and filling the container with roots IF 912 does not grow a swirl for a root ball then the pot works if he just gets the typical go around the pot type root structure then it does not work. I still think getting air into the side of the bucket will change the whole dynamics of the ball IMO. Here is a pic of the hercules just to show that it looks nothing like a airpot but works just as good I know I have compared root balls

 

[G.Leave]

To me it looks like a regular bucket aerated with some holes, nothing looking or functioning like a real Air-Pot®. The purpose of airpots is to guide the roots to air exposure, with inward-curving surfaces (the most important part) focusing/directing roots to the adjacent outer protruding holes. But you're bucket surface area is like 90+% flat, doing nothing to direct roots to the holes. If simple outward-protruding holes worked like an Air-pot, we'd all know that and be using them rather than paying for expensive real Air-pots.

What you might do, to get the functionality of an Air-Pot, is have holes like you have alternating with an inward protrusion you probably form by heating up the plastic and pushing it inward while hot and pliable. Just take a look at a real airpot.

Otherwise, Air-pots work well, are very cost-effective (cheap in context of many other growing expenses) and would likely more than pay for themselves the first time used.

Well I am glad I wasted 4 hours making them and 2 hours doing the tutorial then!

Edit - After rereading your post BII, you are right I could make an improvement to the pots, simply by heating and pushing in. Its still wont be nearly as exaggerated as the real deal but a bit closer.

 

[F.N.]

No you did not waste your time simple as that 912 air getting to the rootball is only a good thing

 

[elsamurai]

I'm going to do this to my square pots next time they are empty. they don't dry as fast as I like.

 

[G.Leave]

I'm going to do this to my square pots next time they are empty. they don't dry as fast as I like.

I found these pots to dry out quite a bit quicker for sure than normal. I'm watering 1.5 litres every day for the DIY and 1.5 every day and a half for the non DIY pot of the same size.

 

[BII]

Those starting with regular plastic containers might also consider either making a lot more small holes (more aeration the better) or making much larger holes or vertical slats (like the Hercules model) and lining the inside with moderate-sized nylon mesh/screening (e.g., open spaces slightly larger than those of window screens, but fine enough to hold in the medium/soil). I line the bottom or my Air-Pots with nylon mesh, seemingly without any adverse effects, with no roots protruding/visible at the bottom, which I assume means the screen/mesh is not affecting air exposure and related root pruning.

 

[F.N.]

Can I ask what kind of nylon mesh you used that is a very good idea.

 

[BII]

Can I ask what kind of nylon mesh you used that is a very good idea.

Just some cheap nylon screening sold in rolls for window screen repair cut to fit the bottom of the Air-Pots. I went to a local hardware store and picked the coarsest roll of nylon screening, with the largest open spaces and heaviest nylon threads, which could even be among the cheapest because it's not a fine mesh screen designed to be 'invisible.' Any nylon (or stainless steel, alumuninum or other non-corroding/rusting) window or other screen should work - as long as there is lots of air exposure. You could also get screening or fine netting by the yard/meter from any fabric store.

 

[AnanKofan]

I make like in this link (sorry for other forum link)
https://www.420magazine.com/forums/do-it-yourself/134498-diy-airpots.html

 

[mohawk warrior]

nice! great minds think alike... u suggest I do the whole way up the bucket I got?