DIY SmartPots

Metasynth

Metasynth

Well-Known Member
So last season is down (Northern Hemi), and next season is aproaching rapdly. Here's the situation, I grew in-ground last year, had decent results. But here's the kicker, i have a small garden plot available to me. I'm all for growing in containers, since in the past I've had mild success with it, and with all my research i've decided to go with smartpots. Like many people out there, I'm not too enthusiastic about coughing up 22 bucks for One 65 gallon pot, so I'm gonna go pick up some 3.0-3.6 oz spunbonded polypropylene landscape fabric (about $25 for a 3' x 50' roll)and rig up some big beauties with chicken wire and some sort of dowels as a support system. I will post pics in the next month or so, but was wondering if anyone has experience doing this sort of thing, and if so, what were the specs and how did it all turn out? I'm thinking of going around 50 gallons to save on soil and space, but would love input from others! Hope everyone is enjoying their smoke :leaf: (mine has a 3 week cure so far) and keep up the good work!
 
Metasynth

Metasynth

Well-Known Member
So i bought a couple 32 gallon storage tubs at walmart, 7 bucks! I'm gonna get a woodburner, and go crazy on it, completely perforate the sucker with 100's of little holes all over, and line the inside with some sort of weedguard fabric. I still want to make fabric pots, but I might just break down and buy the Smartpots. I've heard they're really worth is, so looks like I might end up doing a side by side grow with my homemade aerated pots vs. the store bought. I'll get some batteries for the camera and get pics up soon!
 
Metasynth

Metasynth

Well-Known Member
I know some of you out there are using creative devices as planters or pots. Maybe you got some growing out of an old bathtub, or a toilet. Post your pics guys! What are some of the strangest things you've planted in??
design-happens-book-planter-bloom600x350[1].jpg
 
Metasynth

Metasynth

Well-Known Member
So I got the camera up and running and started poking holes, here's the result so far. I wrapped them with some twine and covered it with duct tape to hold it in place till i fill them with soil. I was slightly worried that the holes would undermine the stability of the containers, but after i finished they still felt nice and sturdy. I'd still like to line it with some sort of felt-textured fabric to help with water retention, but it's still a few months till April.
 

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Metasynth

Metasynth

Well-Known Member
Is your felt made from natural fabric? I intend to line my plastic with spunbonded polypropylene landscape fabric beacuse i was concerned that regular or stiffened felt would start to decompose after time outdooors. Plus, my pots need to be a LOT bigger, at least 30 gallons. I just decided to make some 30 gallon storage container pots, and I broke down and bought a some 30 and 45 gallon smart pots. Screw it, i had the money leftover from a trip to vegas anyway. But yeah, i've heard a lot of fabrics will break down after a few months in contact with wet soil. I also hope you used synthetic thread, what if the stitching just comes undone? lol....Nice thread though. Beautiful pot. I just think it's not entirely practical for outdoor growing.

P.S.-Those AirPots you posted a link for are what inspired me to make my own aerated plastic storage container pots!
 
PurpleRhinoceros

PurpleRhinoceros

Active Member
Nay, my felt is made from 100% recycled plastic bottles. In otherwords, plastic. The thread i used, I have no idea, very good point I have to learn how to use a sewing machine. But yeah, these are more like a novelty i guess. They will all break down after a certain amount of time.
 
Metasynth

Metasynth

Well-Known Member
Yeah, I actually got my smartpots at the local hydro store for less than I could have purchased them online direct from the company. They're having some 20% off sale till the 31st of the month...I Know what's going on MY x-mas wish list. Haha. But My only concern with my homemade plastic aerated pots is light exposure to the roots. Thats why I'm lining them with landscape fabric.

Also, anyone know how to keep pots cool? I know in direct sunlight the exterior temperature of pots can get quite high, preventing growth in that area of the soil. Does anyone have a relatively easy, but more importantly neat and tidy method of keeping my pots cool that doesn't include burlap and straw? Please DO NOT tell me to dig holes and put the puts in the holes. If I had enough bare earth to dig holes for them, I WOULDN'T BE GROWING IN POTS. My bare earth is all taken up with marijuana plants...so just saving you the time. Thanks Guys and Gals!
 
GibbsIt89

GibbsIt89

Well-Known Member
Metasynth said:
Yeah, I actually got my smartpots at the local hydro store for less than I could have purchased them online direct from the company. They're having some 20% off sale till the 31st of the month...I Know what's going on MY x-mas wish list. Haha. But My only concern with my homemade plastic aerated pots is light exposure to the roots. Thats why I'm lining them with landscape fabric.

Also, anyone know how to keep pots cool? I know in direct sunlight the exterior temperature of pots can get quite high, preventing growth in that area of the soil. Does anyone have a relatively easy, but more importantly neat and tidy method of keeping my pots cool that doesn't include burlap and straw? Please DO NOT tell me to dig holes and put the puts in the holes. If I had enough bare earth to dig holes for them, I WOULDN'T BE GROWING IN POTS. My bare earth is all taken up with marijuana plants...so just saving you the time. Thanks Guys and Gals!
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kk not dissing ur thread/idea up at ALL bro.. totally thought about this myself.. BUT.. are you really interested in going thru this trouble for the simple fact of just throwing some holes in on the sides of ur pot (lots of course)? just use some pro-mix HP and mayb some pottery pebbles at the bottom to help with drainage and EXTRA airation.. you should be good after that man.. see how she does let me know
 
Metasynth

Metasynth

Well-Known Member
Air-pruning can't occur without air flow to the sides of the soil as well as the bottom...Also it keeps the soil cooler. And it wasn't that much effort, Gibbs, not to mention that it saved me a few bucks. I plan on using SmartPots, Homemade aerated pots, and i'm growing in-ground. Putting pottery pebbles at the bottom of the pot with not help with any of the reasons I made these pots. I'm not worried about drainage at all...lol...It's the other benefits of aerated pots I'm looking for. Appreciate your $0.02 though. It's more of a side-by-side grow, to see which method works best for me. I like advice from others, but the best way of learning is by doing yourself.
 
W

WhiteWidower123

Active Member
I buy my smart pots for 4.99
Building them myself just doesnt seem to make sense.
I do ALOT of DIY. I have DIY cool tubes, filters, and ozone generator... but when it came to pots it didnt seem neccissary.
What are the benefits to a DIY smart pot?

Metasynth said:
Also, anyone know how to keep pots cool? I know in direct sunlight the exterior temperature of pots can get quite high, preventing growth in that area of the soil. Does anyone have a relatively easy, but more importantly neat and tidy method of keeping my pots cool that doesn't include burlap and straw? Please DO NOT tell me to dig holes and put the puts in the holes. If I had enough bare earth to dig holes for them, I WOULDN'T BE GROWING IN POTS. My bare earth is all taken up with marijuana plants...so just saving you the time. Thanks Guys and Gals!
Click to expand...
I use Garage Door insulation for my grow room, and with the left over material i made sleeves JUST big enough to go around the pots. On one hand u could say that it keeps the heat in, but on the other hand, the pots are BLACK and the material i used for the sleeve is completely reflective. I think that getting rid of the heat attracted to the black sides of the pot is enough to seriously minimize the temp of the dirt in the pot. This method will take NO extra space, and wont require u to bury ur pots. You can even make ur sleeve stand an inch or two higher than the pot to reflect light onto the lower leaves.
 
PurpleRhinoceros

PurpleRhinoceros

Active Member
WhiteWidower123 said:
I buy my smart pots for 4.99
Building them myself just doesnt seem to make sense.
I do ALOT of DIY. I have DIY cool tubes, filters, and ozone generator... but when it came to pots it didnt seem neccissary.
What are the benefits to a DIY smart pot?
Click to expand...
Advantages?!!? Have you seen this?


The link is in my sig to my DIY Fabric Pot.

Edit: to be serious. Naw man no real advantage beyond aesthetics. and actually putting it together yourself for free is like slaving for yourself. You will hate yourself after you spend so much time sewing.
 
W

WhiteWidower123

Active Member
PurpleRhinoceros said:
Advantages?!!? Have you seen this?


The link is in my sig to my DIY Fabric Pot.

Edit: to be serious. Naw man no real advantage beyond aesthetics. and actually putting it together yourself for free is like slaving for yourself. You will hate yourself after you spend so much time sewing.
Click to expand...
HAHAHA, ok. Thank you for giving a serious response man, it is a pretty fuckin cool lookin pot. haha, but yea after making my room up with almost all DIY i seriously dont want to make anything else in my life. like ever.... maybe babies...
 
Metasynth

Metasynth

Well-Known Member
[/QUOTE]I use Garage Door insulation for my grow room, and with the left over material i made sleeves JUST big enough to go around the pots. On one hand u could say that it keeps the heat in, but on the other hand, the pots are BLACK and the material i used for the sleeve is completely reflective. I think that getting rid of the heat attracted to the black sides of the pot is enough to seriously minimize the temp of the dirt in the pot. This method will take NO extra space, and wont require u to bury ur pots. You can even make ur sleeve stand an inch or two higher than the pot to reflect light onto the lower leaves.[/QUOTE]

Thanks for the idea, I'll have to check it out at home depot next time I go. The larger smartpots cost more at my hydro shop, like 15 a pop for the 30 gallon bags. No real benifit to making my own other than the fact that I have lot of time to kill till april, so I don't mind gathering my materials one piece at a time, keeps me busy till spring
 
Metasynth

Metasynth

Well-Known Member
A year and a half later...what was I thinking?

Naw, they worked great, awesome drainage. I'd go with larger holes on the bottom next time.
 
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