[Darkbluelight]

G'day guys.

Growing outdoors is not an option for me at this time and will probably use organic potting mix + plus what's needed (Searles) in 50cm pots - seems (to me) the way to go - trying to keep it simple. Am putting the bits together for a first indoor grow and reading about pots came across smart pots and found this -

"Also, another Smart Pot benefit is root pruning, a technique used by many commercial nurseries to produce masses of highly branched roots to improve plant quality. When a root grows to the side of the Smart Pot, it stops growing in length and develops many, many fine branches. By contrast, the roots in a plastic pot continue to grow in length when they reach the side and circle around the side of the pot. This is undesirable as there are fewer roots and these can grow around each other causing girdling or strangulation." (Found the same blurb from a few locations.)

Which makes much sense to me. Does it to anyone else?

Thing is, I can't find any in Oz - usually if it's available it's on ebay, but nothing there.

Does anybody in Oz use these smart pots or similar/knock-offs and can tell me where to get them? Not the monster ones referred to by @wallywombat - https://www.icmag.com/ic/showpost.ph...&postcount=293 - Or can anyone give me an idea of what to make them with?

I saw this - https://www.icmag.com/ic/showpost.ph...&postcount=320 - seems the only references in the Oz forum and it would be good to see the idea fleshed out and would appreciate any guidance, ideas, comments or links on the matter.

I can always use the usual plastic pots and just put some aeration holes in the sides but that wouldn't be anything near the same.

Or plastic is just more mobile, though I would have the bags/smart pots in a tray which could be used to haul them by if necessary to move them.

[hush]

There are tons of DIY teks out there on the web about making fabric pots. Here's one I dug up right here on icmag that looks solid: https://www.icmag.com/ic/showthread.php?threadid=266997.

[Darkbluelight]

Thanks, that was quick. Clearly I didn't look too hard - outside the Oz forum. I might do a couple fabric pots alongside some aerated plastic pots and see what difference it makes in the same grow room, same seed, same time/conditions.

Don't want to risk everything to something I've never done before.

Originally Posted by hush

There are tons of DIY teks out there on the web about making fabric pots. Here's one I dug up right here on icmag that looks solid: https://www.icmag.com/ic/showthread.php?threadid=266997.

[Darkbluelight]

Well, I was going to get involved here but serious matters mean I have to hang any grow notions up. C'est la vie.

However, since I started this thread I'll ad a link to an interesting thread regarding a natural development of the 'smart' pot idea - https://www.icmag.com/ic/showthread.php?t=258370

Adieu frères et sœurs.

[bl4ze]

I picked some up if your in sydney...

HydroexpertsCOmAU

Hey mate, they have plenty of smart pots on eBay sold from USA.
Use the advanced search and change from "on eBay au" to "available to au"
This broadens the search and will reveal a lot more smart pots.
5 and 10 packs with reasonable shipping of any size.
Good luck

[wallywombat]

smart pots kick arse ! smartpots. com there located in California