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| Pond basket substitute? http://weetrees.co.uk/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=15429 |
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| Author: | Marmalade [ 18 Aug 2016, 22:31 ] |
| Post subject: | Pond basket substitute? |
Wondering if one could get a standard plastic plant pot and cut some slits down it, punch a few more holes in the bottom and generally give it more drainage? Or is that crazy talk? Am I missing the real significance of the pond baskets? |
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| Author: | Keith.W [ 18 Aug 2016, 22:36 ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Pond basket substitute? |
Hi, that may work but since the price of pond baskets is low I would give it a miss, but that's just me. If you do want to put holes in a plastic pot I would recommend melting them using a hot metal pole or wire rather than trying to punch them through. |
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| Author: | paulpash [ 18 Aug 2016, 23:05 ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Pond basket substitute? |
Similar price but slightly bigger are plastic colanders - they do the job like pondies too. For 2 quid why spend 15 minutes whacking the $h1t out of a plant pot? |
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| Author: | Drew [ 19 Aug 2016, 10:53 ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Pond basket substitute? |
Marmalade wrote: Wondering if one could get a standard plastic plant pot and cut some slits down it, punch a few more holes in the bottom and generally give it more drainage? Or is that crazy talk? Am I missing the real significance of the pond baskets? yep, my vote is its crazy talk. Pond baskets are cheap use them and save yourself the hassle. |
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| Author: | PeterBone [ 19 Aug 2016, 11:35 ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Pond basket substitute? |
Cutting vertical slits would compromise the structural integrity of the pot. The weight of soil would tend to push the sides outwards. You could wrap wire around it maybe. Even then you wouldn't end up with as many holes as a pond basket. |
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| Author: | Gary Jones [ 19 Aug 2016, 11:43 ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Pond basket substitute? |
As all the above... easier and cheaper to get something designed for the job. I've used a lot of "official" air pots as well. Much sturdier than pond baskets and therefore easier to move about, but the holes are bigger in general so you need a large sized substrate to fill them (sophisticat pink works). Compost and grit works but slowly escapes. |
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| Author: | Deano [ 19 Aug 2016, 12:57 ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Pond basket substitute? |
Colander or pond baskets. cutting flimsy pots won't be good for your plants |
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| Author: | NickB [ 19 Aug 2016, 13:34 ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Pond basket substitute? |
I use washing up bowls with holes drilled in. This is just because I have a decent drill and drill bits from a previous job. Addis are my favourite because they are tough. I really should try some pond baskets though.... |
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| Author: | Gary Jones [ 19 Aug 2016, 13:57 ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Pond basket substitute? |
Also worth saying in response to the original post that the aim of the holes is to ramify roots rather than provide more drainage although you also get that as a side effect. When the roots hit the holes they dry and the tips die, causing the roots to bud further back and divide. This leads to a dense root ball rather than circling roots that you find in traditional pots. |
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| Author: | tismeisthatu [ 20 Aug 2016, 09:21 ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Pond basket substitute? |
Pond baskets all the way for me, you get some amazing results very quickly, & they are cheap. |
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