Air Pots are one of the newer innovations in plant containers, but they’ve become almost overwhelmingly popular with growers. Rather than using a standard pot that has holes or openings at the bottom for drainage, Air Pots use air pruning to encourage root growth into its container instead of creating long roots that breakthrough your container edge.
Air Pots are manufactured using injection molding, which creates a plastic container that is more rounded than traditional pots. This results in durability and less cracking of the pot at its edge. Air Pots also allow for oxygen to reach the root base, increasing your plant’s growth rate by drastically decreasing issues with anaerobic diseases. The air pruning idea came from a D. Landreth Seed Company employee who noticed that some tomato roots grow straight down instead of going on to break the pot’s edge. By putting small slits in the sides up to about halfway up the plant container, the plant sends out more roots directly downward, allowing for greater nutrient intake and better stability. These roots prune themselves as they grow and don’t require you to cut them.
Air Pots containers are easy to transplant, as the plant’s root ball is not disturbed during the transfer from one pot to another. Using a standard pot can cause you to break up the soil around your plant, disrupting its root base and upsetting the natural balance it has grown to. Air Pots have become a favorite among gardeners for their durability and easy use, making them a great choice for any gardening endeavor!
Benefits of Air Pots:
- Allows oxygen to reach root base, promoting healthy roots and healthier plant
- Reduces the risk of disease that occurs when soil is overly saturated with water or compacted.
- Air Pots are stronger than traditional pots, preventing the normal cracking and damage found in typical pots.
- Air Pots have small slits that “air prune” the roots as they grow, causing them to thicken and branch out.
- Easily transfer your plants without disturbing their root base, provided you use a new Air-Pot of similar size for the new plant.
- They are made from durable injection-molded plastic, making them less likely to crack or break.
- Air Pots are easy to stack and store neatly, as they take up minimal space even when stacked.
- Roots have more surface area for nutrient uptake, resulting in faster growth overall.
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