homemade smart pots DIY

[Maina]

stuff looks good but its WHITE to me that would stand out a little in green woods

 

[easy]

We don't have to worry about stealth, but there's a 3 oz/sq yard grey that might work.

 

[Stoned_Ranger]

Yeah,I looked at that stuff on ebay,and while it's an excellent,it would stick out like a sore thumb up here unfortunately. But good lookin out easy!

SR

 

[DaDank]

Thanks to all..

Thanks to all..

We use rolls of 3', 2"x4" 14ga mesh, and cut the rolls in half with a skill saw and metal cutting blade. A 50' roll runs about $30 and will make (10) 100 gallon pots (finish size aprox. 3' dia, 16" height). We then cover with quality 3' wide, 3oz/sq yard landscape fabric that's cut to size, folded in half, and dropped over set wire hoops 'taco style' with the wire as the filling. We don't need any fabric fasteners when done this way. 3'x300' rolls of the fabric can be found for under $40 with free shipping. That roll will cover about (30) 100gal wire hoops. It's good stuff.

Finish cost for open bottom pots made in described manner is under $4.50 per. They are easy to break down and reuse too.

If you need to attach fabric to wire hoops then use hog ring staplers. Works well when applying your netting too. I posted a pic and some info on them in a previous posting. Should be some pics of our pots somewhere too. easy

Thanks to both Maina & Easy for showing how to get around the scandalously over-priced "Smart Pots". No doubt as a result of this thread, come spring, there will be a run on chicken wire and building felt at the Hope Depot. I have been looking for pictures that Easy said had been posted regarding his /her variation on this theme. Any hope that you could re-post those pics? I am having a little trouble visualizing the "taco" aspect. And what are "hog ring staplers"? Sorry. Stuck in big city. Need to get out more.

Thanks in advance for any additional visuals.

While I cannot quite see Easy's 'Smart Pot', I can clearly visualize Jay Cutler putting on a little quarterback clinic this Sunday for that guy...um..you know...Bret Farve's back up...Aaron Whatever.
GO BEARS!

 

[easy]

... I have been looking for pictures that Easy said had been posted regarding his /her variation on this theme. Any hope that you could re-post those pics? I am having a little trouble visualizing the "taco" aspect. And what are "hog ring staplers"?....

When the wire rolls (field fence) are cut in half you end up with a finished wire on one side, and 2" wire pieces every 2" down the length of the roll (always cut in middle of mesh). We then cut for length long enough so the wire when formed has about an 8" overlap. We then bend the cut wire pieces to secure the hoop. The formed hoop is then pushed down onto the prepared ground using the cut wire pieces on bottom of hoop for securing.

You then cut your fabric long enough so there is about a foot overlap when folded lengthwise and dropped over the set wire hoops. The fabric when set is higher than the 16" hoop height (about 2"-3"). We just leave it that way.

It's hard to explain but pretty easy to understand once you get in and start doing them.

Below is from an earlier posting:

Spring Loaded Hog Ring Pliers

Try these for your hortonova netting, they make the job much easier since you have a free hand to hold the netting together while you staple. The hog ring stapler is spring loaded and holds a good 50 staples. $24.95 at Cabelas

 

[ianSF]

Here's our summer 2010 home made "bottomless" pots. Got some 36" rolls of chicken wire cheap at a flea market and a huge roll of 48" landscape fabric.

I took a power saw and cut the fabric roll in half, making 2-24" rolls.. Cut a 13.5 foot section of the chicken wire then split it the long way down the middle leaving two strips 18" 13.5'. Loop the chicken wire around and twist the ends together. You now have a chicken wire hoop 4.5'x18". Place the hoop on the ground (sharp cut side down) and cut 14' off one of the now 24" rolls of landscape fabric. For strength I have teh chicken wire seam and fabric seam on opposite sides. Haven't had one split yet. Wrap the fabric around the inside of the chicken wire and make a pants cuff over the top. Cost each, about $8. Ugly, but they work. I added all my scraps of chicken wire below the pots to keep gophers out.

 

[Aeroguerilla]

you just saved me so much money. I found a roll of underlay thats 15' x 300' cut them at 18'' x 13ft long thats 180 smartpots at roughly $7 a piece. compared to $50 a piece from www.smartpot.com

Found some fencing 1'' x 18'' x 150' for only $20 x 20 = $400

So for $1500 i can build 180 200gal smartpots fucking awesome.

 

[Maina]

you just saved me so much money. I found a roll of underlay thats 15' x 300' cut them at 18'' x 13ft long thats 180 smartpots at roughly $7 a piece. compared to $50 a piece from www.smartpot.com

Found some fencing 1'' x 18'' x 150' for only $20 x 20 = $400

So for $1500 i can build 180 200gal smartpots fucking awesome.

Nice nothing like saving a money

 

[Maina]

also you can get big bags of zip ties cheap at Mardens

 

[DaDank]

Clarification...How Many layers?

Clarification...How Many layers?

Thanks all for these money saving ideas.
Back to the original "Maina Pot" scheme. The way I read your description, your pot actually has (3) layers?
1) Fencing
2) Pond liner (felt)
3) rubber liner.

Did I misunderstand? The photos clearly show attachment method, but I cannot distinguish three layers.

Also do you have any brand names for the materials used? Alll input appreciated!

 

[Stoned_Ranger]

Hah! Sorry,anytime I hear about Marden's I can't get that stupid jingle out of my head.
"I shoulda bought it...when I saw it... at Marden's!" Again,I apologize,as this has little to do with the thread.But back to it,can't wait to try a few of these this summer. Take it easy.

SR

 

[cannascholar]

Now someone good at sewing duplicate the entire design and teach us how! Please.

 

[Sgt.Stedenko]

The landscape felt works great on DIY carbon filters as well.

 

[BotanicalBill]

DaDank, you misunderstood, as did I for the first 20 times I re-read it when he originally posted. He was explaining how it was used as a pond liner at first, then went on to explain how he used it for the pots.. I originally read it as 3 pieces as well but it's just the felt and the wire.. Re-read it with that in mind and it will probably make more sense..

BB

 

[BigTex]

Tree farms have been using this method for trees for a long time.

 

[DaDank]

BotBill -
Many thanks for the clarification. Makes more sense now. And will cost fewer cents - and be simpler! An unbeatable combination
Your response is appreicated

 

[Papulz]

soon to make 50 - 200 gallons of these... total cost of materials about $261.50

OR, 5.23 per pot.

Question - What should i use to cut the 330' roll of 13 gauge field fence with?

 

[Captain Ginyu]

Awesome DIY ideas here! I'd save a fortune for sure.

 

[self]

this is the best idea i've seen in a while, its so simple! and it might change everything this year...
deer fence and landscape cloth = the perfect maine swamp pot.
thanks Maina, one more on board for the ovahgrow of the state this season.
what strains are you rocking?
self~

 

[Maina]

AK-47 I think I have a way to make the pot without the wire on the inside
Ok you realy need to think about this.
Cut your liner lets say 8 feet long 2 feet high take the ends and over lap them 2 inches and staple them togeather may be 10 times or the hog rings.Now you have a cirlce with no bottom.
Now take a peace of flexable flashing or plastic and cut it 9 feet long and 29 inches high.make a circle with the flashing or what ever and slip the pot over it and set it on the ground. the flashing will hold the sides up.Fill it with your mix and then slip the ring out and the soil pushing out holds the sides up.
Now thats a good one