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First published 29th September 2024

Using an Air-Pot® requires a different approach to that of regular pots, and doing this ensures you get the most out of your Air-Pot®. This approach concerns:

  • the growing medium;
  • watering, and;
  • nutrients

The Growing Medium

First and foremost, this has to be fine, as in particles 5 mm or less. Any compost or potting mix used will probably need to be sieved first.

A fine medium ensures the container is not only firmly packed, but that the cones are filled as well — you’ll know this is happening when you see medium falling out the holes.

A firmly-packed container provides the dense medium needed for increased root growth and nutrient uptake, and packed cones enable root-pruning to occur. Both of these work in tandem to create the dense, fibrous root balls you will never see in a regular pot.

The medium itself can be of any formulation, so long as it is fine. It could be 100% coir peat in a hydroponic set-up, with all nutrients delivered in liquid form. It could be 100% nutrient-rich sieved compost. It could be a fine commercial potting mix. It could be any combination of any of these, or something different again.

I personally use a 1:1 ratio of coir peat:compost most of the time, and a 1:1:1 ratio of coir peat:compost:potting mix if I have any spent potting mixes to re-purpose.

Coir peat has excellent water- and nutrient-holding properties. Coir on its own is not nutrient-rich, but added nutrients will adsorb to it and become plant-available. Compost also holds water well, and is additionally very nutrient-rich.

This combination suits my requirements, but there is no right or wrong as to the mix — you may feel more comfortable adding sand or grit in some situations for example. The most important things are that the medium is fine, the container is densely-packed, and the cones are filled.

Watering Requirements

Air-Pot containers create highly aerobic environments, which is why they can be packed so tightly at all. This environment is extremely beneficial for root development, but more roots means a higher water demand.

This, plus the increased exposure to air via the open cones, does mean an Air-Pot® tends to dry out more often than a regular pot, especially over summer.

If you don’t have an automated irrigation set-up in place then please do monitor your plant for signs of water stress and compensate accordingly.

Sometimes relocating the container to a less sunny spot or watering early in the morning can be enough. In many cases potting up an established plant to a larger container can eliminate water stress overnight.

One suggestion is to erect shade cloth over summer and remove during winter. Another is to place the container under a deciduous tree which provides shade over summer but allows light through during winter. Yet another is to sit the container in water. I stress that these are suggestions — everyone’s particular situation will differ, as will those of the species they are growing.

Nutrient Requirements

A fast-growing root ball not only requires more water, but also more nutrients to feed the rest of the plant. You may need to apply fertilisers more regularly than you would have with regular pots. Liquid fertilisers will give quicker results than slow-release ones.

In Conclusion

Air-Pot containers are incredibly rewarding to use once you know how to get the most out of them!

Seeing the root ball and above-ground growth develop is immensely satisfying, and I do hope this information has helped you achieve that goal.