Hi Nikki!

What a great idea using that basket! I found a PDF with photos of these pots, and I'd start half way down, and drill a 1/4" or less hole in every one of those basket openings, and also on the bottom. Hypertufa is pretty thick, so 1/4" would work, I think..... :-)

I'm so lazy, I might just use the basket as a form, cover it with landscape cloth, and use that!!

BTW. I got my green pecans, and that stuff smells like heaven!!
Suzi

Here is a link that might be useful: Pictures of Root Pruning Containers

Thanks Suzi,
I saw these baskets at Family Dollar for only 1.50 ea and they were the perfect size so I bought all of them!

Gee, that's an awful lot of drilling through masonry - your idea about covering it with landscape fabric is great, except I don't think it would look all that attractive. Maybe if I line the inside with the fabric to keep the gritty mix in and then put something more "wow" on the outside. Or maybe just put the LS fabric lined basket into a burlap sack with a draw string? The first pic on the pdf is the only one I find reasonably attractive, it reminds me a bit of those 70's wooden hippy bead curtains hmmm...

I am glad you got your green pecans! I tested mine around July 10th and they were twice the size but you could still push a nail through them easily (I didn't have a needle handy). I decided to wait and see how your wine/liquor comes out before I try it next year(so let me know!)

Did you ever make your pool card/pool table?
Nikki

Granburyflowergirl: I responded with my input in the other thread here. Making your own container is a great idea and reasonable amount of added holes will provide extra aeration to the root zone without overly sacrificing moisture loss. But you will likely be disappointed if you're expecting it to passively air root prune for you.

Perhaps there are a few folks who have tested this method and can provide more feedback from various trials or university research. Testing takes setup and monitoring over a long period of time....

Sorry to inconvenience you, but I don't get it. If I use an air-root container. does that mean the outside of the container is full of holes and the roots will come through them and then I have to cut them off? Does such a container look ugly on a patio?

haase, that's what I thought at first too ;-)! But no, the roots aren't supposed to grow out through the holes, they sense the air when they get close to the edge of the container and "prune" themselves by branching rather than growing in a circular manner around the pot. Look at the pdf on Suzi's link above

Cebury, thanks for all of the info, I am not expecting to completely avoid ever having to do root work, I just want to be able to wait as long as I can and still have happy vigorous plants.

Actually I think the roots are supposed to grow out of the holes. When they do that they will then be exposed to air and causing the tips to die. I have a bunch of rootmaker products and all the plastic containers are set up to direct the roots out of the holes. Fabric containers work different. The tips of the roots grow into the fabric and then get constricted which prunes the roots.

http://www.rootmaker.com/rootmakersystem.php

I think the point is, the root tips die/branch inside the pot prior to exiting the container - or are you saying they actually grow through the holes before dying to where you have the look of spaghetti escaping a strainer?

They have to come in contact with air, so yes they actually grow through the holes.

hmmm....but wouldn't the air occupy the space in the holes thus stopping the roots from actually growing through them?

The roots (at least in the rootmaker products) are guided to the hole where once they are exposed to air will cause the tips to die. Unless the pots are in high humidity environment with little air circulation, the roots won't be growing far if at all out the hole. They will essentially stop at the hole once being exposed to the air.

okay, so no unsightly shag on the pot's exterior, I think that was the concern (at least it was mine originally ;-))

If they are visible, it won't be severely ugly, I wouldn't worry too much. But I've never used those.... What ltruett is saying about fabric is in-line with my experience....

Well thanks for all the input but I think its all moot for me now, since it appears that the purpose of the air pruning is to prep the plant for in ground planting which is not my intention.

I think just plain hypertufa pots with gritty mix will meet my needs.

Granburyflowergirl: Sorry I just got back from vacation. Yes many use them to prep for in-ground planting, but there is no reason to not use them exclusively for container trees. The theory is they will produce more fibrous root systems to the interior of the rootball. However, as the tree grows larger you will either need to pot-up to a larger RPC or prune the roots -- in that sense it is no different than a standard container.

Anyway, since you have them already I would certainly give them a try. The downside is, just as you heard from a nursery man, they will have different watering requirements as the media will dry out faster near the edges where the holes are. The manufacturers claim extra watering is "short term" only, I assume b/c if their theory works, the plant adjusts with more interior roots development and you won't have to worry as much about keeping the edges as moist. My guess on their claims anyway....

For the other question, you shouldn't hurt them if you can safely pop a hole or two into the bottom. Not sure why it's missing them, but /shrug.