antique rootpruning pots (forum)

Bangkok starts with ...
https://www.google.nl/search?q=versailles+planter&biw=1242&bih=585&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=vdhuVdmmL8G6swG774D4Dg&ved=0CCEQsAQ

For the members who don't know what Versailles Palace is just click here: It is a palace in Paris.
https://www.google.nl/search?q=versailles+palace&espv=2&biw=1242&bih=585&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=IdluVefbOqG07AaD5oLoCA&ved=0CCAQsAQ

But i just found out that in the past on this palace they grew orange tree's in special pots.

These pots can be opened from the side to see/prune the roots. I think it's an awesome idea because bigger tree's in planters have to get rootpruned every now and then and that ain't easy.

I want to build some of these pots who can open from the sides and are maintenance free. So i;m thinking of teakwood/thai redwood/marble/stainless steel to use as materials.

But what can be the bottom for one of these pots? Does it has to be open like fine netting or just closed with a few holes? I guess the roots under the pots also need to be pruned.

Or maybe this whole idea of opening pots is oldfashioned and we have better ways of rootpruning now?

Is there anybody with more info about these pots? Why are they so rare? I think they look great and very easy to open and check them roots.



Time: 3rd June 2015 8:46pm

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Bangkok says...
I see, links don't work on this forum for some reason.

On the pic you see those planters rebuilt in same style but i doubt if these can open the sidedoors.

I want to have them fully working so i can easy open the sidedoors without any tool needed.


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Time: 3rd June 2015 8:53pm

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Markmelb says...
Looks like a great old idea - as my citrus are getting bigger the soil mass is getting very heavy too.

I have 3 in terracotta laquer lined pots that must be over 10 years old and need a refresh - although they came back better when i used Troforte soil improver fertiliser.

How much root mass would you trim and with what - a machete or old sharp carving knife?

Time: 3rd June 2015 11:02pm

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Bangkok says...
Well i'm also new to rootpruning but i think i would cut all the roots which are in sight after opening the sidedoors.

Then close the door and fill it with fresh soil at the gaps.

I use many big pots but it's a hard job to lift 100+ litre soil with a tree in it.

Some tree's make very long roots who start circling in the pot and they have to be cut sometimes. Acerola cherry for example.

Roots that are pruned regularly will stay short with many sideroots.

Time: 4th June 2015 1:20am

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Bangkok says...
I see, nobody has experience with side-opening planters.

Well they cost only 7-10.000 us$ in some online shops :)

But here you can see the real pots in the palace, looks great~!
http://www.jardinsduroisoleil.com/jrs-en-images

Here you see them with open panels, this is the way to grow big tree's in planters.

http://www.jardinsduroisoleil.com/Caisse-a-oranger-Chateau-de-Versailles-Blanc

I will build my own planters like this soon and show pics.

Time: 11th June 2015 6:52am

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Bangkok says...
http://www.versaillesplanters.com.au/about.html

There you go, made in OZ.

But it seems that only 1 side can be opened. Mine will be similar to this but all sides can be opened.

For a planter of this size would it be beneficial to have some airpipes throught the soil?

Time: 27th July 2015 1:11am

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Linton says...
I have this same problem and want to grow fruit trees in large side opening pots too.

Do you know the price for the ones on the link, they don't say how much they are. I would need about 10 - 15 pots so if they are around $10 each it would be ok but I think they might cost a lot more.

I also think the wood might rot after some time if it is continuously moist from the soil.

Time: 28th July 2015 4:19pm

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Markmelb says...
Linton - that Aussie one is useless to us with only one side opening - only good for cafes or Toorak Mansions etc.

Making them commercially could be good business idea?

I reckon could be made with wooden bollards and picket timber sides for under $200 for a basic wooden corner 300lt size with all sides removeable. designing a locking strap with pin system would be hardest bit?
The french wood ones go for 6 hundred to 9 thousand or more for cast iron.
Heres a good link that shows how they cast posts with hinges in foundry and the side view of their planting method if you scroll down.
http://www.ajfdesign.com/planters.html#ordering

Time: 28th July 2015 8:50pm

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Original Post was last edited: 28th July 2015 8:44pm

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Bangkok says...
Most of the Versailles planters on the web can't open the sides, you have to study the pic very well to see it.

Also they don't come cheap at all. Cheapest i saw was 1300 us$ and most expensive 7000 us$ for a planter of like 200 litres.

I want to have 20 of them made from very durable materials. I 'll make them myself though of durable wood and ceramic tiles or granite.

Problem with granite is that only the stone will weigh 100 kg for 1 planter. Filled with 200 litre soil and a tree it will be 250-300 kilo and that gives new problems of moving them. So i need heavy duty wheels and brakes on them :).

You can also use cementfibre wood which looks very real. Or the floortiles with wood grain made of ceramic.

I wonder if granite tiles from 60x60 cm will get weathered from the sun, acidic soil, water, fertilizers. They are not totally waterresistant i guess.

I want planters who last at least 25 years and that should sure be possible. And i also won't pay more then 100 us@ for 1 if i have to make it myself.

But if you are handy they can also be made from polyester and glassfibre or any artificial wood.
I don't want my wood to touch the soil anywhere because even teak can rot.

My designs are ready and i will show you the first one here.



Time: 29th July 2015 7:49am

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sternus1 says...
These would be incredibly easy to make. I would make them from recycled plastic sleepers--won't rot, and are easy to cut to size with a dropsaw/jigsaw.

look forward to your design B, you've got me thinking I might make a couple now.

Time: 29th July 2015 8:24am

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Markmelb says...
Does anyone know or is connected with a metal casting foundry? As metal bollards with hinges in situ and base connector would be most durable. Then sides would become whatever you desire from that new eco plastic deck material to any timber with a plastic lining or even sheet steel with a rusted outer look.
Mass is the key to moving around - may need a mini fork lift but if you had out front not many would attempt to steal it.
Carbon Fibre maybe for light weight but more expensive to produce?
Trouble is you would maybe end up getting production quotes in china and would still end up with Aust iron material posts. You need to produce in high car part (Engine Block)volumes to get a fair price.
I might try making one with Pine Bollards & gate hinges and line with plastic to reduce rot of timber?

Time: 29th July 2015 9:00am

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Bangkok says...

fibreglassmat costs like 5-6 euro a square meter, the epoxy also isn't very expensive.
I've seen big (like 80 litre) pots made of fibreglass in the shops but they still cost like 120 au$.

I saw those long gatehinges of stainless steal in Holland, 75 au$ for 1 set. I need 2 sets for each door. So i will make my own hinges from ironwood i think. That's much harder/stronger then teak and lasts perfect outdoors.

There are antique cast iron planters in Europe who have been outdoors for a century or so. The paint came off many times but they still exist.
Cast iron is also heavy though so aluminium will be better i guess.

It is strange that those perfect pots for bigger tree's are hardly for sale.

I like growing tree's in pots because everything stays under control. Tree's don't grow too large so i can grow more different tree's.













Time: 29th July 2015 10:22am

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sternus1 says...
Carbon fibre/kevlar is the bomb, but yeah it does cost a fortune, even the lower grade stuff. One thing you have to consider is that fibreglass gets cancer, I've seen plenty of boats with it--but maybe this is just because of salt water, I don't know. One thing you can be sure of with plastic is that it definitely won't degrade. My only concern would be that heat could maybe warp it--gets really, really baking in Australia.

I was thinking hinges too, but thee's probably a better solution than that we haven't though of yet. Gate hinges won't last long in wet conditions, especially f there's soil around them. Even stainless will rust, alloy ones will calcify and seize.

Time: 29th July 2015 11:39am

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Markmelb says...
What do you think of say 3mm

Time: 29th July 2015 12:51pm

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sternus1 says...
Not sure Mark, I'd reasonably handy but I'm no engineer. We might be looking at it the wrong way. Th ultimate goal is to design something that the tree can be extracted from relatively easily. Maybe there's a way to do that without the need for hinged sides.

For example, if the planter consisted of two halves that fixed together some how, and whatever mechanism that did the fixing could be removed in the future, the planter could be separated into two halves when the tree needed pruning and then simply rejoined afterwards.

Time: 29th July 2015 2:31pm

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Bangkok says...
For me the look is also very important but it would be easy to make a normal plastic planter splitable. Just cut it in halves and connect it with a piece of wood and screws. That will sure work but i want to get rid of ugly pots as well.

Yes polyester and plastic can't stand sunshine for longtime. I thought of putting epoxy on a pot and then throw colored sand/stones on it so it sticks.

Stainless hinges will never rust or you got a cheap quality stainless steel. It even can stand dishwashingmachines which is the hardest test for stainless.

I made great designs in Sketchup but don't know how to post the pics here. MY planters don't have any hinges, maybe i even make them without any metal screws as well. Just hardwood and glue everything.
My doors can be taken out, the whole panel. Since i 'll use granite the doors would be very heavy anyway.

But a very cheap openable planter would be a sheet of roofing material for carports (polycarbonate or so) and make a box of that. In the corners use some wood to screw in and that will work. For a backyard would even look good i guess.

carbonfibre is expensive but i never used it. Pvc drainpipe is also a good material for outdoor and can be made into a box frame.

There is also good quality plasticwood composit material for fences.That would be the best i guess but it costs almost the same as real hardwood.

The IKEA sells wooden boxes of acacia and they are not that expensive. They look great and also have a lid. I use one for laundry but maybe will change it into a planter.






Time: 29th July 2015 10:33pm

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Linton says...
Well I wrote to the place on that website that's making them here to enquire about their prices for the planters.

That was nearly 2 weeks ago but there has been no reply.

Time: 7th August 2015 1:42pm

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Bangkok says...
I think if you show the pictures to a good steelworker that he can easy copy them.

Also aluminium parts for this planter can be easy bought in (online) shops.
The coating has to be from high quality.

I saw great teakwood planters, square box style from Indonesia. They cost between 70-150 euro in Holland.
They don't have sidedoors that can open but if you just cut the box on a circular saw and screw it together with stainless screws you also have an openable planter.

The ones i see on internet have painted (or coated) teakwood doors. I didn't know it was possible to paint or coat teakwood, it is oily wood so i wonder how long that coating lasts.





Time: 8th August 2015 1:57am

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Bangkok says...
Okay this is my new planter from 200 litre.

It's not finished yet but i'm making progress.

I didn't order these tiles but that happens all the time in Thailand. They are allright though.

Think this will be the home of my pulasantree.


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Time: 3rd September 2015 7:14pm

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