I could not get it open either. I searched and found these (property address) comments from the site, not mine. original plans http://www.ohcripes.com/?page_id=27 IPlanter Modifiedhttp://ohcripes.com/?page_id=47 Have fun and be sure to check the Big Ugly Board http://www.ohcripes.com/SRSupport/index.php this is Tuscan Lady and her posting: http://www.thetuscanhousewife.com/in_the_garden/upside_down_tomato_planter/

I'm pretty sure it's the same FoxFarm potting soil. For big containers I mix FoxFarm and Fafard together. FoxFarm is just so darn expensive and Fafard is an excellent all purpose potting soil too but is much cheaper. Both are very well draining. For my rooted plumerias I don't add much more then a couple handfulls of perlite or whatever happens to be onhand and occasionally don't add anything. I usually buy coir in bricks but I always soak it and change the water several times to remove the salt, even with bricks that say they have a low salt content. It appears that's not necessary with the Cocogro. I made my own coir not too long ago. I got a whole coconut and shredded the husk and allowed it to dry for a month or so then I chopped it up. It looked similar and seems to have worked ok but I just did it for fun. Too much of a PITA to shread a cocconut husk. It's easier to buy. Here is a link that might be useful: Ocean Forest

Hi Sunnyside ~ Oh great - then we'll try them together - I am ordering these ---http://www.smartpots.com/ I guess there are different brands? Good Poing DIGdirt - I guess they could be bottom light - I will try some in 5 gallons - I went overboard with the tomato seeds this year and have like 300 little seedlings - So i don't have the room in the yard for all and am so high on growing them I can't stop myself :) Then again - there is an old coot down the street who grew the best beefsteak tomatoes in old dutch boy cans last year so who knows - maybe its the love that makes them thrive :D

Howdy MacThayer, I got the idea here (I think) a couple of years ago to use a two or three litre soda bottle. Cut the bottom off and tun it upside down. You can use an old tomato cage to suspend it. Put some wire or chains on it to hang it. Cut off the excess wire and use it. I used a tomato plant that was started in a fiber pot. The pot kept it from falling through the hole. Put soil on top gently and the roots grow through the pot to the soil. It worked great. I hung it on my porch in the afternoon sun and had great tomatoes until Dec. when it finally froze. I didn't lose any to the birds either I guess because they didn't have the tomato cage to sit on while they munched. Try it before you purchase any to see if it works for you. I will try two or three this year.