Firstly we would like to apologise for the problem that occurred in December with the AutoPot Newsletter. Several people received the December 2008 Newsletter up to thirteen times. It occurred due to a server problem, which we have now addressed with a new dedicated mail server, so this problem should not happen again. Once again please accept our apologies.

We would like to remind our newsletter subscribers that should they wis for any reason to unsubscribe, the relevant links can always be found at the bottom of the newsletters and also at the AutoPot and Little Growers websites.

1) To keep things simple in all the AutoPot systems we recommend that you use good quality compost from your local garden centre mixed with 30-50% perlite. Perlite is also available from all garden centres. Before use open your bag of perlite and damp it down with water. Perlite is quite dusty so damping it down first removes the dust and makes the product more manageable. The addition of perlite provides your compost mix with an abundance of air, thus promoting better root growth & healthy plants.

2) Potting up into the AutoPot pots is quite straight forward; just remember to add a marix disc to each pot first before you fill with your compost & perlite mix. Once you have filled each pot with your potting mixture choose your plant, place it in the pot and water through with a watering can & allow to drain for 10-15 minutes. Once the pots have drained place them in the AutoPot trays. PLEASE NOTE: There is enough moisture in the pot to supply the small plant for up to three-four weeks. So there is no need to turn on the system yet. Allow the plants to establish themselves first and then after 3-4 weeks fill your tank with water and add easy2grow liquid fertiliser at the required rate to the water in the tank and let the AutoPot system do the rest for the remainder of the season.

There is now an example in the easy2grow Kit section of the AutoPot website on how a standard 8’ x 6’ greenhouse can be irrigated using the 2Pot Extension Kits.

The complete kit can also be purchased at the on-line shop.

Trials of the new AQUAtable are now underway. We received the models on Christmas Eve and have been testing them out to see if they function as they are supposed to. As we mentioned previously the main aim for the table is to offer the greenhouse gardener another option of watering other plants in varying sized pots & to create an automatic bench that will allow the user to simply place seeds on the matting eliminating the use of pots or soil. We can now confirm that the AQUAtable has been successful and achieves everything we intended it for and will be going into production at the end of the year, in readiness for spring 2010. Please see the images below with Rocket seeds placed on capillary matting. You can also see that pots of any size can be irrigated. We are also testing a growing medium from Sure to Grow in the States. www.suretogrow.com

Dear Mr Ralph-Smith,

I have been passed your details by your colleagues at Brill View Farm.

I have received a complaint via another local authority regarding AutoPot and the claims made about the product. The complainant is querying the following statements, as they think that there are other products on the market which do the same thing and may be more environmentally friendly.

"easy2grow Kit is the only complete kit in the world that will water & feed your plants without the need for pumps, timers or electricity"

"This really is a breakthrough in easy greenhouse irrigation, no other complete system can be left unattended for several weeks and still produce beautiful plants time & time again."

"All the AutoPot products that we supply are the most environmentally friendly watering systems in the world "
It is my job to investigate any complaint that is forwarded to me and get both sides of the story. In order to assist me with this complaint, as it is it is my duty to investigate any complaints that I receive and obtain both sides of the story, could you please provide me with substantiating evidence or an explanation for the claims which you are making, especially the statements which allege your products are the best in the world.

Many thanks,

Trading Standards.

AutoPot Offer - 10% Discount!

On a lighter note we would like to offer anyone wishing to buy the AutoPot products 10% discount. Please feel free to use the coupon code "mar09"
as many times as you like until the end of March 2009 at the checkout stage when ordering at the Online Shop.
Please visit the website at www.autopot.co.uk and the on-line shop to purchase probably the worlds most user friendly, no power required, gravity fed, automatic, trouble free, easily extended systems available today ;o)

Ironically the gentleman in Lancashire who made the complaint uses them too.

Little Growers

AutoPot 8” x 6” Greenhouse using 2Pot Extension Kits

Contents:

Well that’s enough from AutoPot & Little Growers for the time being, I do hope that the information enclosed is beneficial and amused you a little.

Happy Growing for 2009

Kind Regards,

Jason.S.Ralph-Smith
AutoPot & Little Growers