Design Features

The PotHead offers a range of carefully designed and tested features additional to improved weed control:

• Water Capture & Efficiency - Our team of engineers designed a fit-for-purpose, covered vent system to ensure water reaches the plant root system. Water flows to these vents and any weed seeds are washed into the dark where they cannot grow. This has shown to be effective at water capture and retainment under multiple irrigation systems, including overhead and drip irrigation systems. PotHeads have been shown to reduce water loss to evaporation around 20%. See: Moisture retention trials

• Wind Resistance - secure clip-on system with perimeter clips and inner bead for friction grip. The perimeter of the PotHead overlaps the pot but does not hang lower, so that it can’t easily be dislodged by brushing past or gusts. See: Wind resistance trials

• Easy Application - We tested application of Potheads in the nursery. This is done either at the potting table or once the crop has been placed out in the nursery. A trained applicator can firmly secure 600+ per hour at the potting table or 500 per hour in the field - this is usually the only manual labour step needed until the crop is mature and they are removed for re-use. Getting the application technique right is important and simple to learn (see videos below)

• Temperature moderation - the cover slows penetration of frosts to roots by insulating the soil. In hot conditions, the lids protect the growing media from direct sun and stay cool via the air vents. Overhead irrigation can quickly and easily cool everything down in extreme conditions. Overall only a very small temperature moderation effect of around 1 degree Celsius is observed See: Temperature trials

• Uniformity of the crop - studies have shown increased uniformity in crop heights and root collar diameters using PotHeads - whether this is caused by mediation of temperature or water retention is not yet fully understood. See: California conference research paper

• Increased nursery hygiene - PotHeads prevent growing media during rain or irrigation events, and reduce the need for hand weeding. Pathogens such as phytopthora are less able to spread through lost and flicked growing media. Pests such as mice, rabbits and birds are not able to get at the roots and disturb pots. If pots are blown over in heavy wind, PotHeads generally stay on reducing spillage.

• Made in Australia - for tough Australian conditions, from recycled plastic and fully recyclable (PP5)

• UV stabilised - to ensure product longevity and lifespan to match high quality polypropylene plastic pot products

• Re-usable - Unlike current commercially available, single-use weed control products- the PotHeadᵀᴹ is easy to wash/sterilise and re-use over and over again - with a practical life span of 6-8 years or more.

Water Capture & Efficiency

Water flows to the covered air vents and distributes evenly through the pot

Wind resistance

Not even two leaf-blowers working in tandem could dislodge the PotHead when properly applied