The
Polanter is a new vertical gardening system that was designed to replace the old hanging basket system. It is manufactured in New Zealand using precision injection molding and made of UV stabilized plastic that will not fade and is brittle resistant. The material is polyprolene which is indestructible and frost proof so you can use the Polanter all year round, even for winter bedding plants. The Polanter is 21 inches long and 5 inches in diameter and is offered in a variety of colors: dark green, terracotta, black, white, and lilac. With 12 carefully positioned holes, you can plant a variety of plants, including bedding plants, vegetables, salad, fruit, cacti, heathers, alpines, tomatoes, strawberries, herbs, flowers, etc.
Mounting Options
There are four different options to hang the Polanter--vertically fixed, vertically hanging, horizontally on a windowsill, or horizontally fixed. Vertically fixed will look great on the side of doorways or on a backyard privacy fence. Horizontally on a windowsill can take the place of missing window boxes to brighten up windows. Vertically hanging would be perfect for a front or back porch.
How to Mount Polanter
After receiving the
Polanter, the first step is to decide where the Polanter is going to be placed and which mounting option would work best in that location. Using the fixing template on the corner of the Polanter packaging, using a felt tip pen mark on the wall the location of the brackets. For multiple Polanters linked together, the two supplied mounting brackets will need to be pushed up into the locked position in the keyholes and then use the felt tip pen to mark the location of the brackets. Drill holes for the screws on the locations marked on the wall. For concrete masonry, brick, or fibro-cement claddings, insert the four wall plugs in the drilled holes. To fix the mounting brackets, use the included screws and a flat headed screwdriver to screw the two included mounting brackets into the wall. To ensure the position is correct, slot the Polanter onto the mounting brackets. Once definite of the position, insert the matching colored screw covers to cover up screws. Remove Polanter from brackets to insert watering system.
*Note: When hanging horizontally, the 4 holes facing the ground will need to be covered with the four included plant hole covers to ensure that soil and water do not leak out. Also the included end cap lid will need to be placed on the opposite end of the hose connector base. When hanging by the included strap, simply insert the strap fasteners into the eyelets at the top of the Polanter and hang where desired.
Assembling Integrated Watering System
The integrated watering system includes four parts--one plain calibrated hose, one porous soaker hose made of recycled car tires, one straight connector, and an end stop.The calibrated hose end needs to be placed for a few seconds into a few inches of hot water to soften it. The softened end needs to be pushed halfway down the straight connector. This will be a tight fit to allow water to pass through with no leaks. One end of the porous soaker hose needs to be placed in the hot water to soften the end. The softened end of the porous soaker hose needs to be pushed onto the remaining end of the straight connector until both the calibrated hose and soaker hose meet in the middle.The other end of the porous soaker hose needs to be warmed for softening and then slide the end stop on the remaining end. The complete connected hose should be in the following order: the calibrated hose, the straight connector, the soaker hose, and then the end stop. Before attaching the watering system to the Polanter, the included O ring needs to be slid onto the universal hose connector on the end cap.
To attach the integrated watering system to the Polanter tube the calibrated hose unattached end needs to be warmed in hot water. Then the warmed end needs to be pushed onto the stem pipe in the end cap in the Polanter tube as far as it will go. The watering system needs to be threaded through the Polanter tube. The Polanter tube cutout needs to match the end cap cutout. Once the end cap is securely on the Polanter tube, take two locking pips and pop them into the two opposite holes located on the end cap. This fastens the end cap to the Polanter tube. The hose clip needs to be popped into the hole at the back of the Polanter tube at the opposite end of the base end. Then place the watering system into the clip. This holds the pipe against the back of the tube.
How to Plant your Polanter
1. Place two handfuls of gravel on the bottom of the
Polanter tube to help with drainage.
2. Scoop two trowel fulls of compost into the Polanter until the soil reaches the first hole.
3. Soak the soil end of the plant in water for a few seconds. This helps with molding the soil and roots into a cylindrical shape.
4. After molded, from outside of tube place the plant in the bottom hole. From inside of tube, feed the soil end of the plant through to your other hand.
5. Repeat the process on the opposite side of the Polanter tube.
6. Add more compost until the bottom of the next hole and firm down.
7. Continue steps 2 through 6 until all holes are filled with plants.
8. When done planting the Polanter is ready to hang on the fixed mounting brackets or by the strap.
9. Newly planted plants need to be watered.
Using Integrated Watering System
To water your plants, a garden hose will need to be connected to the universal hose connected on the end cap. Water needs to be turned on. The water seeps out of the porous hose. When the water starts to drip out of the base, turn off the water and unplug the hose. Depending of how many
Polanter tubes that are linked together, the watering process should take around 60 to 90 seconds. Water ends up not pouring all over the gardener or the floor. Plants are watered from the inside out as nature intended. All plants are watered equally which means they grow and flower equally. If the Polanter is vertically fixed, you also have the option of watering from the top of the Polanter tube.
Commentary
Using the Polanter I have noticed that you do not have to pull as many weeds. Also since it is above ground, pests are few and far between. My grandmother who had recent shoulder surgery has a Polanter. She loves that she does not have to reach high above her head to water like she used to do with her hanging baskets. However she does have to keep the water hose near her front porch so she can use the watering system. If you decide to hang the Polanter horizontally, you do lose 4 planting holes on the bottom. If you vertically hang the Polanter, you do gain an additional planting hole in the top for a total of 13 planting holes. I have seen where people have bought multiple Polanters of different colors and mixed and matched to personalize them. I really liked black and lilac together.
