Pots are loaded onto the entry conveyor, and are automatically fed onto the cutter conveyor at the optimum spacing. They then pass under the cutter deck, where the pots are clamped, and the plants are trimmed by the cutter, which rotates around the foliage. The debris falls through to the underside of the machine, and the pot is delivered to the exit conveyor. If the exit conveyor is allowed to fill up, the machine pauses its cycle until the pots are removed. The cutter curvature, height, and rotational speed are adjustable, and the potholder automatically adjusts for different sizes of pots. The belt speeds are individually adjustable, and the cutter deck can be set to rotate twice around each pot if required. With standard 5 x 80mm cutter blades the foliage diameter can be adjusted between 120 and 360mm. The plant height is set by a motorised drive to lower or raise the cutter deck, up to a maximum of 620mm (from the base of the pot to the top of the foliage). The automatic potholders accommodate pots from 9cm to 28cm diameter.