Must have missed that because of how bad an idea it is.
Now you pay attention.
Holes in the side of the planter will only make it more likely that you leave dry pockets and don't get water to the bottom of the soil mass. You know, where the roots are.
lol, you have no clue what you are talking about.
Holes in the sides of pots are a great way to promote growth. I use superoots airpots and have had great success. Roots like air.
A 5 gallon pot is probably too big for an indoor grow, depending on what you want to do. With 5 gallon pots, you could grow 6 foot tall plants.
I run a 600 watt hps and use 5 gallon superoots airpots. The only reason I use them is that they need to be watered less (coco, ftw).
I could easily get away with 3 gallon pots. I have grown in 3 gallon pots with no reduction in yield.
I like smart pots as well, but you can make your own with landscape fabric or as was mentioned you can use reuseable grocery bags.
You can drill holes in a pot and then line it with landscape fabric. I like hempy buckets with holes lined with landscape fabric.
that is what I would do if I was able to afford superoots airpots.