Most houseplants, vegetables and flowers thrive in fabric pots. Their breathable nature allows oxygen to permeate the soil and roots, cooling them from harsh weather conditions like heat and drought.
Their breathable material also promotes air pruning, which is especially valuable for non-woody plants such as annual flowers and vegetables. Circulating roots are a problem for woody plants and inhibit their growth.
Air Pruning
The breathable nature of fabric pots (also known as grow bags) allows for air to flow easily throughout the root zone. This allows for the plant to absorb nutrients and moisture more efficiently, where they are naturally pruned when they come into contact with air. It also helps the roots to stay cool, a vital aspect of healthy plant growth.
The way that fabric pots promote air flow is by promoting a phenomenon called “air pruning.” When the roots of a plant reach the edge of the container they sense drier soil exposed to the air. This triggers the plant to stop growing and instead send out tertiary roots that circle around the edges of the pot into a dense, compact root ball. This eliminates overgrowth and prevents girdling roots, which damage the structure of the plants they surround.
When the roots of a plant are constantly being restricted by containers that constrict them, they tend to bunch up and become “root-bound.” This can limit nutrient absorption, slowing down growth. The breathable nature of fabric pots causes the roots to branch out, improving their mass and structure, and making them more efficient at absorbing water and nutrients.
Another benefit of using fabric pots is that it helps the root system to drain quickly, which prevents the buildup of excess water. This helps the roots to avoid root rot and other moisture-related diseases.
Finally, the porous material of fabric pots helps the roots to remain at a cool temperature, which is crucial to their health. When roots are in a plastic pot, they often warm up from sunlight and the heat can cause stress on the roots. This is a big issue that can be avoided when using fabric pots.
Better Drainage
The permeable nature of fabric pots allows water to pass in and out of the soil, preventing overwatering. It also allows oxygen to reach the roots, which prevents root rot. The fabric material also helps the container retain heat during the winter and cools it in the summer, providing a more comfortable environment for plants.
Another benefit of fabric pots is that they help the roots to branch out with dense fibrous growth. This provides better nutrient uptake than a single trunk that runs the length of the container. This is especially important for larger cultivators who want to achieve higher yields.
While many people are concerned that the circulating roots of fabric pots will stunt plant growth, this is not necessarily true. Circulating roots do not have any negative impact on the plant over one season, as long as they are healthy and get plenty of air and water.
Many horticulturists have found that fabric pots allow for more root volume than plastic containers. This is a result of the air pruning and moisture control described above, combined with the fact that fabric pots provide an ideal environment for roots to grow into the ground. Consequently, they can help to increase crop productivity, regardless of the type of soil being used in the garden.
The best way to determine whether a particular type of pot is right for your garden is to experiment with it. Most retailers have samples of their products in store for customers to try out and ask questions. If you are not able to visit your local retailer, many websites and gardening magazines feature reviews and comparisons of different types of growing containers.
It is also important to note that while a fabric pot is more expensive than a plastic one, it is reusable and will not need replacing. You can simply wash it with a bit of soap and water when it is time to replant, and you will be ready to go. In addition, many fabric pots come with handles, continuing where traditional plastic ones leave off, making them easier to move around the garden.
Better Oxygenation
One of the key reasons to use fabric pots is that they allow the roots of your plants to breathe. Traditional plastic and terracotta containers constrict the root zone. This can cause the roots to bunch up and restrict nutrient uptake. In contrast, the breathable nature of fabric Smart Pots promotes new feeder roots to develop, improving overall mass and structure of the root system.
Because they are breathable, fabric Smart Pots can also help regulate the temperature of the soil in the root zone. This helps prevent heat stress that can be caused by the hot sun absorbing into terracotta or plastic pots, heating the soil and making it unfriendly to roots. This is a great advantage when growing in outdoor climates or in warmer areas of the country.
Roots in a fabric pot are able to expand sideways as well as vertically thanks to the breathable material. This allows them to grow freely through the medium, forming a dense and healthy root system. Because of this, fewer feeder roots are needed to support the plant which reduces both the size of the container and the watering requirements.
The breathable nature of the fabric also means that oxygen can easily reach the roots from all angles – something that is not always possible in traditional plastic pots. This improved oxygenation helps the roots to absorb nutrients and also supports microorganisms in the soil.
In a recent trial with the popular Knock Out rose (Rosa x ‘Knock Out’), we found that the roots of the plant grew more freely in the fabric pot. This was due to the ‘air pruning’ effect of the breathable material. This enables the growth of thick, fibrous feeder roots. This in turn helped the plants to thrive.
In the trial we also found that soil temperatures in the center of the root ball were much lower in the fabric pots. This is a result of the breathable fabric allowing heat to dissipate rather than retaining it as in the plastic pots. It’s therefore more difficult to over water plants in a fabric pot because any excess water simply drains away, leaving no extra moisture trapped in the soil like can happen with plastic pots.
Better Moisture Control
If you’re planting a veggie garden or a large container of herbs, a fabric pot with handles is an excellent option. Unlike plastic, which has only a lip to hold, fabric pots have handles on all sides so that the plant can easily be picked up and moved from place to place. This makes for a much easier and more convenient gardening experience for the homeowner or gardener.
One of the biggest benefits of a fabric pot is its breathability. This ability of the material to allow oxygen in and out of the root zone helps to strengthen the roots and encourage lateral growth. In addition, when roots hit the wall of a fabric pot they are ‘air pruned’ and do not grow around and around the inside of the pot (pot bound). Instead, the plants energy is redirected to forming dense fibrous roots that are better able to access water and nutrients in the soil.
The breathability of the material in a fabric pot also helps to cool the roots. In contrast, plastic or terracotta pots can absorb heat from the sun and heat the root ball which can stress the plants and stunt their growth. In addition, the breathability of the fabric can help to prevent over watering.
Another advantage of fabric pots is their low weight and insulating properties. Unlike the bulky clay or plastic pots that can weigh down a patio table, these light weight fabric pots can be folded and stored easily when the growing season ends. This allows for more storage space and a less messy and stressful gardening experience for the homeowner or gardener.
Lastly, the fabric used in these pots is often made from recycled materials. This is a great way for people to reduce their waste footprint and support the environment. In addition, these fabrics are not treated with harsh chemicals that could leach into the soil and potentially kill beneficial microbes in the process. If you’re interested in trying out a fabric pot, make sure to choose a brand that is free of chemicals and dyes that could harm the soil.