Fabric pots’ breathable material promotes airflow to the roots, a key requirement for healthy root development. They also help prevent overwatering, a common problem that leads to fungal, bacterial and insect pests.
The permeability of fabric pots allows them to naturally prune roots as they approach the sides of the container, preventing them from becoming “pot bound.” This process is called air pruning.
1. Better Water Retention
Fabric pots are designed to be reusable and can be washed, rinsed, and rewashed over and over again. Unlike plastic and clay pots, which can get brittle after repeated washings, fabric containers retain their sturdy exterior and can be used for years without losing quality.
Breathable fabric allows air to move easily through the pot walls, allowing the root zone to access oxygen. This prevents root bound roots that occur in traditional plastic containers. When roots hit the wall of a container they circle around trying to find oxygen and the plant gets tired from the extra effort needed. With a fabric pot, this is not an issue because air prunes the roots, allowing them to access oxygen and creating more fibrous feeder roots.
The breath-ability of fabric pots also helps to regulate temperature. This is because plastic and terracotta pots heat up in the sun or under HID lights, causing sweating and stress to plants. The fabric pots breath-ability allows cool air to pass through the breathable fabric and lower the root ball temperature in a similar way that evaporative cooling cools the house.
Additionally, fabric pots allow water to drain freely through the bottom and sides. This prevents over watering, which is a common problem with many potted plants. The breathable fabric material also prevents excessive nutrient leaching, which can be a big problem for edible plants in traditional pots. It is recommended to use a potting mix with a high percentage of organic matter in fabric pots for the best results. This allows the natural worms and microbes to thrive in the soil. This is the best way to promote healthy, dense roots that can take in more nutrients and moisture, according to this guide to LST.
2. Better Air Exchange
Fabric pots are breathable, which is an important feature for healthy root systems. Plant roots need to have oxygen available in order to grow and thrive, but when roots are confined within a plastic pot they tend to only absorb oxygen through the surface of the soil, which can lead to suffocation. The breathable material in fabric pots allows air to flow through the soil and into the roots, which naturally prunes the roots as they reach the sides of the container, and prevents root circling.
In addition, the breathability of fabric pots helps to regulate temperature by reducing the amount of heat trapped in the pot. During the summer, when temperatures outside are high and roots are in plastic pots they can experience temperature spikes of up to 30 degrees which can stunt their growth and cause damage. The breathable fabric in the pots helps reduce this heat by allowing air to pass through the fabric and into the roots, cooling them down.
Another way that the breathable fabric in fabric pots can benefit the plants is by helping to regulate the amount of water used. When a plant is growing in a plastic pot it will often take up too much water due to the restricted flow of air, which can lead to overwatering and eventual root rot. Because the breathable fabric helps to control the water flow, it is less likely that the plant will overwater, and therefore will use fewer nutrients.
There are a few drawbacks to using fabric pots, but for most growers they offer many benefits that outweigh the drawbacks. The best option for growers is to weigh the pros and cons of each type of container and decide what would work best for their specific operation.
3. Better Temperature Control
Fabric pots are permeable and allow air to penetrate the sides of the container. This keeps roots cool even when exposed to direct sunlight on hot days. This active cooling helps prevent root rot that often occurs in plastic containers.
Another advantage of fabric pots is their ability to release heat, which aids in plant growth. The natural transpiration of the plant itself cools the fabric, which in turn cools the soil in the container. This is especially important for growers who rely on the use of low heat, high-intensity light systems in indoor gardens.
Roots in fabric pots also receive more oxygen, which results in healthier plants and faster growth. In plastic containers, once roots reach the edge of the container they are forced to circle in search of oxygen. This results in minimal lateral branching and poor nutrient uptake.
However, when roots reach the edge of a fabric pot, they can absorb oxygen from all directions and activate lateral branching. This process is known as air pruning and it creates dense, finely branched roots that are ideal for absorbing moisture and nutrients. This leads to healthier, more vigorous plants with a dramatic increase in yields.
Unlike traditional plastic pots, which can become brittle over time, fabric smart pots are lightweight and sturdy, making them easier to transport and maneuver. They can also be folded flat for storage, saving space in your garden or home. Additionally, they are reusable for up to five or six growing cycles and can be washed and sanitized between uses. Lastly, they help protect the environment by keeping soil in place while allowing excess water to drain away from the growing area.
4. Better Drainage
Fabric pots allow the roots to penetrate through them, a process known as “air pruning.” Instead of circling around the pot like they do in plastic containers, plant roots form densely-branched structures that soak up water and nutrients. This makes them healthier and stronger, and it also increases the amount of root mass per plant. And because a healthy root system is vital to your garden, it also means a bigger harvest.
Fabric planters also have better drainage. Because the breathable material lets air move freely through the entire container, excess water bleeds from the top and sides instead of pooling at the bottom, which is a common problem for growers using traditional pots. This also helps prevent overwatering, which is a major problem for indoor and outdoor plants alike.
The fabric pots also have a better root system for outdoor gardeners because they let the roots grow through them, which is called air pruning. This makes them easier to transplant and allows the roots to get more surface area in the soil, so they absorb more water and nutrients. It also reduces the chance of root rot or other problems caused by overcrowding or overwatering, as well as eliminates fungus gnats and other pesky pests that can be a problem in plastic pots.
In addition, many of the leading brand’s pots have handles, which make them much easier to move around, especially when growing outdoors. As the seasons change and light, shade and garden temperatures fluctuate, being able to move the plants you’re cultivating is important. With fabric pots, this is easy because they’re lighter to lift than the typical plastic pot. They also fold up and can be stored easily, which is a huge advantage for those who are growing in limited space.
5. Better Root Pruning
Many fabric pots are made from a breathable material that encourages what is known as air root pruning. This process is beneficial to the plants because it keeps them from becoming “root bound.” When roots reach the wall of an impermeable container they tend to begin winding around one another and the container itself. This is called root girdling and it can strangle the plant or cause it to become weak and unhealthy. The breathable fabric in fabric pots prevents this by causing the roots to prune themselves, which also promotes the growth of new root buds for a dense fibrous root system.
Breathability also contributes to temperature control in a fabric pot. Plastic and terracotta containers will heat up in direct sunlight which causes the plant to sweat. The breathability in a fabric pot allows the soil to cool down in the same way evaporative cooling cools a house. This helps the plant to adjust to its environment better and reduces stress.
All of these factors make fabric pots easier to work with than plastic containers. They are lightweight and fold down flat for easy transport. This means a single person can fill them, water them and move them around with ease. Many of the larger sizes even come with handles that make it easier to maneuver them during transplanting and moving. They are also much lighter and easier to handle than the floppy bundles of plastic pots that are notorious for collapsing under their own weight when trying to transport them. This makes them a much safer choice for fragile, delicate or long-stemmed plants. This is particularly important for wildflowers and tree planting where the fine roots need to be protected.