If your plants are showing signs of confinement, such as wilting or slow growth, it is time to transition them to larger containers. Plants grow best with adequate root space to access nutrients and water efficiently.

Fabric pots promote healthy roots by allowing air to move in and out of the container, thereby also reduce the need for chemical fertilizers and pesticides. They also enhance aeration and drainage.

Planting

Fabric plant pots (also known as grow bags) are an innovative solution to promote sustainability and healthier plant growth. They’re made from breathable fabric materials that provide optimal root health, better drainage and temperature regulation, and reduced environmental impact.

The fabric material is also porous, which allows for adequate aeration of the soil. This allows roots to access the oxygen they need to create energy. Properly aerated soil also helps prevent fungal diseases that can be caused by waterlogged roots.

Another advantage of fabric plant pots is their ability to prevent water logging. This is especially important if you’re growing plants that are prone to moisture problems, such as cannabis.

When you’re ready to transplant your plants into fabric pots, start by preparing the soil. If necessary, amend it with organic compost or other amendments. Next, choose a larger pot than your previous container. You’ll want to make sure that the new container is 2-4 inches larger than your current one to give your plants ample room for growth. Once you’re satisfied that your plant has plenty of space to grow, water it and monitor the soil regularly for signs of stress such as wilting or slow growth.

One of the biggest advantages of using fabric plant pots is that they allow for air pruning. This is because the breathable fabric prevents the roots from becoming overcrowded and discourages them from circling within the pot. This prevents root rot and promotes the development of a dense fibrous root system that can better absorb nutrients and moisture.

Another benefit of using fabric pots is that they allow for easy nutrient uptake. This is because they’re typically filled with organic potting mix, which is designed to hold and release water slowly over time. This allows the potting mix to release just enough water to help roots absorb essential nutrients without becoming too saturated with excess water. This is in contrast to many other types of potting mixes, which can become too compacted and impede nutrient uptake. You should always use high-quality potting mixes when planting in fabric pots.

Watering

When using fabric pots, it is important to remember that they may need more frequent watering than traditional plastic or clay containers. This is because the breathable fabric allows more moisture to escape, which can lead to waterlogging and fungal diseases. This is particularly a concern when using large, deep fabric pots for crops like tomatoes and cucumbers that require a lot of root space.

To prevent this, it is important to regularly monitor the soil moisture level and to only water when it is necessary. In addition, the use of a saucer can help reduce water loss from evaporation. Adding the saucer will allow any excess water that drains out of the fabric pot to pool in the saucer and will then be able to wick back into the plant’s roots as needed.

The breathable fabric of a fabric pot also allows for air circulation which is important in building healthy, robust roots. When roots can breathe, they are able to uptake nutrients much more efficiently than they would in a plastic container.

Another key benefit of fabric pots is their ability to stimulate air pruning of the roots. This results in a denser and more fibrous root structure which can reduce circling roots and improve yields.

In addition, the breathable fabric helps to regulate soil temperature. During hot summer months the fabric will allow excess heat to escape, preventing the soil from overheating. In the winter, the fabric will provide a light insulation, protecting roots from frost damage.

These advantages are augmented when using our Living Soil fabric pots with MoistureLock. This technology creates the closest re-creation of living soil’s natural environment possible, ensuring optimal conditions for plants and microbes to thrive. Ultimately, this leads to healthier plants with higher yields and vibrant blooms. To get started with your own grow, choose the size of fabric pots that are appropriate for your crop and fill them with a well-draining nutrient rich potting mix. After planting, gently remove your plants from their nursery containers and place them into your fabric pots.

Fertilizing

Unlike solid pruning containers, fabric pots allow for the most natural air exchange around the root system. The breathable fabric also helps to prevent soil fungus from forming and provides excellent drainage. This allows the soil to be aerated more effectively and helps reduce nutrient deficiencies. Air root pruning also prevents roots from becoming root-bound or circling within the container, resulting in a healthy and robust plant that is more productive in its uptake of water and nutrients.

It is important to monitor your plants regularly and check for signs of stress such as wilting, discoloration or slowed growth. If you notice a problem, it is essential to address it promptly before it becomes more severe.

If you notice that your plant has outgrown its current container, it is important to move them to a larger size as soon as possible to avoid damage to the plants and their roots. Fabric pots naturally mitigate root binding, making them a great choice for transitioning plants to larger containers.

The breathable fabric of the fabric pot also provides natural insulation for plant roots, helping to regulate soil temperature throughout the year. During the hot summer months, the breathable fabric helps to prevent overheating by allowing excess heat to escape, while during colder weather the insulated container help to maintain a more consistent soil temperature, preventing roots from freezing.

One of the benefits of using a fabric pot is that it makes it easier to add slow-release fertilizer to your growing media. This can be done by adding the fertilizer to the growing medium prior to planting your plant or by using a nutrient strip that is sewn into the side of the container. The nutrient strip provides a secondary cache of nutrients, which can be accessed by the roots as they grow into the sides of the container. This method of fertilizing can save you time, effort and money in the long run. As a bonus, the nutrient strips are easy to remove when your plant is ready to be transplanted. They can then be reused, composted or disposed of in an environmentally friendly manner.

Pruning

Unlike plastic pots, which restrict root growth by forcing them to circle the confines of the container, Geopot fabric containers are breathable and encourage healthy, dense roots through a natural process called air root pruning. This process is what separates fabric pots from traditional plastic containers, as well as other growing methods like socket and grow bags.

As the roots of your plant grow, they naturally reach out and branch, resulting in a tangled mess. This is a good thing, however, in most other growing containers the tips of these branches get caught and cut by the sides of the container which leads to root rot. In a typical plastic pot, this problem is even more significant as the roots circle endlessly within the confines of the container and become root bound. This suffocates the roots and prevents them from absorbing essential nutrients and water.

In fabric pots, however, this is not a problem as the tips of these roots can simply dry out and self-prune through the porous fabric material. This eliminates the need for sharp implements to prune the roots and also protects your plants from pathogens entering through the open wound.

The unique properties of the fabric material also promote aeration and superior drainage, which is an extremely important factor in growing healthy, robust plants. This allows excess water to drain out of the container more quickly than it would in a traditional plastic pot, reducing the risk of fungal diseases like Pythium and Phytophthora which cause soil rot.

Another key benefit of the fabric material is that it provides a level of insulation to your plant’s root zone, helping to regulate the soil temperature throughout the year. In the summer, this helps to avoid overheating and in winter it can help to prevent frost damage.

Unlike plastic pots, which can take centuries to break down and create waste, fabric pots are biodegradable and compostable and can be reused for many planting cycles. As such, using this method of container gardening can reduce your carbon footprint and help you to create a sustainable and eco-friendly garden.