What Are the Best Fabric Pots for Growing Plants?
BEST FABRIC POTS FOR GROWING PLANTS
Optimizing crop production involves more than an effective cultivation strategy, it also requires the implementation of the right grow equipment. Choosing the best planting pot for your crop's root system may seem trivial, but it's also a simple way for growers to optimize their crop's yields.
Contrary to popular belief a crop's root zone requires just as much care and attention as the canopy. The primarily purpose of roots may be water/nutreint uptake, but air-quality should never be overlooked because it's influence on crop health and physiology is equally as important. Roots without adequate air flow, drainage or a beneficial microbiome can grow irregularly and under severe circumstances, even die-off completely.
For growers considering a drip based hydroponic system, Fabric Pots provide crops with the most advantageous environment for root development because of the pot's ability to "Breath". This provides roots with a continuous supply of fresh air (oxygen primarily).
The permeability of fabric pots produces additional benefits as well including the ability to naturally prune the tips of roots as they approach the sides of the container, enabling the full volume of the pot to be utilized more effectively. This significant advantage, in combination with the fiber pot's natural ability to drain excess solution, as well as encourage the growth of larger beneficial bacteria colonies, makes it easier than ever before for growers to maintain the health of crops over time and produce the highest yields possible.
If that werent enough, fabric pots simplify the growing process even further by also being machine washable and are considerably more flexible + lighter, making them easier to transport as well as set-up.
List of the Top 5 Fabric Pot Brands
(3 - 100 Gal) Standard | (5 + 7 Gal) Biodegradable
The Common Culture fabric pots are the most affordable brand for growers looking to save on supplies without sacrificing much quality. Protect your crop based investment by protecting roots with superior quality fabric pots.
Highly breathable fabric allows air in and any excess water out, providing optimum air circulation and moisture control for happy and healthy plants. Made with high quality materials that are BPA free and UV resistant.
These pots are avaliable in both non-biodegradable and biodegradable (Charcoal) models and are therefore ideal for any grower. Non-biodegradable models are longer lasting, can be continuously re-used above ground and are machine washable. The biodegradable fabric pots are generally used for transplants and seedlings which will be added to a larger pot or planted into the ground directly.
(1 - 400 Gal) Standard | (1 - 200 Gal) w/ Handle | (4' x 4' x 1') Planter | (4' x 8' x 1') Planter
Containers come in a variety of different styles including standard self-supporting pots and pots with handles & planter beds. What makes the the Geopot product stand out is that all of the seams in the Geopot product line are sewn with a high quality bonded polyester thread that will withstand constant moisture and UV exposure. Out of all (5) brands Geopot manufactures the most durable, long-lasting, fabric pots.
These pots are not biodegradable and are therefore ideal for growers who want to use the pot over multiple seasons and are meant solely for above ground growing.
(1 - 1000 Gal) Standard | (3 - 45 Gal) w/ Handle | (4' x 4' x 1') Planter
Considered the world leader in fabric pot manufacturing for both hobbyists as well as commercial scale cultivation, offering a range of pot sizes that exceeds that of any other brand. The unique features of these pots is that they are made in the USA of the highest grade fabric that allows for ample oxygen to get to the root zone for faster growth when compared to plastic pots. BPA Free and Lead Free.
These pots are not biodegradable and are therefore ideal for growers who want to use the pot over multiple seasons. These are meant solely for above ground growing. Because of their popularity, smart pots are the most expensive fabric pot brand.
The Root Pouch Charcoal Line is a (150g/m2) single-use fabric pot for commercial grow rooms. What makes Root Pouch special is it's the only fabric container company that offers natural fiber blended fabrics that are UV Resistant, BPA Free and Non-Toxic. This enables potted plants to enjoy healthy growth either above-ground or below.
Although the range of sizes is fairly limited compared to other brands, Root Pouches can still grow most of the fruits, vegetables and other harvestable crops commonly cultivated commerically, as well as larger plants like trees. They are also ideal for transporting plants because of their lightweight durability.
These are made of PET derived from recycled plastic water bottles. This material is melted back to a sterile liquid state then spun into fibers that are mixed with natural fibers that degrade over time. Because the plastic is re-melted it is once again sterile making it a great choice for growing plants for human consumption. Root Pouch does not use new petroleum as do some other fabric companies, so Root Pouch is the only brand to truely not contain any toxins.
Root Pouch produces the most affordable and recommended biodegradable fabric pots!
Fabric Pots |vs| Plastic Pots
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FABRIC POTS |
PLASTIC POTS |
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Breathable - Continuous supply of fresh O2 - Naturally prune tips of roots leading to better root development - Prevents crops from being root bound) |
Non-Breathable - Requires manual replacement of stale air surrounding roots using air pumps - Roots can become root bound which stunts growth and decreases yields; occurs as roots spread along the sides/bottom of the pot |
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Drainable - Releases excess solution keeping roots healthy - Optimal aeration of root zone |
Less Drainable - Holds on to excess solution which can cause root rot particular if crops are already root bound |
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Less Toxic - BPA, Lead Free, in Root Pouch's case completely Toxin Free |
More Toxic - Contain plastic polymers, binding agents and carcinogens, however insignificant reactivity means it's unlikely these can actually get into the plants |
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Better Temperature Control - Root zone less likely to overheat - Maintains higher dissolved oxygen levels in solution |
Less Temperature Control - Particularly true with darker plastic pots which can cause a greenhouse effect within the root zone |
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Better Micro-Biome - Optimizes growth of beneficial bacteria and other micro-organisms which require lots of oxygen to thrive |
Worse Micro-Biome - Limited aeration and breathability means limited beneficial bacteria growth |
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Wash & Transport Friendly - Non-degradable forms are machine washable and all are easier to transport and set up |
Wash & Transport Intensive - Requires washing by hand usually with disinfectants - More difficult to transport being an inflexible material |
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Cheaper - Less expensive on a per pot basis |
More Expensive - Greater labor and material costs means more expensive per pot |
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Lower Longevity - Requires replacement after several grows - Although non-degrading varieties can still last for years |
Higher Longevity - Durable models can be used indefinitely - More ideal option for system components that require long term use (Ex: Reservoir) |
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Less Diverse System Application - For use with drip-based hydroponic systems only |
More Diverse System Application - Can be used with several different hydroponic systems & is required for deep-water culture systems |
Best Option for Substrate Based Drip System
- Substrate provides roots with anchor enabling steady solution input
- Ideal for Flowering/Fruiting Crops: Tomatoes, Peppers, Cucumbers, Melons, Medical Crops, Ornamentals, etc
- Crop roots are suspended solely in a large volume of nutrient solution airated with air pump
- Ideal for Vegetative Crops: Lettuces, Kale, Leafy Greens, Peas/Beans, Herbs/Spices, etc
Fabric Pot FAQ
What are Fabric Pots?
Fabric pots and planters are made as a lightweight, flexible and reusable alternative to ceramic, plastic and clay pots that traditionally don't optimize a plant's root zone oxygenation. They can be made of either non-biodegradable geotextile fabrics or degradable natural fibers and they help to maintain development of a healthier root zone environment.
How are Fabric Pots Best Utilized?
Fabric Pots are the ideal components of a soil or soilless drip-systems. Since fabric pots drain excess solution naturally a soil or soilless substrate must be used to act as a source of absorbtion and as an anchor for crop roots.
What Varieties of Fabric Pot Exist?
Two different varieties of fabric pot exsist including "non-degradable" and "degradable" varieties. Non-degradable varieties are ideal for growers who want to cultivate crops above ground using a hydroponic drip system in combination with soilless substrate. Degradable varieities are ideal for growers who want to transplant + cultivate plants directly in the ground using a standard drip irrigation system in combination with soil-based fertilizers.
Are Tan Fabric Pots Better Than Black Fabric Pots?
Both black and tan fabric pots are made of the same fiberous materials. According to popular belief, tan fabric pots can keep the root zone cooler than black pots, but in reality these claims are not true. Testing showed tan pots were only (0.02) degrees fahrenheit cooler than black pots, making the diffrence insignificant. We rcommend that you buy whatever color you'd prefer to see in your garden!
What Substrate(s) Should be Used with Fabric Pots?
Both soils or soilless substrates can be used in fabric pots. We recommended that you utilize soilless substrates, like expanded clay, with non-degradable varieties of fiber pots in a hydroponic drip system. We recommend that you utilize soils with degradable varieties of fiber pot in standard drip systems.
How can the Drainage from Fabric Pots be Utilized?
When used as grow containers in hydroponic drip systems the drainage collected from pots can be recycled to optimize system efficiency and reduce waste.
When Should Old Fabric Pots be Replaced?
This depends primarily on the type of fabric pot being utilized. Biodegradable fabric pots can only be used once since the pots are trasplanted directly into the soil/substrate allowing crop roots to grow beyond the edges of the pot. Non-Biodegradable fabric pots can be continuously re-used over 2-5 years before requiring replacement. The longevity of the pot(s) depends on the manufacturing quality and durability of the brand being utilized.
Which fabric pots last the longest?
The fabric pots manufactured by GeoPot have the highest longevity with additional features included to maximize overall quality, while the fabric pots manufactured by Common Culture sacrifice some longevity in order to maximize overall affordability.
Shop All Fabric Pots