If you grow indoors, your mind might skip right to plastic pots filled with potting soil as the ideal solution, but there are actually numerous alternatives (including hydroponics, which skip the conventional growing vessel outright) that you might want to consider.

Among the best of the alternatives are fabric pots. This short article will break down some of the difference between these and conventional plastic pots.

About Fabric Pots

Fabric pots, sometimes also referred to as grow bags because they are soft-sided, rather than hard-sided (like plastic pots), have been gaining popularity over the past few years, especially among indoor growers, because they offer a number of comparative advantages.

Quality fabric pots like ours are made of heavy-duty, non-woven material that is exceptionally tear resistant.

Perfect for all sorts of plants, including herbs, flowers, vegetables, and more, fabric pots are relatively inexpensive, highly versatile, and when properly cared for, will stand up to season after season of use.

But this only scratches the surface of the value delivered by high-quality fabric grow bags. One of the biggest advantages of fabric grow bags is that they enable a plant’s roots to air prune, rather than circling the interior of the container and getting choked out.

In the event you’re not familiar, air pruning occurs when a plant’s roots expose themselves to air, which causes them to dry out and cease development in that direction. The effect is that the plant will produce more lateral roots and a healthier overall root system, rather than an overly dense, circled root system, as would happen inside a plastic pot, especially one that was too small.

Fabric grow bags are also superior with respect to temperature and moisture regulation. The growing medium in a fabric pot will both heat up and cool down more rapidly since the bag is breathable, which can enable faster, more precise temperature regulation.

More critical is the moisture regulation. It is far too easy to overwater a plant grown in a conventional plastic pot, even if there is a drainage hole, as it takes a while for the soil to dry out. With a fabric bag, the breathable fabric easily allows excess moisture to pass through, helping to prevent issues associated with overwatering, like root rot, which is a big killer of plants grown indoors.

Some fabric pots are also superior on the grounds that, if you so choose, you can plant the whole container directly in the ground, after which point the bag will decompose, allowing the plant’s roots to flourish. This process also minimizes handling that will result in transplant shock, making transplanting much more practical where it will be undertaken.

In some instances,  there are other benefits to using fabric pots that aren’t even directly tied to the health of the plant. For instance, ours are made with handles and rings that make it easier both to transport and to hang the container.

On top of that, whenever the fabric pots are not used actively for growing, they are superior to rigid pots and planters because grow bags can be emptied of their contents and then folded up for storage, making them far superior in terms of space-savings.

About Plastic Pots

It’s true that for the most part, fabric grow bags offer significant advantages over plastic pots, but there are a few situations in which plastic pots are actually better.

One is with respect to price. Plastic pots tend to be more affordable, as a general rule, than fabric grow bags. If cost is a concern, plastic pots might be better.

Another is that, strictly speaking, plastic pots will last longer. High-quality fabric grow bags will last several seasons if properly cared for, but ultimately, solid plastic pots are more durable.

It’s also the case that plastic pots tend to insulate the soil more effectively, which is not necessarily good or bad; it all depends on what you’re growing and how sensitive it is to changes in temperature.

If you are growing a cultivar that is tolerant of, or even prefers, well-watered soil, plastic pots are better at retaining moisture, which means they will require less frequent waterings. This is preferable for some cultivars.

They’re also easier to clean than fabric grow bags, despite the fact that they take up more space. All the same, they can often be stacked, which does help somewhat with storage.

Keep Size in Mind, Regardless

Regardless of whether you choose fabric grow bags/pots or plastic (or even ceramic) pots for your indoor growing, make sure you choose wisely with respect to size. Growing a plant in a container that is too small for it can cause it to become root bound, among other issues.

We offer a variety of fabric pots here in sizes between 1 and 25 gallons, capable of growing most anything indoors, even small trees. Whether you’re just growing a few herbs or intend to grow tomatoes, peppers or long-season root vegetables like potatoes or carrots, we have appropriately-sized pots for you. We also carry self-watering pot bases that assist with moisture control, maintaining ideal soil conditions for your plants.

Choose What Works Best for You

Ultimately, whether plastic or fabric pots will work best for your unique considerations is up to you. Both can be suitable indoors for growing a wide range of cultivars, so consider what you’ll be growing, how much space you’ll need, and what you’re looking for in terms of moisture regulation, and prepare accordingly.

Explore Our Other Indoor Growing Accessories Here

Regardless of whether you choose to go with fabric pots or some other alternative, make sure you take a look through all of our indoor growing accessories so you are well-prepared with what you need ahead of time.

In addition to pots, growing media and fertilizers, we sell a wide range of indoor grow lights, ventilation accessories, and support, pruning and harvest accessories. Shop our collection and let us know if you have any questions about anything we sell before you buy.