fabric pots vs plastic pots

[SmokyLungs]

What's the deal on that thinking bout getting some fabric pots on eBay is it worth it or its the same shizzle.

 

[941mick]

What's the deal on that thinking bout getting some fabric pots on eBay is it worth it or its the same shizzle.

Worth it. More oxygen at the root zone is good because microbes need oxygen, roots need oxygen, and your medium drys out faster which means roots search out for water more often helping in root growth. Pretty much equates to more roots which means more yield.

 

[941mick]

It's also harder to over water because your allowing more oxygen into your medium. NOt saying you cant over water, but it is harder to do.

 

[BDOGKush]

Once I used fabric, I had no desire to even look at a plastic pot again. They're definetly worth it.

 

[SmokyLungs]

Cool thanks for the help guys

 

[bl4ze:20]

I prefer plastic 5 gallon nursery pots but its just personal preference. my first 3 grows i used 10 gallon smart pots. i just found smart pots are a pain in the ass especially if u have to move ur plants. to each is own tho, i just didnt like them.

 

[BDOGKush]

I prefer plastic 5 gallon nursery pots but its just personal preference. my first 3 grows i used 10 gallon smart pots. i just found smart pots are a pain in the ass especially if u have to move ur plants. to each is own tho, i just didnt like them.

Did the ones you try have the handles? That's what I use for the bigger smart pots. I use 5 gallon and 3 gallon smart pots (handles on the 5s) I can understand how the 10 gallons would be a pain to move around, especially the ones without handles.

 

[greenlikemoney]

Indoors or outdoors, fabric rocks. Just my opinion.

 

[Cobnobuler]

I have 5 gal smart pots with handles and they're great. In fact, my current grow has 2 fabric and 2 plastic 5 gals and it might just be coincidence, but the nicest 2 are the ones in the fabric pots.

 

[bl4ze:20]

Did the ones you try have the handles? That's what I use for the bigger smart pots. I use 5 gallon and 3 gallon smart pots (handles on the 5s) I can understand how the 10 gallons would be a pain to move around, especially the ones without handles.

i only used the 10 gallons and Nope, they didn't have handles. i picked them up locally and that was all they had but like i said its just all about personal preference and i prefer the nursery pots, for my upcoming hydro grow i have to use black 5 gallon buckets which are plastic to hold the water in so im used to it and thats just what i like.

 

[Dr.J20]

What's the deal on that thinking bout getting some fabric pots on eBay is it worth it or its the same shizzle.

why not best of both worlds: airpots plastic and easy to clean, but also air-pruning...

 

[BDOGKush]

why not best of both worlds: airpots plastic and easy to clean, but also air-pruning...

I was looking at those and wondering how they compare. I think your root zone would stay cooler in a fabric pot. I don't move my plants around too much so I was wondering what benefits airports would offer that fabric doesn't?

 

[nevergoodenuf]

I found I can run a smaller bag (3g bag vs. 5g bucket) without getting root spiral, then again I've never seen root spiral in bags. I was flowering short plants for a long time and had better rootball in the 2g instead of 3g. Larger plants I would use 3 to 5 gallon bags. When you're done with a cycle, you can throw them in the laundry and they are ready to use again. Working at a garden store, I noticed that older worn bags had more roots throughout the bag than the stiffer newer bags ( we buy/sell used equipment).

 

[Dr.J20]

I was looking at those and wondering how they compare. I think your root zone would stay cooler in a fabric pot. I don't move my plants around too much so I was wondering what benefits airports would offer that fabric doesn't?

the only two 'benefits' i've noticed in comparing airpots and fabric/smart pots, the airpots are easier to clean at the end, and you can leave them in a water catch tray and allow the plants to wick up water through the bottom. While this second benefit is technically possible with smart pots, the fabric itself will wick up the water and just stay moist around the outside, which, until you have a robust root system, just means a more humid environment, without the water availability to the roots. this may also reduce the breathability of the smartpot, and encourage mold growth etc.
Don't get me wrong, smarties are great too, I just prefer airpots. One caution about the airpot, you do need to learn to water slowly, otherwise you can end up washing all your water out the holes on the sides before the whole container can get saturated.

 

[941mick]

the only two 'benefits' i've noticed in comparing airpots and fabric/smart pots, the airpots are easier to clean at the end, and you can leave them in a water catch tray and allow the plants to wick up water through the bottom. While this second benefit is technically possible with smart pots, the fabric itself will wick up the water and just stay moist around the outside, which, until you have a robust root system, just means a more humid environment, without the water availability to the roots. this may also reduce the breathability of the smartpot, and encourage mold growth etc.
Don't get me wrong, smarties are great too, I just prefer airpots. One caution about the airpot, you do need to learn to water slowly, otherwise you can end up washing all your water out the holes on the sides before the whole container can get saturated.

My next flower group is going into a knock off version of them, I am interested how they will perform compared to the smart pots. The few guys that have picked them up at the shop I work at have said they are getting faster growth vs felt pots, and only 1 guy said it got water everywhere, but he must have been dumping too much water on them like you pointed out.

 

[vostok]

Use both you will find very little difference, of concern is the pot size and the soils used

 

[xxMissxx]

Bags Bags Bags Holy Ganja God LOVES Bags! First time I've used Bags and now I know! I have plants in large buckets, I have plants in large POTS I have plants in the Ground...... but the largest and biggest and happiest of my plants ARE IN BAGS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! wow! I certainly was NOT expecting it - but its an amazingly Obvious Difference........... mmmmmmmm....... un.ex.pec.ted. xxmissxx

 

[MachiavellI420]

the fabric pots work really good using a drain to waste setup in coco. with the right grow room conditions it compares to dwc growth