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SMART POT BENEFITS
Air Pruning
As roots grow in containers they eventually reach the container walls. In hard-sided containers, these roots, upon reaching the walls, start circling and continue to circle seeking a friendlier environment. Upon examination, these root systems exhibit a few strong roots growing in circles with very little branching, often are bound or girdled upon themselves and, depending on the type of plant, can produce a strong tap root growing through the containers bottom. These characteristics can hinder the plant's rate of growth and in some cases its chances of survival when transplanted.
Smart Pots are manufactured out of a custom, non-woven, polypropylene material. Roots grown in a Smart Pot come in contact with the fuzzy, fabric inner wall of the bag and penetrate or grow into the fabric. The bag's tough fabric prevents the root's continued longitudinal growth, in effect pruning it, causing the root to develop masses of lateral fibrous roots. Upon comparison, root systems that developed in a Smart Pot have a much greater mass or volume then those found in hard-sided containers. Plants grown in Smart Pots have root balls that contain many more roots then found in a hard-sided container of similar size.
The fibrous root systems produced in Smart Pots are more efficient and enable plants to maximize water and nutrient uptake in the limited surrounding soil mass.
Learn more about Root Pruning in Fabric Containers here (PDF format).
Controlling Plant Temperature using Smart Pots
The Smart Pot's black fabric quickly warms up early season soil enabling plants to get off to a quicker start. Yet the same fabric, due to its porous nature, allows heat to escape from the container through evaporative cooling during the summer's hottest days. Even in northern climates, root systems of container grown plants can be damaged from too much heat. University studies have also shown a direct relationship between soil temperatures and slow-release fertilizer activity. Cooler containers do not allow for premature fertilizer release.
Learn more about the winter survival of plants in fabric containers here (PDF format).
 Container Grown Edibles
Traditionally, container gardeners have struggled to grow fruits, vegetables & edibles. We have had great success container growing these plants with the Smart Pot.
A look at the mechanics of containers explains why the Smart Pot is better for these touchy plants. The Smart Pot aerates. With aeration, roots become more naturally fibrous. You can use a heavier, more water retentive mix that seems to support these plants better. You can use a mix that has some soil content. And heat can not build up in the Smart Pot.
In a plastic container, on the other hand, you generally use a light mix that requires more maintenance. Heat is an important factor. A resent study at the University of New Hampshire showed temperatures inside a plastic container can easily top 120 degrees in the sun. Roots do not grow in 120-degree soil, and if the roots do not grow, your plant will not grow.
Fruits, vegetables and edibles are often grown by gardeners in raised beds. The Smart Pot duplicates this aerated atmosphere. And even the largest Smart Pots are easy to install and use.
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