It’s only right to wonder how long do fabric pots last, but you should feel confident that you can use them for as long as five years. It’s reasonable for gardeners to check everything they’ll use in terms of longevity. And one of the best containers is Smart Pots or any other reliable fabric pots in the market.
Gardening is valuable in terms of sustainability and health benefits. With this in mind, the premise of using long-lasting containers will allow you to have a productive and stress-free garden.
How Long Do Fabric Pots Last Plus Care Tips
In general, you can expect a service lasting between 3 to 5 years from fabric pots. Of course, this will depend on the brand you chose, and those that are well-known should make you feel more confident with their longevity. Additionally, this life expectancy depends on the wear and tear that they undergo, how often you use them, and how efficient you clean and store them.
Caring for fabric pots
To ensure that your fabric pots will last, you want to practice proper storage and care for them. First, how does one store fabric pots when not in use? The greenhouse or any indoor, cool, dry structure would be ideal for storage since it will protect the pots from the elements.
While fabric pots are generally more durable than other containers, degradation is still possible if they’re in an area exposed to harsh climates. You must also properly clean the fabric pots before putting them in storage to save yourself the hassle later on and make reusing easier for the next season.
Step #1. Hose them down
To wash fabric pots, start by hosing them down to remove the residual soil and plant matter. Let the containers dry for a day and remove the remaining dried materials before washing them. This makes cleaning more comfortable and to ensure that you have removed chemicals and other materials thoroughly.
Step #2. Put in the washing machine and then air dry
Use baking soda and white vinegar or an organic detergent to cleanse the pots further. Use the highest setting and cold water, but you might need to do another cycle if necessary. Afterward, make sure to air dry to prevent mold, but never use a dryer for drying the pots to avoid damaging the material.
Why Use Fabric Pots?
Container gardening is generally advantageous because it’s easier to modify the particular requirements of each plant. It also allows those with limited space to grow plants and choose their location. However, fabric pots have several advantages over your typical containers.
Use for any plants
There are many types of fabric pots, and you can find ones for specific plant types or pots for either starting young plants or fully-grown plants. This way, you can ensure that the material supports your plants’ growth, including those with shallow root systems. Fabric pots also come in different sizes so that you can modify your greenhouse or garden comfortably.
Makes maintenance easier
You can avoid common maintenance problems like overwatering by using fabric pots. These containers have better drainage to prevent standing water, causing soil erosion, rot, and other diseases from excess moisture. The material on the fabric pot is also breathable, so you can ensure that the temperature that your plants experience is consistent.
Reusable and eco-friendly
The third reason that puts fabric pots at an advantage is that they are environmental-friendly and even BPA-free. If you’re in this article, you know that these containers are reusable. Therefore, you’re not only saving money from not needing to repurchase for every growing season, but are also helping the environment by contributing less waste.
How To Use Fabric Pots
Another factor that will contribute to your fabric pots’ longevity is learning how to use them properly. Start by choosing the right pot size for your area and plants, while also considering the medium you’ll use. For example, you want to allocate space for pebbles if you need to improve your medium’s drainage.
Fill the fabric pot with the appropriate mix or medium and leave two inches of space at the top. You can then plant your crop depending on its ideal depth. One thing to remember is that you want the soil to cover its root ball completely. Once done, how should you water your plants in fabric pots?
There are no special tricks to remember, but some gardeners like to add punctures at the bottom for drainage, but this isn’t necessary for all cases. You can just water as you would with any containers, but a drip system would be more convenient in the greenhouse. After the growing season ends, you can clean then fold the pots in a cool and dry area as they await the next season.
Conclusion
Fabric pots make excellent candidates for container gardening. However, one might ask, “how long do fabric pots last?” The good news is that they are usable for three to five years, depending on their usage and how you maintain them.
Hose the pots first to get rid of the majority of medium and plant residuals. Let them dry to check for remaining dried materials before putting in the washing machine. After air-drying, you can store them in a cool, dry place for the next season.