RELEASES HEAT – COOLER PLANTS GROW MORE QUICKLY
AIR PRUNES FOR A BETTER ROOT STRUCTURE
NO CIRCLING ROOTS
AERATES ROOT ZONE
DIFFICULT TO BLOW OVER
ONE-PIECE FABRIC CONTAINER FOR EASY USE
YEAR ROUND PLANT AVAILABILITY
Monday, March 19, 2007
Sizes
The Smart Pot is available in all sizes, from 1 gallon to 95 gallons and larger. Custom sizes are available. Specialty containers are available for plant propagation. The Smart Pot is a straight-sided container with no taper. Labeling is in accordance with actual volume, meaning the #5 Smart Pot holds 5 gallons, etc.
Smart Pot Frequently Asked Questions
Who uses the Smart Pot?
The Smart Pot is the best container on the market for helping your plant grow a better root structure. Container gardeners who know that better roots are the key to everything else that happens with a plant use the Smart Pot.
Why is the Smart Pot better than hard-sided containers?
The Smart Pot aerates and plastic does not. Aeration stops root circling and releases heat, helping your plant build a better root structure. Better roots will give you a better plant.
How often should a Smart Pot be watered?
Watering the Smart Pot is not too different than watering hard-sided containers. For all containers watering frequency depends on a number of factors including the types of plant being grown, the potting mix and the weather conditions. Keep two things in mind – The Smart Pot is an aeration container. The porous fabric allows water to evaporate so you may need to water a little more. But, the Smart Pot releases heat. It does not get hot like a plastic container, so you may water a little less.
What potting mix is best?
Gardeners are using virtually every potting mix in the Smart Pot. Because the Smart Pot aerates, heavier mixes can be used. Obviously, Smart Pots filled with lighter mixes that are less water retentive may need to be watered more often.
Why is a root system grown in a Smart Pot more desirable?
Any plant is only as good as its root structure. A fibrous root system is a more efficient one and enables the plant to maximize water and nutrient uptake in the limited surrounding soil mass. Also, a fibrous, highly developed root system roots out quicker and establishes quicker when the plant is transplanted.
Is it true that plants grown in Smart Pots don’t have to be repotted as often as those grown in hard-sided pots?
Yes, it is true. Remember, roots do not circle in the Smart Pot. Because of the large volume of fibrous roots, plants growing in a Smart Pot can stay longer, and be healthier, growing in a Smart Pot.
Does this mean I can leave my plants a few years in the Smart pots?
Yes! We urge you to try leaving some plants in the Smart Pots for a long time. With healthy roots, you will be amazed at what your plants will do in their second or third year in the same Smart Pot.
Why does the Smart Pot have a fabric bottom?
To help you grow a better plant. The Smart Pot is made with a heavy porous fabric bottom that gives a plant intimate ground contact. This ground contact helps the plant maintain a ground temperature, as opposed to a plastic container temperature. Also, small roots may penetrate the bottom of the Smart Pot. These roots will help intake moisture and nutrients.
My plants were growing well until I moved them. What happened?
Water the plant! Because of the fabric bottom, if the plant is moved to a dry ground area, the dry ground can move water out of the Smart Pot by capillarity. Water when you move plants.
What other advantages are there to growing in the Smart Pot over traditional, plastic containers?
The fabric will not crack or break from frost or when dropped. Heat release gives you better control of slow release fertilizer. A fibrous root structure has fewer problems in cold or warm weather.
How does the Smart Pot work?
Smart Pots are manufactured out of a custom, non-woven, polypropylene material that research discovered has important and unique horticultural applications. As roots grow they soon reach the container walls. In hard sided, plastic containers, these roots immediately start circling and continue to circle. Examine a circling root structure and you find a few large roots growing in circles with very little side branching. These roots often bind or girdled upon themselves. Circling roots can never give optimum growth.
Smart Pots are manufactured out of a tough, porous fabric. When roots reach the side of the Smart Pot, they Air Prune!
What is air pruning?
Air pruning is a natural process occurring when a root comes in contact with the air on the side of the porous Smart Pot wall. The root tip stops growing (pruned) and causes the remaining root to extensively branch. Now, instead of fewer circling roots, the plant develops new lateral roots. New, fibrous roots fill the Smart Pot allowing the plant to maximize uptake of both moisture and nutrients. And when the roots grow well, the plant grows well. Upon comparison, root systems that developed in a Smart Pot have a much greater mass or volume then those found in hard-sided plastic containers. Plants grown in Smart Pots have greater root mass in less soil.
The Smart Pot is the best container on the market for helping your plant grow a better root structure. Container gardeners who know that better roots are the key to everything else that happens with a plant use the Smart Pot.
Why is the Smart Pot better than hard-sided containers?
The Smart Pot aerates and plastic does not. Aeration stops root circling and releases heat, helping your plant build a better root structure. Better roots will give you a better plant.
How often should a Smart Pot be watered?
Watering the Smart Pot is not too different than watering hard-sided containers. For all containers watering frequency depends on a number of factors including the types of plant being grown, the potting mix and the weather conditions. Keep two things in mind – The Smart Pot is an aeration container. The porous fabric allows water to evaporate so you may need to water a little more. But, the Smart Pot releases heat. It does not get hot like a plastic container, so you may water a little less.
What potting mix is best?
Gardeners are using virtually every potting mix in the Smart Pot. Because the Smart Pot aerates, heavier mixes can be used. Obviously, Smart Pots filled with lighter mixes that are less water retentive may need to be watered more often.
Why is a root system grown in a Smart Pot more desirable?
Any plant is only as good as its root structure. A fibrous root system is a more efficient one and enables the plant to maximize water and nutrient uptake in the limited surrounding soil mass. Also, a fibrous, highly developed root system roots out quicker and establishes quicker when the plant is transplanted.
Is it true that plants grown in Smart Pots don’t have to be repotted as often as those grown in hard-sided pots?
Yes, it is true. Remember, roots do not circle in the Smart Pot. Because of the large volume of fibrous roots, plants growing in a Smart Pot can stay longer, and be healthier, growing in a Smart Pot.
Does this mean I can leave my plants a few years in the Smart pots?
Yes! We urge you to try leaving some plants in the Smart Pots for a long time. With healthy roots, you will be amazed at what your plants will do in their second or third year in the same Smart Pot.
Why does the Smart Pot have a fabric bottom?
To help you grow a better plant. The Smart Pot is made with a heavy porous fabric bottom that gives a plant intimate ground contact. This ground contact helps the plant maintain a ground temperature, as opposed to a plastic container temperature. Also, small roots may penetrate the bottom of the Smart Pot. These roots will help intake moisture and nutrients.
My plants were growing well until I moved them. What happened?
Water the plant! Because of the fabric bottom, if the plant is moved to a dry ground area, the dry ground can move water out of the Smart Pot by capillarity. Water when you move plants.
What other advantages are there to growing in the Smart Pot over traditional, plastic containers?
The fabric will not crack or break from frost or when dropped. Heat release gives you better control of slow release fertilizer. A fibrous root structure has fewer problems in cold or warm weather.
How does the Smart Pot work?
Smart Pots are manufactured out of a custom, non-woven, polypropylene material that research discovered has important and unique horticultural applications. As roots grow they soon reach the container walls. In hard sided, plastic containers, these roots immediately start circling and continue to circle. Examine a circling root structure and you find a few large roots growing in circles with very little side branching. These roots often bind or girdled upon themselves. Circling roots can never give optimum growth.
Smart Pots are manufactured out of a tough, porous fabric. When roots reach the side of the Smart Pot, they Air Prune!
What is air pruning?
Air pruning is a natural process occurring when a root comes in contact with the air on the side of the porous Smart Pot wall. The root tip stops growing (pruned) and causes the remaining root to extensively branch. Now, instead of fewer circling roots, the plant develops new lateral roots. New, fibrous roots fill the Smart Pot allowing the plant to maximize uptake of both moisture and nutrients. And when the roots grow well, the plant grows well. Upon comparison, root systems that developed in a Smart Pot have a much greater mass or volume then those found in hard-sided plastic containers. Plants grown in Smart Pots have greater root mass in less soil.
A Second Look at Perennials
Perennials have never been extremely popular plants with container gardeners. Short flowering times for a plant that stays in a container for years might hardly seem worthwhile.
With the Smart Pot, however, container gardeners should take a second look at some perennials. In a Smart Pot, the root structure of a plant stays healthy and vibrant for a long period of time. Indeed, the Smart Pot was developed for and is used extensively in large tree production. The time frame of most commercial growers is two to four years in the Smart Pot. The root structures develop and thrive in this time period. The plant is healthy and growing.
In a black plastic container, on the other hand, growing plants in the same container for a long period of time can be problematic. Roots circle around the inside edge of the plastic without lateral development. Temperatures can be a problem. A recent study at the University of New Hampshire showed temperatures inside a plastic pot will easily top 120 degrees on a sunny day. Roots do not grow in 120-degree soil, and when the roots do not grow, your plant will not grow.
The Smart Pot gives you a longer time frame. We hope you will try some perennials in the Smart Pots. Even trees species are viable container garden plants with the Smart Pots.
With the Smart Pot, however, container gardeners should take a second look at some perennials. In a Smart Pot, the root structure of a plant stays healthy and vibrant for a long period of time. Indeed, the Smart Pot was developed for and is used extensively in large tree production. The time frame of most commercial growers is two to four years in the Smart Pot. The root structures develop and thrive in this time period. The plant is healthy and growing.
In a black plastic container, on the other hand, growing plants in the same container for a long period of time can be problematic. Roots circle around the inside edge of the plastic without lateral development. Temperatures can be a problem. A recent study at the University of New Hampshire showed temperatures inside a plastic pot will easily top 120 degrees on a sunny day. Roots do not grow in 120-degree soil, and when the roots do not grow, your plant will not grow.
The Smart Pot gives you a longer time frame. We hope you will try some perennials in the Smart Pots. Even trees species are viable container garden plants with the Smart Pots.
Fruits, Vegetables & 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.
The Smart Pot offers container gardeners a whole new look at fruits, vegetables and edibles!
Happy Gardening!
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.
The Smart Pot offers container gardeners a whole new look at fruits, vegetables and edibles!
Happy Gardening!
The Smart Pot Adjusts Soil
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.
How The Smart Pot Air-Prunes
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.
The Smart Pot - Benefits And Advantages
> Higher Quality Plants Grow In Less Time
> Roots Stay Cooler During Hot Weather
> Inexpensive
> Light Weight
> Attractive, Simple Design
> Plants Need Repotting Less Often
> Reusable
> More Forgiving A Less Expensive Potting Soil Can Be Used
> Plants Can Be Grown In The Smart Pot's Sides & Bottom
> Non-Breakable Fabric Lasts Doesn't Crack From Frost Or If Dropped
> Grow All Kinds Of Plants Annuals, Vegetables, Herbs, Roses, House Plants & More!
> Roots Stay Cooler During Hot Weather
> Inexpensive
> Light Weight
> Attractive, Simple Design
> Plants Need Repotting Less Often
> Reusable
> More Forgiving A Less Expensive Potting Soil Can Be Used
> Plants Can Be Grown In The Smart Pot's Sides & Bottom
> Non-Breakable Fabric Lasts Doesn't Crack From Frost Or If Dropped
> Grow All Kinds Of Plants Annuals, Vegetables, Herbs, Roses, House Plants & More!
Why Smart Pots are better
Choosing the best pot for your plants is one of the most important components for successful container gardening. For more then twenty-five years the “Smart Pot” has consistently out performed all other growing containers in both commercial nurseries and university testing. The patented Smart Pot is a soft-sided, aeration container, uniquely designed to improve the root structure of your plants enabling them to grow to their full potential.
The comparison below points out the advantages the patented Smart Pot has over various gardening containers.
Better than plastic containers - Hard-sided plastic containers are relatively inexpensive but they are not a very good home for a plant’s root structure. Plastic allows no aeration, conducts and holds heat, and provides inadequate or poor drainage. Even on mildly sunny days, container soil temperatures can easily top 120 degrees, damaging or killing the roots and stressing the plant. The #1 killer of potted or container grown plants is over watering and plastic containers with a few bottom drainage holes actually help the soil stay too wet. A Smart Pot is constructed of a porous fabric that allows heat to dissipate and excess water to evaporate. In fact, over-watering is never a problem because excess water drains and evaporates from all of the Smart Pot’s surfaces; its walls as well as its bottom.
The Smart Pot
A New Approach To
Container Gardening
Because the Smart Pot is a fabric container, giving the root ball total aeration and excellent drainage, you can even use a heavier, less expensive planting mix. The type of mix used in a Smart Pot is less critical then in hard-sided pots. Also, another Smart Pot benefit is root pruning, a technique used by many commercial nurseries to produce masses of highly branched roots to improve plant quality. When a root grows to the side of the Smart Pot, it stops growing in length and develops many, many fine branches. By contrast, the roots in a plastic pot continue to grow in length when they reach the side and circle around the side of the pot. This is undesirable as there are fewer roots and these can grow around each other causing girdling or strangulation. A branched, fibrous root structure (“root pruned”) has a far greater root mass than a comparable plant where the roots are circling on the inside of a plastic pot. And a greater root mass will grow a better plant.
Better than ceramic and clay pots - Ceramic and clay pots are better for plant growing than plastic pots. They provide somewhat better insulation keeping soil temperatures lower then plastic pots. But ceramic and clay still provide inadequate drainage and do not encourage the best root systems. Both ceramic and clay pots are heavy and can easily break. The Smart Pot is lightweight, inexpensive, doesn’t break if dropped or frozen and can be folded so it stores easily. The Smart Pot also “root prunes”. Ceramic and clay do not.
Better than raised beds - Raised beds are a great way to garden because they provide good drainage and cooler soil temperatures. Roots grow naturally and have virtually all the room they need. But raised beds can be expensive, require labor to install and are stationary. Smart Pot’s are available in a variety of sizes and also provide an ideal growing environment. The larger size Smart Pots can grow all the plants found in raised beds, i.e. potatoes, watermelons, roses, trees, etc. Roots grow naturally, like they do in a raised bed. But the Smart Pot is a total growing unit, construction materials don’t have to be purchased, no installation or building is necessary, and are much less expensive. Smart Pots can also be moved to different locations unlike stationary, raised beds. The Smart Pot is made of inert fabric and is completely safe for edible plants, while raised beds are sometimes made of treated lumber that may contain toxic chemicals.
Better than decorative containers - Decorative containers are just that – decorative. They are manufactured to look good and are not designed for optimum plant growth. The Smart Pot is designed to promote the best plant growth. It aerates, encourages masses of roots and prevents heat damage. Many customers grow in Smart Pots, then place their plant into a decorative container.
We hope you will try the Smart Pot. We look forward to gardening with you.
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