10 Important Things to Know About Grow Bag Gardening

Planter bags sewn from lightweight fabrics such as polypropylene or burlap are a soft, breathable version of your favorite ceramic or plastic pot. These bags usually come with handles to make them easier to lift. They are also lighter and more breathable than their clay counterparts. Although some containers are made of black plastic, they are considered inferior because they do not "breathe" either, so this article will focus on porous fabric containers.

Planter bags come in a variety of shapes and sizes and are lighter than heavy terracotta POTS, so they don't require much muscle to maintain. However, the appearance of these bags tends to be strictly practical rather than decorative, which may make them more suitable for vegetables than flowers. If you want to use planter bags this season, keep reading for the most important things to know about planter bags.

You don't need much space to grow plants in bags.

Even if you have no arable land, or no land at all, you can still stuff planting bags in the corners of sunny balconies and porches. A five-gallon bag (about a foot in diameter) can hold a tomato plant, while a three-gallon bag (about 10 inches in diameter) can hold a chili plant or a hearty salad vegetable.

As for flowers, either of these containers can hold at least three growing annuals, such as morning glory. For example, you can double the number of small annual plants, such as pansies.

Sometimes, storage space is more valuable than planting space. After the growing season, empty bags fold up for easy storage. While the harvest from these containers won't be as impressive as a large garden, the planting bags will still allow you and your children to experience and enjoy the planting, pollination and fruit up close.

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Plant selection is the key to a successful bag garden.

Once you've bought them, here's how to use a planter bag: For best results, choose plants with shallower root systems, such as brassica, salad vegetables, radishes, etc. Plants that need more "legroom" or a bed to stretch out - such as artichokes, asparagus, green beans, melons, parsnips, squash, sweet potatoes and winter squash - are unlikely to grow well in planting bags unless they are packed very large.

Still, growing vegetables in a bag is within the range of most novice gardeners, even if you're doing it from a small balcony. You can often find dwarf varieties of this vegetable that are better suited to growing in containers. "However, if your planting bag receives less than six hours of sunlight per day, you should probably choose brassica, root crops, or salad vegetables, which don't need as much sunlight as tomatoes, peppers, and other sun lovers."

The planting bag garden system has good ventilation.

Grow bags have a porous side, so roots grown in them are "air trimmed" once they reach those sides, bifurcating instead of growing in circles as they would in a pot. As a result, the plants in the bag will not become roots like those in the hard pot. Such ventilation also allows water to drain from the sides and bottom of the container, so gardeners prone to overwatering are less likely to cause root rot in their plants.

In humid climates, flower lovers can use planter bags to try plants that were previously impossible to grow, such as African or alpine species. The raised soil of the planting bag and its built-in ventilation system can provide these plants with the good drainage and evaporation of water they prefer.

Plants in bag gardens need to be watered more frequently.

Because planting bags are so well ventilated, they dry out quickly once the plants inside grow big enough to fill them. So on hot summer days, you may need to water the bag at least once a day.

You can usually determine if additional watering is needed by lifting a corner of the container. If the bag still feels heavy, the plant may not need more water. However, if it feels light, they can definitely have a drink. Sometimes, you can slow the drying of bags by pushing them closer together.

If you're wondering "What do you put under the planter bag?" "A tray or large plate will do - you want something that can catch the water coming out of the bag. Trays filled with gravel should be best, as planting bags are less perishable if they are not kept in water or wet soil.

Bag gardening usually requires more frequent fertilization.

Plants grown in containers have a limited amount of soil that can absorb nutrients, and these nutrients may leach out due to frequent watering. As a result, the plants in the planting bag need to be fertilized more frequently than the plants in the garden. It should help if the potting soil you choose already contains a slow-release fertilizer. If not, you need to add some, following the instructions on the fertilizer container.

Once you have planted the seedlings in the planter bag, you can supplement the slow-release fertilizer with liquid fertilizer. For fruits and vegetables, you may want to try tomato plant foods with half the mixed dose indicated in the instructions if used weekly or all if used only once every two weeks. In a pinch, you can also use liquid kelp lotion, diluted in directions and sprayed directly onto the leaves to turn the plant green quickly.

You can reuse your garden planting bags season after season.

Planter bags last three to four years. External factors such as the amount of watering, whether the planter bags are moved, and the material they are made from all affect their reusability.

When buying planter bags, look for bags made of durable polypropylene fabric or heavy-duty landscape fabric; For best reusability, choose products that are BPA free and food safe. Sure, there are cheaper planter bags, but they are made of plastic material and won't last very long. It's a classic case of "you get what you pay for", where a little more investment at the start can get you a better product.

Taking proper care of your planting bags can also extend their life. When the planter bags are not in use, such as during the winter, empty them, wash them, and store them in preparation for the next gardening season. Be sure to store them in a shed, garage or other protected area, as UV rays and weather conditions can reduce the quality of the bags.

Recycled and plant-sourced plant-bag materials are an environmentally friendly alternative to plastic plant-bags.

If you want to do your part to make the earth a better place to live, look for garden grow bags made from recycled or plant-based materials, such as marijuana or jute. Of the two options, garden planter bags made from recycled materials last longer because plant-sourced planter bag material ends up in compost.

While plant-based planting bags are great alternatives, they simply aren't as durable as the durable polypropylene bags. Both of these materials degrade naturally over time, and with plant-derived planting bags, this process can happen at a much faster rate. If you're interested in sustainable plant-bag gardening, plant-sourced materials are environmentally friendly, but you may need to replace them more frequently than other plant-bag materials.

Biodegradable planter bag material is a good choice for starting vegetables indoors and transplanting in the spring.

Biodegradable planting bags are an excellent choice for preparing seedlings for spring planting. Garden planting bags, such as these Huvai planting bags, are made from biodegradable non-woven fabrics. You can plant the whole bag in the soil, and they will eventually degrade into dirt, leaving seedlings.

Keeping your seedlings in small biodegradable planting bags will help them retain water and prevent other roots from invading the seedling's space before they form larger roots. Once the seedlings begin to develop larger roots, they will grow through the bag instead of being confined by it.

Biodegradable planting bags simplify spring garden planting because you can plant seedlings in the ground, bags and all. This method also makes it easy to plan your garden bed, as you can spread the bags out to calculate spacing before digging holes and planting seedlings.

Some garden planter bag systems have wings that allow you to monitor plant growth and check for pests.

The small flanks found in some garden bags are useful in many ways. You can take a look at the root system by lifting the lid, checking the growth of root vegetables, or checking the soil for pests. These planting bags give you a first-hand view of plant growth and environment, so you can clearly see how healthy your plants are and if any adjustments need to be made.

Garden growing bags with side LIDS are perfect for growing produce such as potatoes. Because potatoes are root vegetables that grow deep in the soil, you can use these LIDS to examine them. Stop crossing your fingers and hoping your plant is actually producing potatoes, because you can see exactly what's going on in the soil.

Use well-drained soil as a planting bag.

Planting bags need soil that drains well and retains moisture between watering sessions. Well-drained soil can help protect your plants from overwatering as water drains through the planter bag material. Well-drained soil ensures that the roots can breathe and makes it less likely that the roots will rot, as any excess water will flow through the bag.

Planting bag gardening requires more water than gardening underground or in raised beds, because in bag gardening, the soil will dry out quickly. Moisture retaining soil helps plants retain water and prevents them from becoming thirsty. Choosing the right soil for your planter bag garden will give your plants a better environment to grow in.