Introduction: What are grow bags
Being a gardening enthusiast is fun and if you are one, you are sure to be looking out for eco-friendly and innovative ways for growing plants. Technically, either we grow plants in the garden or pots. If you are into growing plants in the garden, you are just about sure to have heard of grow bags. In this article, we will explore why use grow bags.
A grow bag is nothing but a bag in which you put the lower section of the plant, which is the plant’s roots and the mud supporting it. Then, this bag goes into the garden, with the stem and leaves outside, of course. Next, you try and make sure that the plant is stable in its position and water the plant daily to let it grow.
The most common types of grow bags nowadays available are fabric grow bags and plastic grow bags. So, we can consider what makes fabric grow bags a smarter and better alternative over plastic grow bags.
Ultimately, it’s up to the gardener’s discretion. But fabric grow bags bring some obvious advantages to the table on the account of being porous and eco-friendly.
Fabric grow bags
Many gardeners around the world have an undisputed preference for fabric grow bags. They’re good for the environment and help us leave behind the planet for future generations as we have found it. Fabric degrades much quicker than plastic and won’t end up in landfills one day. Problems such as waterlogging and infertile soil are hence overcome.
Another important advantage is the breathability of fabric grow bags. This lets the plants grow better and have healthier roots. The organic vegetables that you grow for your family will be healthier and will keep your family healthier. We wouldn’t want plastic to seep into the roots of the vegetables, such that it seeps into the vegetables one day, making our meals not as healthy as they earlier used to be.
So, these are the key advantages of using fabric grow bags over plastic grow bags. But, we will discuss the point in further detail, ahead in the article.
Plastic grow bags
Plastic grow bags are, as the name implies, made from plastic and not fabric. They are reasonably different from fabric grow bags and need to be used accordingly, when considering why use grow bags?
The basic functioning stays the same. You put a plant in a plastic grow bag and sow it in the ground to let it grow. However, when using a plastic grow bag, you may have to make some holes in the bag for excess water to seep out, in case your plant happens to encounter excess water on any day.
Plastic grow bags are neither breathable nor porous. This enhances the risk of excess water in the vicinity of the plant’s root. From the viewpoint of gardening, the effect could be counterproductive and make the plant’s roots unhealthy. The plant may cease to exist earlier than it would have otherwise ceased to exist.
It becomes safe to conclude that using a fabric grow bag is a better choice than using a plastic grow bag. Another viewpoint is that fabric grow bags should be used because they are biodegradable, which makes them eco-friendly.
Disadvantages of Plastic Grow bags
1. Not as breathable
Plastic grow bags are not as breathable as fabric grow bags. Water does not permeate a plastic grow bag. But, if you do make some holes in the plastic grow bag, it’ll help. Matching the performance of a fabric grow bag is still going to be difficult for a plastic grow bag, in terms of breathability.
Not being breathable is going to lay its consequences on the plant’s health. Roots tend to rot and the plant does not grow as well.
2. Temperature regulation is insufficient
When the sun shines bright, a plastic grow bag is going to heat up quicker. That is likely to be dangerous for your plants.
3. Poor drainage
It is very unlikely that a plastic grow bag is going to drain water as effectively as a fabric grow bag. Overwatering is an important consequence, and the other one is root rot.
Advantages of Fabric Grow bags
4. Breathability
Fabric is porous by nature. This is a highly utilitarian feature for the plants that you grow in fabric grow bags because air will freely circulate around the roots. So, the roots won’t be rotting, resulting in strong root development.
5. Temprature regulation
Plastic grow bags tend to heat up in the sun, but this won’t be the case for fabric grow bags. The latter keeps the temperature consistent.
So, fabric grow bags act as a staunch safeguard for keeping your plants secured against the weather, both hot and cold. This is one of the most important benefits of using fabric grow bags.
6. Drainage
If it is fabric grow bags that you use, excess water is redirected to the drain. Your plants will receive the right amount of moisture and not excess of it.
7. Eco-friendliness
An important reason to use fabric grow bags is that by using them, you are doing well for the environment. Fabric grow bags are recyclable and reusable. The environmental impact they have is negligible compared to what plastic grow bags have.
Conclusion
Have you recently been considering if you should go for fabric grow bags or plastic grow when you buy them next? For your plants, fabric grow bags are definitely going to be much more useful.
The top benefits of fabric grow bags are temperature regulation and breathability. It becomes equally important to note that fabric grow bags facilitate improved drainage and are eco-friendly.
It is easy to see that fabric bags are a superior choice for all your gardening requirements. However, on many occasions, people prefer plastic grow bags over fabric grow bags when they have to transport many small plants over a long distance in their car’s trunk.
Happy gardening!
