Grow Bags or Plastic Pots: Which to Choose，How to Choose?
2025-05-12
Grow bags are an excellent cultivation solution. But many people don't know whether to choose planting bags or plastic pots for their crops. In this article, we will provide a detailed introduction to the differences between planting bags and plastic pots. Help you make the right choice.
Different Materials
Grow bags:
Mainly made with non-woven fabrics, PET (polyethylene), or natural fiber. Has strong breathability and are relatively friendly to the root system. Grow bags are usually biodegradable, making them more environmentally friendly.
Plastic Pots:
Mainly made with PET or PP (polypropylene). The design is enclosed; only the bottom has drainage holes. Plastic is usually difficult to degrade naturally. When your plastic pot breaks, it needs to be handled properly.
Advantages and Disadvantages of Grow Bags
Pros：
Air root pruning: Non-woven grow bags have strong breathability. When the root system grows outward and comes into contact with the bag wall, the permeability of the material exposes the root tip to the air, triggering the natural root cutting mechanism. This root cutting effect will inhibit the further extension of the main root and instead stimulate the development of lateral and fibrous roots, forming a denser root network. So grow bags are also called root control bags.
Learn more about root pruning benefits → Root Pruning for a Healthier Tree
Flexible and lightweight: lightweight, foldable, suitable for small spaces. Such as balconies, courtyards, and mobile planting. Our Grow Bags have handles on both sides (capacity ≥ 2 gallons available).
灵活轻便： 轻便，可折叠，适用于小空间。比如阳台、庭院、移动的种植。我们的成长袋两侧都有把手（容量≥ 2 加仑）。
灵活轻便： 轻便，可折叠，适用于小空间。比如阳台、庭院、移动的种植。我们的成长袋两侧都有把手（容量≥ 2 加仑）。
Environmental friendliness: Biodegradable materials reduce environmental pollution and have low reuse costs.
Cons:
Poor water retention: Frequent watering is required, as high temperatures can lead to rapid soil drying.
Limited durability: Non-woven fabric material is prone to aging; our Grow Bags generally need to be replaced every 5 to 7 years. Affected by the environment, temperature, and humidity, the time may be shorter.
Advantages and Disadvantages of Plastic Pots
Pros:
Strong durability: good anti-aging performance, with a service life of more than five years.
Water and fertilizer retention: Closed structure reduces water evaporation. It is suitable for wet-loving plants.
Low cost: low unit price, suitable for large-scale planting or short-term seedling cultivation.
Cons:
Poor breathability: It is easy to cause root-system hypoxia and decay. Strict water control is required.
Easy root wrapping: The root system grows around and is prone to damage during transplantation, reducing the survival rate.
Lack of stability: The lightweight basin is easily blown down by the wind. Requires additional reinforcement.
Conclusions:
Planting bags are known for their breathability and root management. But it will sacrifice some waterproofing and durability. They are suitable for plants with high root control requirements and frequent transplanting (such as trees and roses). As well as small spaces with strong environmental protection needs.
Plastic pots have the advantages of low cost and high water retention. But their breathability and root health issues are prominent. They are suitable for wet-loving plants, short-term seedling cultivation, or home gardening that emphasizes appearance.
After introducing the difference between planting bags and plastic pots, I will now tell you how to choose the right grow bag.
Grow Bags' Colors
Most grow bags are black. Because non-woven fabric itself is black. Grow bags for soilless cultivation of fruits and melons are usually designed with an outer layer of white and an inner layer of black. The outer layer of white reflects sunlight to reduce substrate temperature. The inner layer of black avoids light to promote healthy root growth. Edible mushroom cultivation bags are customized in colors (such as red, blue, etc.) according to the temperature requirements of the mushrooms. We can also offer a variety of colors for you to choose.
Grow Bags' Sizes
Choosing the right size grow bags is the most important part. In fact, when choosing a size, you need to consider many things. For shallow-rooted plants like crape myrtle, azalea, and strawberries, you can use wide and shallow grow bags. But for deep-rooted plants like Taraxacum officinale, Lavandula angustifolia, or trees, taller bags are needed. Our best-selling size is 5 gallons; if you are unsure, you can refer to this regular size. Be cautious when purchasing large-sized bags. You may find them convenient, but not only are large-sized bags more expensive, but filling them with high-quality soil can also be quite costly. And when you need to move them, the weight of the bag will give you a headache. If you are still considering which size to purchase, be sure to first understand the root system of the crop. If you are already very familiar with the plant you want to cultivate and find that our regular size is not suitable, we will provide customized services for professionals like you.
Grow Bags' Quality
Good quality planting bags often meet the following standards:
Material requirements: Nontoxic materials should be used to ensure no impact on plants.
Appearance quality: The mesh size is consistent, with no color differences or contamination.
Tensile strength: Needs to be able to withstand the pressure from soil and plants.
Breathability and permeability: Low soil permeability, but a strong water-locking ability.
Handle firmness: The handle must be tightly sewn onto the bag for easy, frequent movement.
That's also why the price range of planting bags is very wide. The higher the price, the better the quality of what you buy.
I hope this article can solve your problems about how to choose the right grow bags.
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