The product:

Recommended uses: In the ground, in pots and above ground.

Root Pouch's black line is the most durable semi-degradable root bag available. Root Pouch is the only fabric container company that offers fabrics blended with natural fibres.

When used in the soil, the natural fibres draw water from the surrounding soil. When used in pots, the bags prevent the roots from penetrating the fabric, as the fabric is pruned by entrapment rather than by air. When used above ground, the roots are always trimmed.

"Whether using Root Pouch for pot or above ground growing, Root Pouch offers the most advanced root pruning technology available." - JCA

UV resistant - BPA free - Non toxic

Made from 100% recycled materials, a blend of PET and natural fibres. Available in sizes #1 to #65 with or without handles.

FAQ:

Why are natural fibres beneficial ?

Natural fibres are biodegradable. The mix of natural and synthetic fibres (PET) will determine how long the fabric will be able to prevent roots from penetrating the fabric once it has been exposed to soil on both sides. When the fabric begins to degrade, the roots can then penetrate the surrounding soil. Root Pouch offers 5 different densities and natural fibre blends to suit all types of crops.

Why is Root Pouch the best choice for growing in the ground and in the pot ?

The Root Pouch fabric does not emit air like other fabric pots, but rather it emits by trapping.

The air pruning fabrics allow the root to squeeze through the fabric. Root Pouch traps the root tips, creating dense, fibrous root systems, while containing the roots within the bag, making it the best choice for both in-ground and pot applications. When used as an in-ground grow bag, Root Pouch offers another advantage over all other bags: the natural fibres of the fabric draw water from the surrounding soil into the pot, reducing the need for drip systems.

What are the Root Pouch natural fibre pots made of ?

Root Pouch degradable plant pots are made from PET from recycled plastic water bottles.

This material is remelted to a sterile liquid state and then spun into fibres that are mixed with natural fibres that degrade over time. As the plastic is remelted, it is sterile again, making it an excellent choice for growing plants for human consumption. Root Pouch does not use new petroleum as some other tissue companies do, so Root Pouch is toxin free. It is BPA free and UV resistant.

Why are there differences in container size and volume capacity in nursery containers ?

There are several different gallon comparisons:

Commercial nursery gallons versus standard gallons

Capacity in liquid gallons or dry gallons

American gallons versus imperial gallons.

When talking about gallons, there are different capacity equations in the United States and other countries. An American liquid gallon is defined as 231 cubic inches, or about 3.785 litres. In the UK and Canada, the equation for a gallon is called an imperial gallon. One imperial gallon is equivalent to about 1.2 US gallons of liquid.

*Note that when liquid gallons are used as a reference to the size of a gallon, it is the capacity of the liquid that can be stored in that size, not the mass of the liquid itself.

The volume of liquid in a container of milk, for example, is very different from the volume of soil in a nursery pot.

To make things even more confusing, the term "5-gallon nursery pot" varies among nursery pot suppliers, depending on whether they make a standard 5-gallon pot, a stocky 5-gallon pot, a tall 5-gallon pot or a tapered 5-gallon pot. It is for this reason that most nursery pot companies refer to their sizes as #5 rather than 5 gallon.

Differences between the gallons themselves:

1 US gallon liquid = 3.78541 litres

1 imperial liquid gallon = 4.54609 litres

1 dry gallon = 4.40 litres

Another variation in the interior dimensions of a hand-sewn fabric container compared to a hard plastic (injection moulded) container is the cutting of the fabric. When fabric is sewn into a jar, it can vary up to ½ inch in the folding of the seams, resulting in a variation in dimensions, creating slight differences in the volume of its contents.

In summary, if you ever thought that the 1 gallon pot you get in a nursery with a perennial plant looks much smaller than a 1 gallon milk jug, you were right! One contains soil, the other liquid and both have a different volume conversion.

A one-gallon nursery pot can only hold 0.664 gallons of soil.

A standard gallon of nursery stock is approximately equal to 0.71 gallons of American liquid.

The gallon sizes of nursery containers should be considered as approximate sizes. The best way to determine the size of container you will need is to check the dimensions.

What makes Root Pouch the best choice for healthier plants ?

The Root Pouch fabric not only retains soil, but provides a healthier root environment.

The fabric is breathable and allows oxygen to reach the roots.

The fabric has superior insulation that protects the roots from heat and cold.

The weave of the tissue traps the root tips, preventing their encirclement and girdling, and encouraging the plant to produce a dense lateral root structure.

The fabric scatters sunlight, preventing the roots from being damaged by direct sunlight.

How are Root Pouch pots a more sustainable choice ?

Root Pouch is made from recycled plastic water bottles. These water bottles were destined to end up in landfills. This not only prevents water bottles from ending up in the oceans and the environment, but also eliminates the need to make other petroleum-based pots or bags using natural resources.

Is FDA approval required at this time for grow bags, nursery pots or any other horticultural container ?

The short answer is no, not at this time. We understand that at this time, the federal government does not consider the cultivation of cannabis to be federally legalized and has not yet required that they meet FDA standards, test 21 CFR 177.1630 (contact with food, drugs, biologicals and cosmetics).

The FDA requirements are of course unavoidable as it is important that container manufacturers create safe, non-toxic containers for growing plants that will be consumed by humans.

At Root Pouch we believe it is important to our customers that our containers have been tested and have passed the safety test for food contact. We have decided not to wait until this is necessary and have taken it upon ourselves to ensure that the containers we produce are free from harmful contaminants that could affect the quality and safety of the plants grown in them.

All of our grow bags have undergone rigorous testing by BACL (Global Testing and Certification Laboratory) in accordance with the FDA contact test 21 CFR 177.1630.