Growing your plants in fabric pots can offer you many benefits. However, you’ll want to ensure you know how to best use the pots to get the most out of them. So, do you need to elevate the fabric pots or not?
Fabric pots need to be elevated. Water can accumulate in the base if you leave them on the ground, leading to eventual root rot. Plus, elevating the fabric pot allows water to pass through the bottom, increasing drainage.
In this article, I’ll provide an in-depth explanation of why it’s important to elevate fabric pots. You’ll also learn the best ways to elevate your fabric pots. Let’s dive right in!
Why Fabric Pots Need To Be Elevated
It’s important to elevate fabric pots because it assists with water drainage. Water can easily pass through them when they aren’t sitting directly on the ground, and overwatering your plants isn’t a concern when you lift them up.
While you can put a saucer under them to catch water for indoor plants, most people prefer to elevate their fabric pots because it offers several benefits.
I’ll cover these in more detail below:
Benefits of Elevating Fabric Pots
There are several benefits to elevating your fabric pots, including the following:
- Enhanced drainage: Excess water can drain through the bottom of the pot, so it doesn’t sit there and cause potential root rot. Water also evaporates out the sides of the bag, drying the soil faster and preventing overwatering.
- Improved temperature control: Leaving your plants on the hot ground can damage them. However, elevating them prevents this from happening, so you don’t have to worry about damaging the plant.
- Better aeration: Air can also enter the bottom of the pot, which improves air-pruning, so your plants don’t become root bound. Aeration is good for reducing overwatering issues as well.
- Reduced overwatering: With enhanced drainage and aeration, you’re much less likely to overwater plants that you keep in a fabric pot.
All of these benefits are great for gardeners. When you elevate fabric pots, you won’t have to deal with root rot, root binding, and other issues.
In short, elevating your fabric pots can help improve the conditions for your plant, allowing it to thrive, and you’ll want to consider moving your plants if they’re on the ground.
Are There Downsides To Elevating Fabric Pots?
There are a few downsides to elevating fabric pots that you’ll want to consider. For many people, it can be challenging to find space to elevate pots. You may have more space outside if you can’t find room inside for your fabric pots.
It’s also more difficult to water hanging plants, and you’re more likely to spill water when you do. It’s not as big of a downside when you elevate your fabric pots by setting them on something on the ground.
However, having better drainage, aeration, and temperature control drastically outweighs the few downsides for most people. Your plants will grow a healthier root system and have less risk of harm from overwatering.
So, while there are some downsides, you can compare them with the benefits and decide whether you should elevate your fabric pots. Many people elevate them simply because they want to keep dirty water off their carpets.
Do Fabric Pots Need a Saucer?
Fabric pots need a saucer if you’re keeping them indoors. The water will leak through the sides and bottom of the container and make a mess on your floor. Having a plate catches the water and lets you dispose of it easily.
You may consider putting a saucer under elevated fabric pots when watering. Then, leave them there until they finish draining completely, and the plate will catch the water draining out of the planter’s bottom.
You won’t need to do this if you keep your plants outside since it won’t matter if they get water on the ground. So, having some saucers for your fabric pots is generally a good idea.
What Happens if You Don’t Elevate Fabric Pots?
Not elevating your fabric pots means you won’t get the above benefits for your plants. Over time, watering the plant can cause the soil to become compacted at the bottom of the pot. When that happens, the roots can struggle to breathe and grow, harming the plant.
Additionally, not elevating your fabric pots means the plant gets less aeration and drainage. This can lead to problems such as root rot and root binding. Leaving the pot on the hot ground could burn the roots through the grow bag if you live somewhere hot.
Lastly, it’s also possible for mold to start growing on the bottom of your fabric pot, depending on what it’s made of. Since the water won’t drain as well, it’ll absorb into the fabric and stay there longer, encouraging mold to form. Mold can be very challenging to deal with once it takes root.
Fabric pots are very easy to move, so you can find different places to put them. Many people elevate the plants when the ground gets hot or when they need watering. You can simply set them on stones when you need to.
In short, many people prefer to elevate their grow bags because they receive more benefits for their plants. Not doing so could lead to several issues that can harm your plants.
Can I Put Grow Bags Directly on the Ground?
You can put grow bags directly on the ground, but they’ll get less aeration since airflow becomes cut off at the bottom of the bag. You’ll also need to be aware that water can run out of the bag and onto the floor. It’s not a problem if you’re watering your plants outside.
Many gardeners that use grow bags indoors put saucers or a catch tray under them to prevent water from getting on the floor. However, you can always keep your fabric pots on the ground if you want to.
While keeping your pots on the ground, you should elevate them during watering. Doing so will help the bag and soil dry quickly, which prevents root rot and mold growth. You can also elevate them when you want to increase air-pruning to reduce the odds of root binding taking place.
You can always put them on the ground outside without issue. The earth pulls the water through the bags, so you won’t need to worry about overwatering them as much. However, the soil in the grow bags will dry out very quickly when you do this.
How To Best Elevate Fabric Pots
There are a few ways to elevate your fabric pots. Many gardeners prefer to set their pots on stones, bricks, or even cement blocks. Doing so keeps the pots above any water that seeps out of them. Wooden palettes are also perfect for keeping your fabric planters off the ground.
If you’re watering indoor plants, you’ll also want to set a tray or plate under the pot so that it catches the runoff. Otherwise, you’d have a massive mess on your hands whenever you watered your plants.
You could also hang your fabric pots, giving them the best aeration. Many fabric planters come with handles, which make hanging them easy. However, you need to make sure they’re well-supported and that the handles are strong enough that they won’t break.
Overall, elevating your fabric planters is very easy. All you need to do is set them on something with room to drain. Many people set their planters on bricks, but you also have the option to hang them if you prefer.
Do All Pots Need To Be Elevated?
You should elevate all of your planters, including fabric ones. They can leave stubborn marks on your flooring, porch, or patio if you don’t. Luckily, most pots are compatible with pot feet, giving just enough elevation to improve drainage. Elevating traditional pots increases aeration slightly as well.
Overall, you want to ensure the hole on the bottom of the pot can drain. If it’s blocked, water will collect in the planter, which can cause root rot and other problems for your plants.
Final Thoughts
In short, fabric pots need to be elevated. The plants receive better aeration, temperature control, and drainage when you do. All these benefits allow the plant to grow stronger roots, which help it thrive.
While finding a place to put your fabric pots can be difficult, the results are worth it.
