We no longer sell or promote the smart pot brand, we where not asked by the Manufacture to cease selling/promoting.

This page is up for past customers.

What Smart Size do i need?
For outdoor container gardening use the same size, for indoor gardens you can actually go one size smaller in our professional opinion. *For Drip, flood drain systems, for most crops including Vine Tomatoes we recommend 1 or 2 gallon containers.
Remember you will want your media to mimic wet/dry Cycles between watering, and the Air Pruning allows for a bit smaller container while still providing more root mass.

 

General Benefits of Smart Pots 

• Higher Quality Plants Grow In Less Time
• Roots Stay Cooler During Hot Weather
• Inexpensive Cost over Life Compared to Smart Pots Competitors
• Light Weight
• Attractive, Simple no frills Design
• Plants Need Repotting Less Often, and some don't require repotting at all
• 100% Reusable
• More Forgiving  A Less Expensive Potting Soil Can Be Used
• Plants Can Be Grown In The Smart Pot's Sides & Bottom
• Non-Breakable Fabric Lasts Doesn't Crack From Frost Or If Dropped
• Grow All Kinds Of Plants  Annuals, Vegetables, Herbs, Roses, House Plants & More! Indoors or outside
• Use any media from Soil, Coco, Rockwool, Higromite or any other Media you choose.
• Use in Hydroponic systems from flood drain, Drip, DWC, wick. (We have yet to find a Grow style Smart Pots Cant be used in)
• Impossible to over water any excess water will drain off instantly from the sides and bottom.
• Simulates Natural Wet Dry cycles found in nature from the full aeration effects of the Smart Pot
• No large holes like other aeration containers that are easily clogged by media or spilling finer media out the holes
• Using Smart Pots outdoors as container gardening will allow a cost savings in water consumption and nutrient requirements. even if you take soil from your back yard.
• Use Less Nutrients and Water by using smart pots. Your not watering or fertilizing the whole earth there is allot of ground sucking the nutrients and water each time you water hence it drys out so fast, rather in a smart pot your only watering a few gallons of media that your plants are in direct contact. (this is a Great benefit in hot climates, you will have to water them daily however at harvest you will have used less water overall. we recommend a simple timer system you can hook up to your hose to water each day for 2-3 minutes).

 

What is Air Pruning?

When you  grow in containers the roots reach the container walls these roots then start circling and continue to circle thinking they hit a rock and just need to make a turn. these plants result in  having a few strong roots with very little branching, and are often are bound, depending on the type of plant the tap root growing through the containers bottom hindering the plant's rate of growth and in some cases its chances of survival even after being transplanted into a larger container as the damage is already done.  

 What are different root issues.

Image source : http://www.nda.agric.za/docs/macadamia/macadamia.htm

 

What makes Smart Pot's Better than its competitors?

Smart Pots are manufactured out of a custom, non-woven, polypropylene material.  Roots grown in a Smart Pot come in contact with the fuzzy, fabric inner wall of the bag and grow threw the fabric. The Smart Pot's  fabric allows instant air pruning and the plant develops the lateral fibrous roots from that primary root that it would do in nature.. its well document by third parties that the Air Pruning and the Smart Pot Design produces a larger root system  vs Plastic bag or other solid wall containers. Plants grown in Smart Pots have even shown root systems similar to larger solid wall containers thus decreasing your overall media and costs further.

Smart Pots use a Soft Walled Fabric that has many benefits without the negatives found in others. lets compare a few.

	Smart Pots Fabric container 100% Breathable AP Technique	Solid wall Air Pruning container with Nipple'ing for AP technique	Solid wall Air Pruning Container with Slits for AP technique
Media Size or Type Used	Fine Soil, Chunky Soil, Fine Coco, Chunky Coco, Rockwool, Higromite, Clay Pebbles, Lava rock, we should have made a list of what cant be used here.. it would be blank	Chunky Soil,  Chunky Coco, Rockwool, Higromite, Clay Pebbles, Lava rock	Chunky Soil,  Chunky Coco, Rockwool, Higromite, Clay Pebbles, Lava rock
Type of grow style	Container, Soiless IE Flood Drain, Drip,	Drip or hand water Finer Media slips out the Nipples	Drip or hand water Finer Media slips out the Slits
Durability over life	step on it throw it its a piece of fabric	don't accedinty drop to many times or step on.	don't accedinty drop to many times or step on.
ease of cleaning for Clean reuse	Easy as throwing a load in the washer	Hand wash with brush	Hand wash with brush
Air Pruning Effeciancy	100% No mater where the roots hit the walls they will Air Prune	The roots have to hit the wall and spiral a little to find the hole thus already effecting the growth rate.	The roots have to hit the wall and spiral a little to find the slits these arent affected as bad as the Nipple version. but not as good as Smart Pots Fabric design

 

Root Bound Plants From solid wall containers

As you can see on the right picture the side roots hit the wall

and go down and swirl without any side branching

      

Smart Pot's Resolve this issue by allowing the root to pass threw the wall and

Air Pruning the roots  forcing the them  to produce prolific side shoots.

 

Take a look at the roots that were allowed to grow threw the wall and not be air pruned

 (by keeping the Humidity up by the walls AKA keeping them Right next to each other

or Flood Drain Filling to many times)

 

 

Why are Smart Pots better for Container Growing?

Choosing the best pot for your plants is one of the most important components for successful container gardening. For more then twenty-five years the “Smart Pot” has consistently out performed all other growing containers in both commercial nurseries and university testing.  The patented Smart Pot is a soft-sided, aeration container, uniquely designed to improve the root structure of your plants enabling them to grow to their full potential.

The comparison below points out the advantages the patented Smart Pot has over various gardening containers.

Better than plastic containers - Hard-sided plastic containers are relatively inexpensive but they are not a very good home for a plant’s root structure. Plastic allows no aeration, conducts and holds heat, and provides inadequate or poor drainage.  Even on mildly sunny days, container soil temperatures can easily top 120 degrees, damaging or killing the roots and stressing the plant. The #1 killer of potted or container grown plants is over watering and plastic containers with a few bottom drainage holes actually help the soil stay too wet. A Smart Pot is constructed of a porous fabric that allows heat to dissipate and excess water to evaporate.  In fact, over-watering is never a problem because excess water drains and evaporates from all of the Smart Pot’s surfaces; its walls as well as its bottom.

Because the Smart Pot is a fabric container, giving the root ball total aeration and excellent drainage, you can even use a heavier, less expensive planting mix. The type of mix used in a Smart Pot is less critical then in hard-sided pots. Also, another Smart Pot benefit is root pruning, a technique used by many commercial nurseries to produce masses of highly branched roots to improve plant quality. When a root grows to the side of the Smart Pot, it stops growing in length and develops many, many fine branches.  By contrast, the roots in a plastic pot continue to grow in length when they reach the side and circle around the side of the pot.  This is undesirable as there are fewer roots and these can grow around each other causing girdling or strangulation. A branched, fibrous root structure (“root pruned”) has a far greater root mass than a comparable plant where the roots are circling on the inside of a plastic pot.  And a greater root mass will grow a better plant.

 
Better than ceramic and clay pots - Ceramic and clay pots are better for plant growing than plastic pots.  They provide somewhat better insulation keeping soil temperatures lower then plastic pots.  But ceramic and clay still provide inadequate drainage and do not encourage the best root systems. Both ceramic and clay pots are heavy and can easily break.  The Smart Pot is lightweight, inexpensive, doesn’t break if dropped or frozen and can be folded so it stores easily. The Smart Pot also “root prunes”. Ceramic and clay do not.

Better than raised beds - Raised beds are a great way to garden because they provide good drainage and cooler soil temperatures. Roots grow naturally and have virtually all the room they need. But raised beds can be expensive, require labor to install and are stationary. Smart Pot’s are available in a variety of sizes and also provide an ideal growing environment. The larger size Smart Pots can grow all the plants found in raised beds, i.e. potatoes, watermelons, roses, trees, etc.   Roots grow naturally, like they do in a raised bed. But the Smart Pot is a total growing unit, construction materials don’t have to be purchased, no installation or building is necessary, and are much less expensive. Smart Pots can also be moved to different locations unlike stationary, raised beds. The Smart Pot is made of inert fabric and is completely safe for edible plants, while raised beds are sometimes made of treated lumber that may contain toxic chemicals.

Better than decorative containers - Decorative containers are just that – decorative. They are manufactured to look good and are not designed for optimum plant growth.  The Smart Pot is designed to promote the best plant growth.  It aerates, encourages masses of roots and prevents heat damage.  Many customers grow in Smart Pots, then place their plant into a decorative container.

 

Growing Potatoes (and other Vegetables) in Containers

Have you ever tasted fresh dug potatoes? You don't know what you're missing! The sweet succulent flavor is unparalleled. Compared to potatoes shipped in and stored until you buy them at the local grocery, well, there is no comparison.  You say it's too hard growing your own? You don't have a garden plot big enough? We have the answer that will have your family praising your talent at every meal.
 

Variety! – There are a thousand different varieties of potatoes (and other vegetables). Your local store sells only a few. Try growing some exotic potato varieties.

The Smart Pot Fabric Containers make the difference. Plastic containers get too hot for optimum vegetable growth. A recent study at the University of New

Hampshire showed that on sunny, 80-degree days in New Hampshire, temperatures inside plastic containers can be up to 125 degrees.  Potatoes and other vegetables do not grow when container temperatures reach the cooking range. The fabric Smart Pot containers, on the other hand, breathe. The fabric containers release heat, so your potatoes and vegetables continue growing all season long. Heat release makes growing vegetables in containers possible.  Following are a few pointers-

 

 

 

 Basics of Growing Potatoes in Containers:

1. You'll get much better results if you use certified seed potatoes. Most plants require 65 to 100 days to mature completely. Potatoes come in hundreds of varieties, so look forward to different shapes, flavors and slightly differing lengths of growing time .
2. There are at least 2 methods for cutting seed potatoes; cutting as you plant or cutting ahead and allowing the cut surface to callous over. Each piece should be about 1 ½ to 2 ounces with at least 2 eyes per piece. Whole seed potatoes can be planted if they are small.
3. Because potatoes prefer a rich loamy soil with a pH of about 6.0 you must prepare the soil. Check the soil and measure the N-P-K levels if you aren't sure about the fertility. Check the plant at mid-season. Add extra fertilizer if the leaves are slightly yellow or if the plants are not growing well.
4. Make sure that the soil has reached a minimum of 45 degrees Fahrenheit before planting your seed potatoes. Planting too early in cold, wet soil can ruin your crop.
5. All tubers need regular irrigation. Consistent watering, keeping the soil damp but not soggy, will keep your vegetables happy and healthy. The amount of rainfall in your area will affect the need to water. On average, about 1 inch of rain per week is optima l. Use a rain gage near your container garden to monitor rainfall. Over watering will result in rotting tubers. Under watering will result in lower potato yield. Potatoes do not like long hours of hot, direct sunlight day after day. If you live in an area with very hot summers, you may want to partially shade your plants.
6. Healthy soil and consistent watering will help control pests and diseases. Learn to differentiate between the good, helpful insects in your garden and the pests. Pests such as the potato leafhopper and the Colorado potato beetle can be removed by hand. Remember to look at the undersides of your leaves. Observation and removal is the key to pest control.

 

Growing Potatoes in the Fabric Containers (Bags)

Prepare: Cut seed potatoes into chunks having at least 2 eyes each. Allow the pieces to dry and callous over, about 2 days.
Fill the Smart Pot container about 1/3 full with a 50/50 mixture of garden soil and compost.
Plant: Plant one seed potato for each 3 gallons of Smart Pot container. For the #15 container, for example, plant 5 seed potatoes. For the #10 container, plant 3 or 4 seed potatoes. Place the seed potatoes evenly in the container.

Water the soil thoroughly. It should be moist but not soggy.
 

Care: Soon, you will see little stems pop through the soil. Mound up more soil/compost mix, but do not to cover the leaves. The leaves need sun and air exposure.

As the potatoes continue growing, continue adding soil/compost mix until you reach the top of the Smart Pot container.
As summer ends and autumn nears, the potato leaves and stems will begin to turn yellow. Timing will vary somewhat depending on the potato variety and your temperature zone.
When the foliage has died back and the weather is cooler, stop all watering about 2 weeks prior to harvest. The leaves and stems will turn almost completely yellow. You are ready to harvest.

Harvest: Don't use a spade or sharp instrument! Pull out all the stems and leaves, wearing gloves. Dig in and find your hidden potatoes.
Store: Arrange potatoes in a single row for a day and allow to dry. Then brush off the soil. Store potatoes in a cool, dry area with good ventilation. Do not store potatoes in the refrigerator!

 

Bag Care: The Smart Pot Container is reusable! Shake out any extra soil and allow the container to dry. Store in a dry location until you are ready to start again next spring.

How to Clean and Reuse your Smart Pot?

1. After Harvest Stack your Smart Pots On top of each other with media inside, the bottom of the smart pot will fit firmly in the top of the one below allowing a stable stack to be made. this allows you to easily dry your media and smart pot before cleaning it for reuse.

2. dump media into large storage container, by drying before you can seal it and not worry about the middle of your bulk media container from getting Icky.

3. Flip the Smart Pots inside out and brush the sides and bottoms with a brush (this makes the next steps cleaner)

4. Soak the Smart Pots in a Solution of 1/3 Vinegar and 2/3 water overnight stirring before bedtime and in the morning. this removes salts from the material as after prolonged exposure slat builds up on every thing vinegar is also a great salt remover pure on plastics around your grow area

5. Put the Smart Pots in the wash machine or laundry mat on a rinse cycle to remove other debris and rinse the vinegar out.

6. Remove from washer and Let Air Dry,

7. Walla Brand New Smart Pots

Photo Gallery of Smart Pots In Action.
(please send us your Pics Clean only)

 

Bell Peppers

 

 

Hot Peppers

 

Strawberry's

 

Flower Gardens

 

 

 

 

Tomato Seedling
 

Smart Pot inside Decretive container Best of both worlds.

 

 

Smart Pot's

Are 100% Manufactured In the USA By

High Caliper Growing, Inc.
115 NW 44th Street
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73118

Round Smart Pot Fabric Containers 30-800 Gallon Available threw special order email us at sales@advancedtechlighting.com

New Sizes Coming Soon for Ebb & Flow or drip Tables up to 48"x60" and other Wicked Efficient Styles