Smart Pot, 65 gal, 32" x 18"

Fabric Grow Container for Root Pruning, 65gal

Roots that hit the solid wall of a plastic nursery pot keep circling instead of branching outward, which crowds the root ball and limits how much of the growing medium a plant can actually use. Smart Pot is a soft-sided container made from a breathable, non-woven fabric that lets roots stop growing once they reach the container wall, a process called air pruning, instead of circling it, producing a denser, more fibrous root system.

This 65gal Smart Pot measures 32in x 18in and is built for commercial tree, shrub, and field-nursery production, where a large fabric container needs to hold its shape and drain well through a full growing season.

Key Features & Benefits

• Breathable non-woven fabric — air-prunes roots at the container wall instead of letting them circle, producing a denser, more fibrous root mass.
• Freestanding structure — holds its shape upright on its own without a rigid frame or additional support.
• Improved drainage and aeration — fabric walls let excess water and air pass through the sidewall, reducing the risk of a waterlogged root zone.
• Foldable, reusable construction — folds flat for storage between growing seasons rather than stacking like rigid plastic pots.

Who Should Use Smart Pot

Commercial tree and shrub growers, container nurseries, and home gardeners who want denser, more fibrous root development than a solid-walled pot allows will find Smart Pot suited to that goal, across sizes from small starter containers up to large field-production volumes.

About Smart Pot

Smart Pot fabric containers were developed by High Caliper Growing, Inc., which traces to Ralph Reiger, a tree farmer near Guthrie, Oklahoma, who created the fabric-container concept in 1980 and incorporated the company, originally Root Control, Inc., in 1984. The company, now based in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, also makes Big Bag Beds and Root Control Bags alongside its Smart Pot line.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does air pruning mean?

Air pruning happens when a root reaches the edge of a breathable fabric container and is exposed to air, which stops it from growing further and circling the container wall. The plant responds by branching out new roots instead, producing a denser, more fibrous root mass than a solid-walled pot allows.

How is a fabric pot different from a plastic nursery pot?

A plastic pot has a solid wall that roots grow along and circle once they reach it, which can lead to a pot-bound root ball. Smart Pot's breathable fabric wall air-prunes roots at the edge of the container instead of letting them circle, and it also improves drainage compared to a solid plastic wall.

Can Smart Pot be reused for more than one growing season?

Yes, the fabric construction is designed to be reusable across multiple seasons and folds flat for storage when it is not in use. Rinsing out old growing medium between uses helps extend its service life.

How does the fabric container change watering frequency?

Because the fabric walls breathe and drain more freely than solid plastic, Smart Pot containers can dry out faster, especially in hot or windy conditions. Growers moving from plastic pots to Smart Pot should expect to check soil moisture more often and may need to water somewhat more frequently.

Can Smart Pot be used both indoors and outdoors?

Yes, Smart Pot is used in outdoor field nursery production as well as indoor and greenhouse container growing. The size range, from small container sizes up to large field-production volumes, covers both settings.