How to Use Growing Bags for Plants

Planting bags are plastic or fabric bags for growing shallow rooted plants. They are ideal for balconies or small gardens where space is at a premium. Grow bags are also great because they are reusable and produce very little waste. To grow plants, prepare the bags for your chosen plants, install the plants and take care of the bags so that you have healthy plants throughout the season.

Part 1 Getting Your Grow Bag Ready

Buy your grow bags. You can buy grow bags at plant shops or home improvement shops. You can choose between plastic or fabric grow bags, but fabric grow bags usually require more watering and are more practical than plastic bags. Choose a bag according to the size of the roots. Don't buy a very large bag unless you are growing something large.

For example, if you are planting something as large as a grapefruit tree, you will need a 50 gallon bag.

Line the grow bag with clay pebbles to aid drainage. If the type of potting mix you're using doesn't drain easily, you may need to place a layer on the bottom of the grow bag. You can line the bag with clay pebbles or chunks of perlite. Put enough pebbles or perlite on the bottom of the bag to cover it completely.

Use at least 1 inch (2.5 cm) of pebble or perlite in the bag.

Add soil to the grow bag. You can use garden soil similar to compost, compost made specifically for containers, or you can make your own mix. The best mix for a grow bag is 1/3 moss, 1/3 compost mix (such as chicken manure or mushroom compost), and 1/3 vermiculite (a moisturizing mineral). Fill the grow bag almost completely, leaving a few inches (5 cm) of space at the top of the bag.

If there is nothing in the bag, loosen it and shape it. Once the soil is in the bag, shake it and knead it like a pillow to loosen it. Then, shape the bag into a low hump (hill shape). This is to ensure that the soil is spread out evenly.

part 2 Adding Plants

Choose plants with shallow roots for best results. Shallow rooted plants are ideal in bags as they won't grow badly from the bottom of the bag. Good choices include tomatoes, capsicum, eggplant, zucchini, cucumbers, strawberries, green beans, lettuce, potatoes, herbs, and flowers.

However, if you purchase a very large grow bag, you can grow larger items such as trees.

Place the bag where you want to grow your plants. Grow bags are easy to move and can be placed in a variety of places. They can be placed on the balcony, outside in the garden, or in the greenhouse. When choosing a location, consider the amount of sunlight and warmth your plants need.

Scoop out the soil to make room for the plants. Scoop out the soil with your hands or a small shovel. Make sure you have scooped out enough soil so that the entire roots of the plant can be covered, allowing it to be planted.

Install the root ball in the soil. Insert the root ball where the soil has been dug out. Make sure the entire root ball is covered in soil. Then, cover the top of the root ball with some of the soil you dug up.

Part 3 Caring for the Plants

Water the bag frequently. Grow bags generally require more water than potted plants. Check the condition of the grow bag daily. Water it whenever you see the soil drying out. Plastic heats up the peat mix considerably, so keeping the soil moist is critical to the success of growing plants.

Cloth bags generally require more frequent watering than plastic bags.

Install a tap water system. Keeping grow bags well-hydrated can be difficult, so a running water system is often beneficial. One option is to install a drip system. Essentially, a drip system is a container that releases water into the soil slowly and continuously. Alternatively, you can place a container under the grow bag and fill it with water.

If you put a deep container under the grow bag, you may need a container to catch the overflow.

Fertilize heavily nourishing plants. Replanted plants refer to plants such as corn, tomatoes, and cabbage crops. You can buy fertilizer or make your own natural fertilizer. You can make your own fertilizer with Epsom salt and eggshells, vermicompost and compost tea. Spread a thin layer of fertilizer on top of the soil. If you leave a few inches (5 cm) at the top of the bag, there should be room left. Fertilize your plants at least once a week.

When the crops have finished growing, reuse the soil. If the soil still looks healthy, you'll be able to reuse it the next season. Soil can be retained and reused for 2 to 3 seasons as long as you amend it with compost, organic matter, or fertilizer. Even the bag can be used for another season if you wash the bag, let it dry, and store it in a dry place until the next growing season.