Root Pouch is a family-based company headquartered in Hillsboro, Oregon, USA, with their partnership manufacturing facility, an extension of the Root Pouch company, located in China.
With extensive knowledge and experience in the horticultural industry, they have developed a fabric that has no rival in the industry for its technical qualities. The patented fabrics are all BPA-free and UV-resistant, certified food-safe, and comply with US Food and Alcohol Administration (US FDA) food safety criteria (not a requirement of any horticultural grow bag product), and are manufactured in a safe and clean environment.
The concept behind the pouch
een about two decades since the company was founded, and over 1 million of these state-of-the-art bags are shipped monthly across the globe to growing industries.Here at Up On The Rooftop, we loved the bag so much and saw incredible growth and healthy plants that we decided to bring the product to Australia and have forged a great relationship with the global company to make the brand available to Aussie growers.
Q: What is the environmental philosophy behind Root Pouch recycled PET water bottle grow bags?
Q: What makes Root Pouch different from the rest?
Here's our BLOG explaining the remarkable difference.
Q: Who is "Root Pouch," and where is the company located?
The Root Pouch company is headquartered in Oregon, USA. It is a family-run company and has been manufacturing bags for well over a decade, one of the first to do so.
Q: Why has the US company adopted the kangaroo logo?
Q: Why does the Root Pouch Company test the bags for food safety?
The Root Pouch company believes its containers have passed safety tests for contact with food. They decided not to wait until it was required and took it upon themselves to ensure that the containers produced were free of harmful contaminants.
Batches of grow bags have undergone rigorous testing by BACL (Global testing and certification lab) in accordance with the FDA contact test 21 CFR 177.1630
Q: Will the Root Pouch Bags change colour over time?
The fabric is UV-resistant. The fabric may develop a lovely patina over time; this is not the discolouration of the fabric itself, but the result of soil, nutrients, and fertilisers, as well as, in some cases, salt and chemicals in the water itself. This growth is normal for a breathable material. If left in a damp, shaded position, mosses or lichen might develop. None of these colourings or growth affects the bags' functionality or longevity, and they add a natural, organic patina to the surface. Our customers love the aged look as the bags blend well with the surrounding garden.
Q: What is the white build-up on the surface of my Root Pouch grow bags?
Depending on your potting soil, sometimes a white and grey powder that is often mistaken for mould or mildew appears on the surface of the fabric. This is "efflorescence" and why might it form?The efflorescence, a word which comes from the Latin for ‘flower’ – is made by mineral salts ‘blooming’ on the surface of the pot. It is the same bloom that often appears on Terracotta and other porous material pots and bags.
It is the result of soil, nutrients, and fertilisers, as well as, in some cases, salt and chemicals leaching from the water itself. This growth is normal for a breathable material. If left in a damp, shaded position, mosses or lichen might develop. None of these colourings or growth affects the bags' functionality or longevity, and they add a natural, organic patina to the surface. Our customers love the aged look as the bags blend well with the surrounding garden.
Any material with a closed texture tends not to acquire efflorescence. Root Pouch grow bags are woven from recycled water bottle fibres, making them porous. This feature helps prevent root rot and allows the fabric to breathe.
Q: How do I clean the surface of the bags?
Depending on your potting soil mix, you may notice a white coating that resembles mildew. This is most likely salt and minerals that have built up over time from the nutrients and/or water used in the Root Pouch grow bag, and the growths are enjoying the nutrients and moisture. Lichen, algae/moss can also grow on the outside of the fabric if conditions are damp and if shade is cast on the bag. You can lightly scrub the sides of the bag while it is being used with vinegar scrubbed on with a soft brush, if you want to freshen up the look. Most of our customers love the aged patina that sits beautifully against other pots and greenery. The growths are nothing to be concerned about.
If your bags are being emptied after the growing season, you can hose and scrub out any built up soil. The bags can also be put into the washing machine however, washing the bags in this manner will, over time, make the fabric feel less rigid and become "woolly" and we prefer not to wash them in this manner. A video can be found here
Q: Will the Root Pouch bags drain water?
The grow bags are made of fabric and, as a result, are porous. This is one of the many excellent benefits of the Root Pouch grow bags: they provide excellent drainage, which is crucial for maintaining healthy roots. As such, if the surface on which the bags will be placed needs protection from staining, precisely as you would a rigid container with drainage holes, you may consider putting a planter tray under the bag, however, as with a container with drain hole, please ensure that the bag is not sitting in a constant pool of water as this will prevent the effective draining of the soil.
Lichens, mosses or mould on the surface of porous pots or bags can usually indicate an excess of moisture and poor airflow. If these underlying conditions are not corrected, the plant may suffer from more serious issues -
Root Rot: Constantly wet soil leads to a lack of oxygen, creating conditions where harmful anaerobic fungi thrive and cause the roots to decay, which is often fatal to the plant. Ensure you bag is not sitting in pooled water.
Nutrient Competition: Excessive growth can compete with the plant for nutrients over time, potentially hindering its growth.
Increased Susceptibility: A plant in a chronically damp environment is more vulnerable to other diseases and pests like fungus gnats.
Q: Can Root Pouch grow bags be used in hydroponic situations?
Yes, most definitely. A game-changer in the hydroponic legal cannabis and medicinal industry, the bags are durable and offer the same level of root health under hydroponic conditions.
Q: What are Root Pouch Boxer Pots made of?
Root Pouch degradable plant pots are made of PET derived from post-consumer (used) recycled plastic water bottles. This material is melted back to a liquid state, then spun into fibres that are mixed with natural fibres, which degrade over time. Root Pouch does not use new petroleum, unlike some other fabric companies, so it does not contain any toxins. It is BPA-free and UV-resistant.
This approach helps give existing plastic waste a longer, useful life rather than contributing to landfill or waterways.
Q: Are Root Pouch grow bags safe for growing food? Do Root Pouch grow bags release microplastics?
Like all materials used in gardening, they are not completely impact-free - but they are designed to be a safe, practical option for growing food at home.
Do Root Pouch grow bags release microplastics? Root Pouch grow bags are made from melted-down bottle fibres and woven into fabric, so, like any textile, they may release small fibres over time.
At present, there are no peer-reviewed studies specifically measuring microplastic shedding from grow bags in garden conditions, so it’s not possible to quantify this precisely.
What current research shows is that most microplastics in soil come from broader sources such as compost, fertilisers, water, and environmental exposure - rather than from containers alone.
Q: Will microplastics from grow bags affect my vegetables?
Microplastics are now present in most environments, including soil, water, and air.
Some studies suggest that very small plastic particles (particularly nanoplastics) may be taken up by plants, but this research is still developing and not yet fully understood.
Using Root Pouch grow bags does not eliminate microplastics, but it also does not represent a known major source compared to other common gardening inputs.
Q: Do Root Pouch bags contain harmful chemicals? No, Root Pouch grow bags are:
- BPA-free
- free from PVC
- free from phthalates
- no new petrochemicals used in their production
They are manufactured without the additives most commonly associated with chemical leaching concerns.
They still contain plastic (in recycled form), but are part of a more circular and reuse-focused system. The fabrics have undergone and passed rigorous testing by a global, international testing & certification laboratory in accordance with the FDA contact test 21 CFR 177.1630. [contact with food, drugs, biologics & cosmetics ]. They are BPA-free and UV-resistant.
Q: How long do the bags last & are they bio/degradeable?
Degradability is the ability of the fabric to, in part, become structurally unsound and allow the roots of the plant to penetrate the surrounding soil freely. The degree of degradability and the time required to reach different stages are determined by several factors.
Density of the fabric along with the contents of the fibres used in the actual fabric and the percentages used of PET verses natural fibres (in the case of our Black range that contains natural fibres of Jute and Bamboo) will affect degradability. This also determines the tensile strength of the fabric itself. It changes over time as the fabric is exposed to soil on both sides and environmental conditions, allowing the degradation of the biodegradable natural fibres mixed with the PET.
The actual PET in the mixture is not biodegradable or degradable. When discussing non-degradable fabrics, it is essential to distinguish between PET, which is not biodegradable, meaning never breaking down, and “the fabric lasting forever.”
The fabric will not disappear, but it will lose its tensile strength, and therefore, some of its effectiveness will be lost.
A non-degradable pot is designed not to allow roots to penetrate freely for many years. Not only does it have a far smaller carbon footprint than its plastic counterpart, but it is also made from recycled plastic bottles, not new petroleum, making it a “post-consumer product”. Better for the planet, better for the plant!
Q: Why use fabric pots?
The primary reason fabric pots are widely used is not to create a stronger pot, but to provide a better environment that fosters a breathable, healthy growing condition. Fabric pots, unlike traditional black plastic pots, allow water and air to flow through their structure, thereby nourishing the plant's roots. It also prevents the plant's roots from circling once they encounter the resistance of the pot's wall. Instead, through a couple of different means, the fabric causes the plant to send out new fibrous roots rather than circle and harm the plant.
Q: What type of stitching is used for the Root Pouch containers?
The type of stitch used is called an Industrial Lock Stitch. The side seam stitching is commonly referred to in the clothing industry as a French Seam. It will not unravel when pulled. The Industrial Lock Stitch gets its name because of its industrial use in outdoor products, where unravelling is a concern for a product's overall wear and tear. Other inferior bags are made using an overlock stitch, widely used in the garment industry. The problem with this stitch is that it will easily unravel when pulled. This stitch is commonly used in clothing, where its primary purpose is aesthetic rather than strength and durability.
Q: Can I wash my Root Pouch bags?
Yes, the Root Pouch grow bags are washable. We recommend hand washing them in cold water with an earth-friendly detergent and letting them air dry. Just as with any porous pot, the minerals and salts in your potting mix may stain the outer surface over time, and moss or lichen can build up if the pot is placed in a damp position. This can happen on any porous pot and does not affect the durability or performance of the grow bags. In fact, many customers prefer the natural weathered appearance. Vinegar can be used to gently scrub stains or growths away.
Q: Are Root Pouch containers UV-resistant?
Yes, Root Pouch fabrics are resistant to UV rays.
Q: Are Root Pouch fabrics BPA-free?
Yes. The fabrics are BPA-free. They are made from #1 PETE, a type of recycled plastic commonly used in drinking water bottles and soft drink bottles.
Q: Do the elements, snow and ice, affect the fabric & cause it to break down?
Snow and ice have no more effect on Root Pouch fabric than they do on traditional plastic containers. Keep in mind that a plant in a fabric Root Pouch container will fare much better in extreme cold than any other container type. Just like a human, what would help a person in sub-zero cold or wind? If they were wrapped in plastic or wrapped in fabric? Plants and plant roots are the same. Fabric allows the heat given off by plants to be contained, keeping the plant warmer in winter and cooler in summer. Root Pouch fabric pots, when set up against each other, will exchange heat between them.
Q: Do planted Root Pouches need to be treated differently over winter?
Root Pouch deep winter preparation and care are basically the same as those for any container. All pots can be placed with each pot touching the other in a protected area, a hoop house or cold shed is excellent for overall winter protection to consolidate space in an enclosure. Plants can be set in a pyramid. Bottom row: each pot touching the next. Next row on top, between plants or trunks.
If cover is not available and plants are to stay in the yard. Then again, treat them the same as you would if the pots were in plastic.
