Growing Plants in a Bag
In this modern age of gardening, growers have at their fingertips a large variety of growing media or medium to choose from. Expanded clay pellets, vermiculite, perlite, coco coir, rockwool , straw, sand, sphagnum moss, lava rock, soil-less potting mixes (organic and inorganic) are a few I can name. This is a hefty list already and I’m sure there are many more mediums that I failed to mention here. With the introduction of alternative gardening techniques, like hydroponics and vertical gardening (stacking method), and the imaginative innovation of today’s growers, we can now find plants growing anywhere. It is also possible to supply them with adequate water, light and elemental nutrients. Even container gardening (potted plants) has found itself with a more modern, 21st century edge. Nearly any type of container can be used to house the roots of a plant, such as old mail boxes, broken pallets from a local factory, and discarded rain gutters. If you can fill something with growing medium and a plant, it can easily become an interesting new addition to the garden. Many plant enthusiasts have made it their purpose to repurpose items that have the capacity to house plants. I like to think of modern agriculture and gardening as an industry of innovation and now I would like to offer into the mix a simple but useful gardening idea. But first, I must question a question. Why spend hard earned money on expensive potting containers, when you can grow your plants straight out of a bag?
From lettuce to tomatoes, growing plants in a bag of your favorite potting mix is a unique option to consider. And it can be done in 5 simple steps.
Step 1: Choose what type of potting mix and what size of bag to use. This should be determined by the needs of the crop being grown. Use smaller size bags when growing things, like lettuce, and bigger ones for tomatoes and peppers.
Step 2: Poke holes on the sides and bottom of the bag for drainage using a knife or other tool. I use a bamboo kabob skewer because it makes the perfect size drainage hole. More holes will equal better drainage.
Step 3: Cut slits for each plant to be grown in the bag. I’ve found that cutting an X into the bag and folding the flaps under works well. Again, the number of spaces cut will be determined by the crop being grown.
Step 4: Prior to planting, moisten the potting mix (if desired).
Step 5: Transplant seedlings as you would into any other growing medium or start directly from seed. Both methods work fine.
Treat a plant growing in a bag as you would any container plant. Water regularly and fertilize often. How frequently to fertilize will depend on each individual plants elemental nutrient needs. Growing directly from a potting mix bag will encourage extensive root growth that should encompass the entire space inside the bag. The amount and speed of drainage will be controlled by how many holes are poked into the bottom of the bag. Water slowly at the base of the plant and allow the entire bag to fill with water to ensure complete saturation of the entire root zone. Pick up a bag of your favorite potting mix today and give this unique method a try. And remember, think outside the pot.
