Smartgro Fabric Pots | Air Pruning Hydroponic Grow Containers (11.6L to 41L)

Roots in a standard plastic pot hit the wall and circle. They keep growing in the same direction because there's nowhere else to go, wrapping around the inside of the container until they're competing with themselves for space, oxygen, and nutrients. Air pruning stops this. When a root tip reaches the breathable fabric wall of a Smartgro pot, the exposure to air naturally desiccates the tip, triggering the plant to branch laterally and produce a dense, fibrous root mass instead of a single circling root system.

The result is more root surface area, better nutrient and water uptake, and stronger plant performance from the same container volume. Smartgro Fabric Pots are available in 11.6L, 15.1L, 19.3L, and 41L sizes, with a square profile designed to fit Wilma and Origin hydroponic drip systems, flood and drain trays, and standard grow tent setups. Four built-in side stake slots allow plant support structures to be added without disturbing the root zone. Washable and reusable across multiple grow cycles, they're a cost-effective upgrade from single-use plastic pots.

How Air Pruning Works

As roots grow outward through the growing medium and reach the fabric wall, the breathable material allows air to contact the root tip directly. This air exposure causes the tip to dry out and stop growing, a process called air pruning. The plant responds by producing multiple new lateral roots from behind the pruned tip, branching outward and filling the container with a dense, fibrous root network. This increased root mass improves the plant's ability to absorb water and nutrients efficiently, supporting faster growth and higher yields compared to root-bound plants in solid containers.

Key Benefits

• Air pruning fabric technology for stronger root systems. Breathable walls naturally prune root tips on contact, triggering lateral branching and producing a dense fibrous root mass that maximises nutrient uptake.
• Available in four sizes from 11.6L to 41L. Covers seedling through to large fruiting plant requirements, with a size suited to every stage of the grow cycle.
• Square profile fits hydroponic tray systems. Designed to sit flush in Wilma and Origin drip systems, flood and drain trays, and standard grow tent floor layouts without wasted space.
• Four built-in side stake slots. Allows plant support stakes and trellis structures to be added directly to the pot without disturbing the root zone or growing medium.
• Temperature regulating fabric construction. Breathable material naturally insulates the root zone, reducing overheating in warm grow environments and improving growing medium stability.
• Reusable and washable across multiple cycles. Clean between grows and reuse, reducing long-term container costs compared to single-use plastic pots.
• Compatible with coco coir, soil, and hydroponic media. Works with all common growing media used in indoor cultivation.

Available Sizes

• 11.6L. Suited to smaller plants, herbs, leafy greens, and early-stage vegetative growth.
• 15.1L. Mid-size option for vegetative plants and medium-yield fruiting crops.
• 19.3L. Popular size for high-yield fruiting plants in recirculating drip and flood and drain systems.
• 41L. Large format for maximum root volume, suited to long-cycle crops and commercial production.

Technical Specifications

• Material. Breathable horticultural fabric
• Shape. Square
• Sizes. 11.6L / 15.1L / 19.3L / 41L
• Stake Slots. 4 x side slots for plant support
• Reusability. Yes, washable and reusable
• Application. Hydroponics, soil, coco coir systems
• Compatibility. Wilma systems, Origin systems, flood trays
• Approximate Weight. 11.6L approx. 0.1 to 0.2 kg, 15.1L approx. 0.15 to 0.25 kg, 19.3L approx. 0.2 to 0.3 kg, 41L approx. 0.4 to 0.6 kg

Frequently Bought Together

Smartgro Fabric Pots are designed to drop directly into the Origin Hydroponic Recirculating Drip System, which provides timed nutrient delivery to each pot via top-feed drippers. Fill your pots with UGRO Pure Air Coco 50L, a pre-buffered loose coco coir that pairs perfectly with fabric pot air pruning by maintaining excellent drainage and oxygen retention throughout the root zone. For larger plants in the 41L size, pair with JB Water Rings in 9 or 12 inch for even 360-degree irrigation coverage across the full pot surface.