smart pot and heat mat?

[kronicking]

Hi, I was wondering if anybody knows if you use a smart pot and a heat mat if roots will try to grow out the bottom of the pot. Also if the smart pot does get any roots growing into it does it ruin the pot or is there something you can do so you can use it again?

[Canuck147]

The roots are supposed to grow through the smart pot - your circulation of air prunes the roots - that's why you need to put the smart pot on some kind of riser so the air prunes the roots that are underneath.

[kronicking]

Thanks for the reply. I thought that the air pruned the roots before they started growing into the fabric but if they start growing through anyways than I don't think it really matters having the heat mat underneath because the roots wont be able to get any farther than the mat since it is blocking it off and when they start to try and grow out the sides they will be pruned. I need to have a heat mat because the soil is too cold without it. If the roots do grow through the fabric anyways than are the pots not reusable or is there someway to get the roots out after or it doesn't matter?

[Rwise]

Roots growing through them can happen if they are on something that makes them hold moisture, setting on a riser they dry and self trim the roots. If you plant the whole pot, the roots will grow trough it, which makes hole's. However many and whatever size the roots are, to many and the bag will have to much damage to reuse. And if they get big, well the bag is dead.