I use the root pouches too, excellent product! Greenhouse Megastore has them. Stopped carrying the 30 gallon though? Here is a link that might be useful: root pouch

I used smart pots and grow bags (same concept, different manufacturer, Hydrofarm, I think) for my vegetables and herbs this year and they were great. I didn't find they dried out too fast, if anything I had to take care not to over water. They seem to perform better if situated on ground or grass rather than concrete. Their lighter weight was a major plus, even when filled. I mixed half Miracle Grow potting mix and half Miracle Grow potting soil plus a little extra pine mulch for aeration and added a controlled release fertilizer before planting, then followed with dilute soluble feedings once the plants were larger. If I could find pine fines I'd use the 5-5-1 homemade mix everyone writes about on this forum but I just can't locate them. I recommend investing in an inexpensive moisture meter to help you get acquainted with the necessary watering schedule. Also, some plants took up water faster than others so the moisture meter helped me take some of the guesswork out of it. Indeterminate tomatoes I planted one to a 20 gallon container with the cage embedded in it as I filled it with soil at first planting. My tomatoes grew to 7 feet and I had to put extenders on all their cages but nothing blew over (and we had some big time winds this past spring in Houston). The ones by Hydrofarm have stiffer sides and hold their shape better during filling with dirt, but the smart pots seem to retain more moisture so I guess it's a trade off. Spring garden's mostly gone now with the heat but my okra (two plants per 15 gallon fabric pot, 3 pots total) is still going strong. Basil, rosemary, mint, and sage also doing okay. Chives are pouting in the heat but still coming along in a partially shaded area on the patio. I plan on using them for my Fall garden as well. They are nicely portable. I used to have a raised bed garden but it was eradicated by some necessary heavy construction. I really like not having to weed and I can pay more attention to the plants' other needs using the fabric pots. Give them a try and report back on how they worked!

I know summer is still in full swing, but I know I'll forget to ask later on. So while I still remember and have time, I wanted to know if anyone stored used potting soil in a root pouch/smart pots on a fire escape over winter. I would like to reuse the soil and from reading online here and elsewhere most people seem to leave the soil in the container used outside. The problem is I used unglazed terra cotta containers which I know I'll have to store indoors to prevent damage from the cold. Since I planned to purchase a root pouch/smart pot to use next year, I figured I could purchase one now, store the soil in it and have it ready for use come spring. My questions are: If using a root pouch/smart pot, did you cover the top from the elements or do anything in particular to keep pests out? Is it possible to add used coffee grounds/mulch/etc to the soil to compost over winter in these conditions? Is it advised in this case or foolhardy because of potential vermin and pests? Anything in particular to know or consider? Thanks.

Thanks Mike, I don't think these would be a replacement to good care. I was just hoping they would be an extra help in keeping the roots from getting pot bound quickly, I am not familiar with root pruning and want any extra help I can get ;) I have been looking at using them for veggies as a wicking garden and thought if they have use for that than maybe there was a way they could have use for my citrus too. I think I will give them a try and get some standard pots on hand if they happen to show a decline over the season. Do you water yours from the top or let it wick from the bottom?