DIY Felt Grow Bag: A Simple Guide to Crafting Your Own Planter

Updated at: 10/05/2025

Tired of unsightly plastic pots cluttering your balcony or windowsill? Yearning for a more sustainable and aesthetically pleasing way to nurture your plants? Then look no further! This simple guide will walk you through the process of crafting your own beautiful and functional felt grow bag. Felt offers a unique advantage over traditional planters; its breathability encourages healthy root growth while its durable nature ensures longevity. The soft texture and customizable colors add a touch of charm to any indoor or outdoor space, transforming a simple planter into a stylish addition to your home decor.

Forget expensive store-bought planters – creating your own felt grow bag is a surprisingly easy and rewarding project. Using readily available materials and basic sewing skills, you can create a personalized planter tailored to your specific needs. Ready to get started? Let's dive into the step-by-step instructions to make your own DIY felt grow bag.

Preparation and Safety Guidelines

Tools Needed
Safety Guidelines
  • Always supervise children when using scissors or sewing needles.
  • Ensure felt material is not treated with chemicals harmful to plants. Choose a plant-safe felt or pre-wash.
  • Provide adequate drainage holes in your felt grow bag to prevent root rot. Do not overwater.

Step-by-Step Instructions

  1. Planning and Measurement

    • Measure the widest part of your container (e.g., box lid) to determine the bottom width of your grow bag.
    • Decide on the desired height of your planter and add 5 centimeters for a top fold.
    • Add up the measurements for each side to ensure accuracy before cutting.
    Add up the measurements for each side to ensure accuracy before cutting.Add up the measurements for each side to ensure accuracy before cutting.Add up the measurements for each side to ensure accuracy before cutting.
    Planning and Measurement

  2. Cutting the Felt Pieces

    • Cut out the bottom piece (a rectangle). The long sides will have seam allowances.
    • Cut out two identical side pieces. The width is the same as the bottom, and the height is the same as the desired planter height, including seam allowances. Seam allowance will run in a U-shape.
    • Cut out three pieces of felt (bottom and two sides).
    Cut out three pieces of felt (bottom and two sides).Cut out three pieces of felt (bottom and two sides).Cut out three pieces of felt (bottom and two sides).
    Cutting the Felt Pieces

  3. Assembling the Grow Bag

    • Sew or glue the pieces together, leaving the seams facing outwards to retain shape.
    Sew or glue the pieces together, leaving the seams facing outwards to retain shape.
    Assembling the Grow Bag

  4. Optional Enhancements

    • Use a plastic bottle (bottom cut at an angle) as a filler tube and peephole for water level checking. No overflow tube needed if you underwater rather than overwater.
    Optional: Use a plastic bottle (bottom cut at an angle) as a filler tube and peephole for water level checking. No overflow tube needed if you underwater rather than overwater.
    Optional Enhancements

  5. Final Setup

    • Elevate the grow bag using peppers or sticks.
    Elevate the grow bag using peppers or sticks.
    Final Setup

Read more: Grow Bountiful Potatoes in Containers: A Step-by-Step Guide

Tips

  • Use dark-colored felt to hide damp stains.
  • Check if your plastic is safe for growing food if using.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

1. Using the wrong type of felt

Reason: Not all felt is created equal. Some felt is too thin and will tear easily, while others are too thick and will not allow for proper drainage.
Solution: Choose a medium-weight, non-woven polyester felt designed for gardening or crafting projects.

2. Incorrectly securing the seams

Reason: Weak seams can cause the bag to split or unravel, leading to soil spillage and plant damage.
Solution: Use strong, double-stitched seams and consider reinforcing stress points with additional stitching or fabric glue.

FAQs

What type of felt is best for making a grow bag?
A medium-weight, non-woven felt is ideal. It's durable enough to hold soil and water but allows for sufficient air circulation to prevent root rot. Avoid felt that's too thin or too thick.
How do I prevent my felt grow bag from leaking?
While felt is breathable, it's not entirely waterproof. To prevent leakage, consider lining the inside of the bag with a waterproof liner, such as a plastic garbage bag before adding soil. Alternatively, choose a thicker felt and use plenty of soil to reduce the chance of water seeping through.