Hey bud, no, it wasnt a smart pot, but roots growing outside is fine. Thats what you want it to do. They self prune, then branch off on the other side ( inside) of the fabric pot, making newer roots, like branches. it was a homemeade "smartpot" i guess, i melted holes on the bottom half, to get the same effects, but never really had many grow to the outside of the pot..