6 Types Of Hydroponic Pots For Your Home Garden

6 Types Of Hydroponic Pots For Your Home Garden

Hydroponic pots are essential components in any hydroponic system. Regardless of what you are growing, a bountiful harvest is dependent on the correct hydroponic grow pots. There are several types of hydroponic grow pots available.

hydroponic pots

What Are Hydroponic Pots?

Hydroponic pots are containers that anchor the plants growing in a hydroponic system without causing any damage to their root system. Without hydroponic grow pots, you have no place where you can put your plants and allow them to root.

 Additionally, hydroponic pots must have openings or nets, either on the sides, at the base, or both, to enable plants’ roots to suspend in the nutrient solution and uptake nutrients easily. Hydroponic grow pots help with aeration and drainage in the hydroponic system. They vary in shape (generally square or round), size, and material.

 Most hydroponic grow pots are made of plastic, but others are made of fabric, as discussed later in this article. Hydroponic pots also make it easy for you to grab, lift, and transport your grown plants from place to place since they have an oversized lip at the top.

What Do You Put In Hydroponics Pots?

Surprisingly, net pots for hydroponics can be filled with almost any growing medium for hydroponic systems. Let’s dive into a little plant-growing background. In traditional growing mechanisms, we use soil as our primary growing media, which nests the seeds as they grow into seedlings. 

In hydroponic systems where we grow plants without soil, the plants also need a hydroponic growing media to protect the plant roots as it grows. Hydroponic growing media is a solid substrate needed to nest the plant’s delicate root system. The growing media is incorporated into hydroponic grow pots to offer the seedlings or plants stability, root insulation, and block light from the solution, which can cause an algae bloom. 

Growing media in the hydroponic grow pots also retain water to keep the plant alive for days if your irrigation fails. Some feasible examples of growing media that you can put in your net pots for hydroponics include;

  • Rockwool. It is widely popular in hydroponics because of its water retention, root aeration, and reusability.
  • Clay pebbles. They are artificially made and offer excellent aeration to plants because they hold so much air.
  • Oasis cubes. It is similar to Rockwool, only that its composition is different. It provides an excellent water supply to the roots plus gives them enough oxygen. Oasis cubes are also very reusable.
  • Rice Hulls. It is a rice production byproduct that adds drainage and aeration to your plant’s roots.
  • Peat moss. It is very natural, organic, and slightly expensive. Regardless, it is used as a growing medium since it can hold a lot of water without compacting.
  • Perlite. It is porous and light; hence it offers excellent drainage, water retention, and aeration into your hydroponic grow pots.
  • Clean gravel. It is the last go-to option because it doesn’t hold much water, but it comes in handy if you are experiencing drainage problems with your hydroponic medium.

It is also important to note that soil can not be put in hydroponic grow pots because it becomes too compact or waterlogged. Additionally, seeds planted in net pots with soil tend to rot. Root systems, too, become injured when you try to remove them.

Clay Pebbles

Types Of Hydroponic Pots

Net Pots

Most growers use them in hydroponic systems like nutrient film, ebb and flow, deep water culture, and aeroponics. This is because they are plastic and hence very reusable.

Traditional Plastic Pots

They are common for growers since they are efficient and inexpensive. They are strong and have drainage holes at the base to allow the passage of excess water. You can modify traditional pots to accommodate different hydroponic systems.

Fabric Pots

They are made of woven fabric from polypropylene. Growers opt for fabric pots because they are breathable, offer good aeration to plant roots and provide good water drainage. They can fit in irregular spaces. Some fabric pots have handles that make it easier to grab, lift, and transport your plant.

Air Pots

They are the new trend in my hydroponic industry. As the name suggests, “air” the inward-facing cones of the pot guide each root into an air hole. The outside facing cones provide air to the seeds in the inside cones. The base of the air pots is designed to increase airflow and protect the plant’s roots against fluctuating temperatures of surfaces. Air pots can be used in various systems and are also reusable.

Grow Bags

The base of the plastic grow bag is fitted with holes that help drain excess water. They are inexpensive, highly durable, and reusable after a growing season. They also work in unconventional spaces and have handles that quickly help you relocate your plants.

Terraplanter

It is also a new technology that transforms the way growers grow greens. It is also called “the inside-out planter.” The available types are made up of ceramic. This pot has holes on the outside where plants grow. The inside has a reservoir that stores water and nutrients, which diffuse through the porous surface and holes of the Terraplanter. Plant roots cling around the container and access the diffused solution while also getting air.

net pots for hydroponics

Tips For Choosing A Hydroponic Pot

Hydroponic growing pots can be made with several holes at the base or mesh to properly care for the plant’s roots. When choosing the right growing pot size for your plant, choose a relatively larger pot than your plant needs. 

While close to all herb and vegetable plants can be grown in net pots for hydroponics, the size of the pot matters. Bushy and large plants will require larger hydroponic grow pots. Reusable hydroponic grow pots are needed to save costs and replanning after a growing season. 

Not all growing media are ideal for your pots; hence, choose flexible pots to accommodate different growing media. Net pots work well with perlite, clay pebbles, or Rockwool. Fabric pots work well with clay pebbles and Rockwool. With air pots, Rockwool and clay pebbles are excellent. Traditional plastic pots and bags work well with growing media like grow-stones and clay pebbles.

Final Thoughts

It is vital for fruitful hydroponic gardening to understand what hydroponic growing pots are, what can be put in them, and which ones fit your needs. Hopefully, this article answered most of the questions on pots for your home garden and tips on choosing suitable net pots for hydroponics.