Last Updated on September 8, 2024 by Sara Rose
Do you want to learn about what size net pots for hydroponics? You have come to the right place to get started!
Net pots are an important aspect of any hydroponics setup. Understanding how to choose the right ones will help you design the perfect hydroponics system.
Hydroponics simply is the act of growing plants without using a soil medium. According to the University of Nevada Reno, “ Hydroponic systems can be classified as either water-culture or medium-culture. Water culture systems do not use a medium to support the roots, only the nutrient solution. Medium culture systems use a solid substrate, such as sand, to support the plant root structure.”
A net pot is a thing that holds the growing medium and supports your plants from falling into the water. If your plants fall in the water, they will die. These net pots can come in all different sizes, depending on your needs.
Certain plants need larger net pots because their root system is bigger. In order to determine what size net pots for hydroponics, you will need to know which types of plants you want to grow.
This article will overview the key information necessary to choose what size net pots for hydroponics. Keep reading now to become a net pot expert!
Table of Contents
Grow Pots Hydroponics
If you are going to be doing a medium culture hydroponics system, you will need a grow pot. These grow pots are also known as net pots.
They get their name because the pots act like small nets to support your plant’s root system. You can purchase them from any aquaponics or hydroponics store. On the other hand, you can make your own net pots by upcycling used plastic cups.
In order to do this, simply cut holes at the bottom and middle sides of a cup. You can place your growing medium directly into the cup.
The best shape for a net pot is round or square. These shapes fit easily into your water reservoirs.
Your water reservoir is the place where the nutrient-rich water solution is held. It is very important to any hydroponics system.
Learn more about: How To Use Clay Pebbles?
The porous design of net pots helps your plants easily access the water. The water enters through the roots and is delivered to the rest of your plant.
There are cases in which net pots are used without a growing medium. In this case, the roots grow into the netting and are supported only by the plastic pot.
Think of net pots as the anchor to your system. These pots do not sit fully submerged in the water. Instead, they are set up to float above the water, allowing for only the roots to be submerged.
If you are using a growing medium, you always need to make sure that the holes in your net pot are the right size to hold what you are using. Some typical growing medium options in hydroponics are clay pebbles, Rockwool, clean gravel, sand, or sponges.
The size and texture of your growing medium will also determine what size net pots for hydroponics.
Net Pot Sizes
As mentioned earlier, there are a lot of different net pot sizes. Net pot sizes are measured by the diameter. The diameter is simply the total width of the circle.
They typically range from 2 inch – to 6-inch diameters. A 6-inch diameter is a maximum size you would need to grow larger plants. A heavier plant requires a larger diameter.
The best way in determining what size net pots for hydroponics are to look at the type of plant you want to grow. Each plant can be categorized in certain ways.
The first categories are leafy greens and herbs. These are typically shallow-rooted plants. This means that the roots grow close to the surface.
Leafy greens and herbs only require a net pot size of 2 inches. This will be more than enough support for those types of plants to grow.
Some examples of leafy greens are lettuce, arugula, kale, and spinach.
Another type of plant is referred to as the fruiting plant. These are any plants that produce an actual fruit or vegetable. These plants require much more room than leafy greens do.
Some fruiting plants are green peppers, tomatoes, chilies, and eggplant. If you plan to grow fruiting plants, you want to use a larger net pot size. For these purposes stick with a 4 inch to 6-inch pot.
Keep in mind that the net pot size will also determine how big your plant can grow. If you have too small of a pot, your plant’s growth will be limited.
Alternatively, if you use a larger pot for a smaller plant, the plant may be able to grow larger than normal. However, this is not necessary.
What Size Net Pots To Use?
Many people grow multiple different kinds of plants in their hydroponics system. In this case, you would need to use different size net pots based on the plant.
You can always experiment with what size net pots for hydroponics and see which ones work best.
If you do not want to make your net pots DIY, you can buy some in one dozen packs. A pack of 12 net pots can range from $5-$10. As you can see, it is not cheap!
If you plan to grow a lot of plants, it may not be a cheap investment. Consider using cups or old sponges instead.
The nice thing about net pots is that they can be reused over and over. Be sure to avoid exposure to direct sun. This will degrade the plastic and shorten the product’s lifespan.
Have fun when designing your hydroponics system. There are a lot of different aspects that you can experiment with.
Hopefully, now you understand more about what size net pots for hydroponics. It is not a difficult concept to grasp. Feel free to use different types of net pots to see which ones work best for you.
As always, comment and ask questions below! We are here to help.
Read more about: Growstones vs Hydroton &; Your Number One guide!
FAQs
What size net pots to use?
As mentioned earlier, there are a lot of different net pot sizes. Net pot sizes are measured by the diameter. The diameter is simply the total width of the circle.
They typically range from 2 inch - 6 inch diameters. A 6 inch diameter is the maximum size you would need to grow larger plants. A heavier plant requires a larger diameter.
The best way in determining what size net pots for hydroponics is to look at the type of plant you want to grow. Each plant can be categorized in certain ways.
