Net Pots....Does Size Matter?

[DanMcG]

New guy here with Hydroponic's. I've been researching if there is a reason for the diffent size net pots, or why would I use one over the other with no real answers.
Right now I have some seedlings growing in an Aerogardern system that I'd like to move to some sort of larger hydro system. Will I have an issue using the small 1.5" pot of the Aerogarden system for any reason?
Thanks, Dan

 

[The_NorthEast_ChileMan]

Hi Dan, welcome to the Forum!

I have limited hydroponic experience but I do believe size matters. Those 1.5" Aerogarden pots could never put out roots like a full size basket, IMO....
 

 
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[Oleic]

I have grown 4 foot + plants that I started in 1.5" net pots, and then transferred those plants (still in the 1.5" pots) to a larger DWC system (6 or 8" net pot lids on 5 gallon buckets).  They grew great, no problems.  As long as the trunk diameter remains smaller than the top diameter of the smaller cup (all mine did), there should be no problem.  The roots filled my DWC buckets nicely, and the plants produced very well, despite going through the two net pots.
 
My only concern is if I were to overwinter a plant (I do outdoor hydro), the truck might eventually get too large for the smaller pot.  In that case, I'd just cut through the top ring of the smaller net pot.  Not sure if the main roots coming out of the small pot would eventually get strangled, though.
 
If in doubt, you can always move the seedling to a larger net pot before the roots grow too far out of the smaller pot.  I would imagine it would be difficult to remove a plant from a net pot once significant root growth has occurred.

 

[Oleic]

Oops, just checked an mine are 2 inch.  And they have fairly large openings.  They are not Aerogarden pots.  I had hydroton balls in mine and removed them as the trunk grew larger.  Here's a pic:
 

 

[Englander]

Hi Guy's

I stumbled onto this post ...............I have 1.5" 3" and 5.5" net pots the latter seem HUGE

I watched a YouTube video a while back a guy growing tomatoes in kratky.........he seemed to suggest a wider root width in both net pot and width of container the better the result's.

Todate I've only used 1.5" net pots in mini kratky in big jam jars (500ml -800ml) and I use 3" net pots in 5 litre, 10 litre, 20 litre kratky would good result's but I've never tried the 5,5" pots

I may try them this year in 20 litre kratky and see what happens...............

Anyone got any views or experiences of growing Chillies in 5.5" net pots or bigger !

Stephen

 

[IceColdBH]

I've done 4 inch pots in a 4x4 foot flood table filled with hydroton. The 4 inch cups helped with stability while the roots took off and spread out in the table. Different crop, off 8 plants I got about 1.5-2 lbs dry. I don't think the pot size hindered the grow at all

 

[Downriver]

...Anyone got any views or experiences of growing Chillies in 5.5" net pots or bigge

I have no first-hand experience, but I watched @Uncle Eckley grow some Monsters in Trashcans a few years ago. Just looking at the size of these things, I can't envision them growing out of a 1.5" cup, but I guess it might be possible. I do think the point @Oleic made about trunk constriction makes sense though.