Indoor Grow Containers: Square Pots, Grow Bags, Air Pots or Net Pots?

For an indoor cannabis grow, the go-to choice is square plastic pots, which tile into a grid and squeeze the most out of your tent, moving up in size as the plant grows. Grow bags save you cleanup, root-pruning air pots build a denser root ball, and net pots are the standard for hydro and aeroponics. Each type affects aeration and root health differently, so picking the right one can make a real difference at harvest.

Here's a breakdown of the main container types out there, so you can choose the right ones for your setup.

What kinds of containers can you use for cannabis?

Cannabis containers come in a lot of options, but they generally fall into two main groups: plastic pots and fabric pots. Within each group, though, you'll find different shapes and sizes designed for the specific needs of each stage of the plant's life.

Container size matters a lot, because each one is made for a particular stage. From veg to flower, plus clones and mother plants, containers are designed to give plants the best possible environment to develop.

There are also containers built specifically to make jobs like pruning and watering easier, for indoor, outdoor or hydroponic grows.

Square plastic pots:

Square plastic pots are everywhere in cannabis growing, thanks to a design that uses space efficiently. They're taller than they are wide, which encourages vertical growth. They're made for indoor grows, where space is tight and you can make the most of it by setting them out in a grid.

They come in white and black. White pots are ideal outdoors because they reflect sunlight and keep the growing medium from overheating, which could stress the roots.

Black pots, on the other hand, are a better fit indoors, where they aren't in direct sun and don't heat up as easily. They come in a range of sizes, from small 7 x 7 x 9 cm (about 3 x 3 x 3.5 in) starter pots up to 11 L (about 3 gal).

Containers for autoflowers:

For autoflowers that need more room for their roots, growers often go with a special container like an 18 L (about 5 gal) white square pot.

These containers are designed to hold enough growing medium and moisture, which is essential for healthy growth throughout the plant's whole life cycle, which can run up to three months for the bigger autoflowers.

Large white pots with handles:

These round pots with handles are ideal for flowering outdoor plants or for keeping mother plants indoors. When growing cannabis, it's important to transplant as the plants get bigger so they don't get root-bound and stressed.

Going from a 3.5 L (about 1 gal) container to 7 L (about 2 gal), then from 7 L to 11 L (about 3 gal), and finally from 11 L to 30 L (about 8 gal), these pots give roots the room they need to develop and keep the plant growing strong.

Outdoors, a good move is to keep plants in 11 L pots until the photoperiod starts to shift in summer (when days begin getting shorter), then move them into 30 L pots with rich soil to maximize yield.

White grow bags:

Grow bags are a convenient and increasingly popular option in the cannabis world. Their big selling point is how easy they are to use. Unlike traditional plastic pots, they're disposable, which saves you time and effort on cleanup.

They come in sizes from 2.2 L to 44 L (roughly half a gallon to 12 gal) and are ideal for indoor grows, helping you max out your space and pull big harvests. They also make transplanting easy: just cut the bag open and move the root ball into a bigger container or into the ground outdoors.

Boost growth with Aeropot root-pruning pots

Aeropot root-pruning pots are a smart option for growers who want to push their plants' development. They're designed to encourage the constant growth of new secondary roots, which makes for sturdier, more productive plants.

With these pots, plants don't just grow taller, they also grow wider, taking on a bushy shape that maximizes the growing surface.

They're especially useful if you plan to transplant outdoors later. Root-pruning pots promote compact growth, which is ideal for denser plants loaded with buds. Indoors, they're perfect for mother plants, giving you a steady supply of high-quality cuttings.

On top of that, Aeropot containers give roots better oxygenation and more efficient feeding. Watering happens gradually, which helps avoid overwatering and keeps conditions optimal for growth.

Net pots for hydro and aeroponic systems:

Net pots are ideal for hydro or aeroponic setups, where the roots get a constant supply of water and nutrients. They're designed to fit different systems and give the root system stable support.

Available in a range of sizes, net pots work for rooted clones in hydro and aeroponic systems, as well as for specific setups like Dutch Pot Hydro and Neptune's DWC Pot. They're tough and easy to clean, so you can reuse them again and again, a durable, reliable solution for growers.