Net Pots are also referred to as net cups, net baskets, hydroponic baskets, mesh pots or hydroponic cups, Net pots are typically small plastic baskets which are used to hold a plant in place within a growing medium in a hydroponic system. 

However, not all net pots are created equal. Many people opt for the cheapest options, only to encounter issues like algae growth, plant damage, and difficult cleaning. Investing in high-quality, well-designed net pots—like our NetCup with Algae Guard—can make a significant difference in your hydroponic setup.

What are the fundamental functions of a hydroponic net pot?

A hydroponic net pot serves several essential functions:

Holding the plant in place – A net pot must securely keep the plant upright, even in high-wind environments or systems growing large plants. Poorly fitting net pots can shift around, leading to instability and damage.

Allowing root growth – Healthy root development is key in hydroponics. A good net pot should encourage strong root growth while preventing tangling and damage when transplanting.

While these are the basic requirements, many net pots on the market fall short and can create unnecessary challenges for growers. Here’s what you should look for when choosing the best net pot for your hydroponic system.

What features to look for in a hydroponic net pot

Prevent algae growth.

Algae is a naturally occuring bacteria which grows when nutrient rich water comes in contact with photosynthetic light from a grow light or the sun. Algae can be found in several areas of hydroponic systems including within the water itself (when some part of the nutrient water is exposed to light), or most commonly, on the top of the growing medium in net pots.

The image below is an example of a net pot with an open top which has allowed the growth of algae.

Look for Durable, Long-Lasting Net Pots

This is a commonly overlooked feature when shopping for a hydroponic net pot, but It may surprise you, but plant roots are incredibly strong! In lower-quality net pots, roots can grow so densely that they warp the plastic or even make it impossible to remove the plant without breaking the pot.

We've seen customers have to cut open net pots just to be able to "re-use" them because the plant roots have grown so densely within the net pot. 

In many cases these net pots can also severely warp under the pressure of growing plant roots. If your net pot is not made out of a flexible or durable material, they may permanently deform and become unusable.

💡 Solution: Our net cups are made from indestructible, dishwasher-safe silicone. Unlike cheap plastic net pots that crack or degrade over time, these flex and bend without breaking—allowing you to reuse them over and over again.

Choose Net Pots That Are Easy to Clean

Hydroponics isn't always a clean utopia of blissful growth. Often nutrients, plant matter, particles of growing medium and other debris can collect in hydroponic systems. In general you should look for hydroponic basins that have large radiuses that your finger could fit into, as well as smooth surfaces - this will make cleaning much easier. When looking for netcups, it can be impossible to find ones that are easy to clean, consider the fact that you might have to clean dozens of these each time you finish a crop rotation! 

Hydroponic net cups that have a "basket" style with hundreds of holes are the most difficult to clean. They have hundreds of tiny crevices which need a toothbrush to clean. Furthermore for some reason the manufacturers of these net pots often make the net pots with a rough textured surface - which means little bits of plant debris, dirt and nutrients will collect on the surface itself. 

Due to the cheap material used by most net pot manufacturers, these net pots are often unable to be put in the dishwasher, resulting an you wasting your time scrubbing net pots instead of spending it doing the things you love.

💡 Solution: Our NetCup with Algae Guard is designed with smooth, curved surfaces and large inner radiuses, making them effortless to clean. Plus, they’re dishwasher-safe—so you can just rinse and reload for your next grow cycle!

Opt for Water-Efficient Net Pots

This is something that we never see mentioned in any hydroponic blogs, YouTube videos or even academic papers. Most standard net pots waste water due to their large open slots, allowing water vapor to escape from the system. Over time, this leads to higher maintenance, increased evaporation, and imbalanced nutrient levels.

💡 Solution: Our NetCup with Algae Guard forms a tight seal with your hydroponic basin, reducing water loss and making maintenance easier. Less evaporation means lower costs and more efficient nutrient absorption.

Make Plant Removal Easy

If you raise seedlings for transplanting or need to remove plants after harvest, traditional net pots can make it nearly impossible without damaging roots. Some growers even have to cut their net pots open!

💡 Solution: Our open-channel top and bottom design allows roots to grow freely without getting tangled. Plus, the flexible silicone material makes it easy to wiggle out even the most root-bound plants—no cutting required!

Cross system compatibility

If you use multiple hydroponic systems (NFT, deep water culture, aeroponics), it’s essential to choose a net pot that fits universally across different setups.

💡 Solution: Our NetCup with Algae Guard fits all 1.5-inch (34mm) diameter holes, making it perfect for NFT systems, deep water culture, hydro towers, and more. No more worrying about mismatched net pots!