Aside from the legalization of marijuana use and sale throughout the United States, I feel really lucky that we are spoiled when it comes to the many choices available for grow pots.
There are so many to choose from, from traditional ceramics to new air pots! However, many growers can feel overwhelmed or even paralyzed by the number of choices they have.
If you are in such a situation, this article is for you! Here, I share my recommendations for the best pots for indoor grow tents and each type’s strengths and weaknesses to help you make an informed choice.
Best Indoor Grow Pot for Cannabis Plants: 5 Best Options
Here are 5 of the best pots for growing weed that I have tried:
1) VIVOSUN 5-Pack Fabric Pots – Best Pot Overall
These fabric pots for growing cannabis plants take the cake on my list of best containers. They’re made of thick, non-woven material containing no synthetic components.
Despite this, they are just the right amount of porous, allowing for excellent drainage, and aeration. They have durable handles that make it easy to move the pots around in your grow tent.
This container also gives you easy access to your plant’s roots for pruning. With the right techniques, these pots can be used for years. The 36-month warranty doesn’t hurt either!
Rating: 4.8/5
2) HBServices USA Self-Watering Pot – Best Value for Money
Among the containers in this article, this one is the most innovative. It can do both self-watering and self-aerating, allowing your cannabis plants to have minimal root rot.
It is advertised to be able to do so for 2 weeks, and, in my experience, it checks out! This is an excellent pick for those who want to do minimal maintenance in their grow tents.
Apart from its smart features, it looks sleek and contemporary. It is a bit expensive, though it may be worth investing in if you have extra cash.
Rating: 4.8/5
3) HOMENOTE 15-Pack Plastic Planters – Best Budget Option
These plastic containers from HOMENOTE come in a pack of 15, and each comes with its own tray to catch water. It is easy to clean, allowing your cannabis plant to remain mold-free.
Its drainage design allows plant roots to avoid soaking in water and promotes good air circulation, solving common problems many growers face with such containers.
Your cannabis plants will also be easy to move around in a tent, thanks to its lightweight but sturdy build.
Rating: 4.8/5
4) Ton Sin Black Ceramic Planter Pots
For those who want to grow their cannabis in traditional clay containers, this is what I recommend. It comes in a pack of four, each with a drainage hole and coordinating saucer.
What I love about this set is that though it has the feel and performance of your trusty terracotta pot, it looks modern and elevated. It gives you the best of both worlds!
Since ceramic pots aren’t the cheapest and break easily, I appreciate that the brand offers unconditional refunds or replacements should the product come with any damage.
Rating: 4.8/5
5) QPEY Plant Nursery Pots with Humidity Dome
If you are just starting out cultivating plants or planting a new batch of cannabis, you can ensure your seedlings and their roots are growing properly with these sturdy and smart vessels.
These containers are inexpensive but solid and reliable. They are reusable and stackable when not in use. The transparent dome makes it easy to observe the plant as it grows.
I appreciate the drainage and humidity design of the container itself and its lid. It allows your young seedlings to breathe freely and provides a suitable temperature for survival.
Rating: 4.8/5
Types of Indoor Grow Pots for Growing Cannabis:
There are different options for cultivating weed in a tent these days.
If you need more information on indoor growing, here’s my list of the best grow tents for cannabis. Check it out!
For now, here are the most common pots used for planting weed indoors:
Plastic Pots
A plastic pot is lightweight, affordable, and available in various sizes. It is also commonly resistant to rot and pests, making it a popular choice for many indoor cannabis gardeners.
It typically comes with a matching saucer to catch runoff water.
However, plastic pots can have poor insulation, leading to temperature fluctuations in the root zone, and may crack or break with exposure to sun heat or other elements.
Additionally, limited oxygen permeability can reduce plant growth, and plastic can hold onto odors, making it difficult to remove the scent of the plants after use.
Fabric Pots
A fabric pot, also known as a grow bag, is lightweight and easy to move. For those wondering, yes, fabric containers are the same thing as smart pots!
It provides good air circulation for roots, offers improved drainage and root pruning, and is made of breathable material that allows better temperature regulation.
Fabric pots are also affordably priced compared to ceramic containers.
As a downside, they are not as durable as plastic or ceramic pots and may need to be replaced more often as they can dry out quickly and require frequent watering.
This is why even though there is little to no stagnant water, plants in fabric containers can become overwatered easily, leading to root rot.
It is also why they are prone to tearing or puncturing with rough handling. Fabric pots are also not as aesthetically pleasing as ceramic or decorative pots.
Ceramic Pots
A ceramic pot is a popular type of indoor growing pot that is durable and adds aesthetic appeal to a growing setup. They also do not leach chemicals into soil or water.
Ceramic pots provide good insulation. They effectively stabilize root zone temperatures and offer good air permeability for plants’ roots.
However, they can be heavy and difficult to move. They are also usually more expensive than plastic pots and can crack or break if dropped or bumped.
Ceramic pots also typically have no drainage holes or saucers/trays for water runoff.
That means you must use the proper soil and watering techniques if you can’t drill holes with special equipment.
Air Pots
An air pot provides excellent air circulation for roots, promoting healthy root growth and encouraging air pruning, leading to stronger and bushier plants.
It is made of durable materials and offers improved drainage, reducing the risk of root rot. Because of this, air pots are suitable for hydroponic or soil-based growing setups.
However, air pots are typically more expensive than plastic or fabric pots. They can also be hefty and hard to move once filled with soil and plants.
As such, you may need to use special techniques when planting or transplanting. They may not be as aesthetically pleasing as ceramic or decorative pots for your cannabis garden as well.
You may also find it challenging to control the temperature and humidity levels of the root zone, leading to root problems.
For more information on temperature and humidity regulation for growing weed indoors, you can visit our guide on how to control humidity in a grow tent.
Should you need them, I also made guides on the best grow tent humidifiers, and best grow tent heaters currently on the market.
Self-Watering Pots
A self-watering pot is an indoor grow pot that offers convenient and easy watering for plants, reducing the need for daily watering.
Its main appeal is its consistent and controlled watering, reducing the risk of over or under-watering, making it a good choice for those who may forget to water their plants.
However, self-watering pots are more expensive compared to traditional pots. Despite the name, you still need to be careful of over-watering, which can lead to root rot.
It may not be suitable for hydroponic growing setups and can have limited root aeration, which can negatively impact growing plants.
Factors To Consider When Choosing Indoor Grow Pots
Healthy plants need the right container with adequate drainage, among other things, to grow properly.
Once they grow, they need to be transplanted into a larger container. If the pot breaks easily, you’ll also need a different container.
Here’s what you should look for in your weed pots:
Pot Size
The growing process of marijuana requires enough space for the plant’s roots to get more nutrients as it matures.
In the beginning, you will generally only need small pots that have a capacity of one or two gallons. Most growers use a solo cup, which can work well for a limited space.
Eventually, you will need to transplant your cannabis plant to a bigger pot to provide adequate grow room.
Experienced growers go by plant size when deciding which plant pots to buy. Here is a general guide:
- 12″ height plant: 2-3 gallon container
- 24″ height plant: 3-5 gallon container
- 36″ height plant: 6-8 gallon container
- 48″ height plant: 8-10 gallon container
- 60″ height plant: 12+ gallon container
However, the soil dries out way faster with fabric containers. You will need larger pots even if they won’t necessarily house bigger plants.
Should you decide that fabric pots or smart pots are the right container type for you, simply double the capacity of your containers. For example, get 6-gallon containers for 12-inch plants.
If you only have minimal space for growing marijuana indoors, you can also check out our lists of the best small grow tents and best 4×4 grow tent kits to get you started.
Pot Material
There are different grow containers for growing weed, so there can be many “right” containers and materials for different growers.
Growing marijuana is becoming increasingly popular, so everyone who does it has their unique preference.
Let’s take a quick recap of the different materials of weed pots I discussed earlier, as well as their benefits and shortcomings:
- Plastic containers: lightweight, affordable, and widely available. It can retain moisture well but can also cause cannabis roots to rot if not properly ventilated.
- Fabric (Smart pots): breathable and helps prevent cannabis plants from becoming root bound. It’s reusable but can be more expensive.
- Ceramic or terracotta pots: porous, promotes good drainage and air circulation, and can regulate soil temperature. It can get heavy and brittle.
- Air pots: It provides good aeration for the roots and better drainage than most. Generally more expensive.
- Self-watering: Convenient plant container for growing marijuana. Also more expensive than most other containers.
Truly, all these pots’ materials work great. The only difference that will affect a grower’s purchase decision will be their personal preference when growing cannabis.
Drainage Holes
Whichever pots for growing weed you choose, make sure it has good drainage so that your cannabis plant – especially its roots – does not rot from excess water!
Aside from having enough holes for its pot size, make sure they are the right size and in the right position.
Some containers may not come with holes, so you will have to create them yourself.
Maintenance
When it comes to growing cannabis plants indoors, my style leans towards the less maintenance approach. Being chill with it feels right, you know?
Still, when choosing the best pots or a new container, I look for the following features to cultivate my plants easily:
- Access to roots for pruning
- Portability
- Ease of cleaning
Growing Mediums
If you are growing marijuana, you should know that your growing medium plays a big role in yield quality. Certain growing pots go well with certain growing mediums.
Whether you work with soil, coco coir, a hydroponic system, or rock wool, it would be great for your cannabis plants if they pair smoothly with the best pots.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Need more information? Here are my answers to some common questions:
Are Terracotta Pots Good Weed Pots?
The short answer is yes, but there are some things to remember. It is important to monitor the soil moisture and to handle the pots with care.
The success of growing weed will depend on many factors, including the growing medium used, the amount of sunlight and water the plants receive, etc.
If the right conditions are maintained, terracotta pots can be suitable for growing marijuana.
What Size Pots Should I Use in My Grow Tent?
The size of grow pots you should get depends on the strain of cannabis, the size of your grow tent, the amount of light, and other resources available.
If you have a small tent, buying large containers for only two plants may not make sense.
My Top Picks
Here are some of the best pots you can buy today:
HOMENOTE 15-Pack Plastic Planters – Best Budget Option
These pots have an excellent drainage and circulation design, which is uncommon with plastic containers.
If you’re saving cash, this will give you a real bang for your buck!
HBServices USA Self-Watering Pot – Best Value for Money
This pot is a bit more expensive than the other options, but that is because it offers a lot.
You can do less maintenance on your plant because it self-waters and even self-aerates!
VIVOSUN 5-Pack Fabric Pots – Best Pot Overall
These containers are sturdy, reusable, permeable, and easy to move. They are also environmentally friendly and contain no synthetic materials.
Cannabis is easy to grow and maintain in such a reliable fabric container!
Conclusion
I have covered the best grow pots available in the market today. My top choice is VIVOSUN’s Fabric Pots, but rest assured that the other options laid out work excellently as well!
In this article, I also discussed the different types of containers and factors for cultivating weed in a grow tent. Keep these in mind when shopping for the pots you’re looking at.
Remember that the success of your weed-planting journey depends on a variety of components. Research the strain you want to grow and let that guide you.
