Best Cannabis Grow Pots and Containers for Indoor and Outdoor Setups

Selecting the right cannabis grow pots or containers is an important decision that directly impacts plant health, growth, and yield. Whether you’re growing autoflowers (autos) or photoperiod cannabis plants, container size and type influence root health, water retention, and even the ease of plant management. This guide explores how to choose the best pots for growing cannabis indoors and outdoors, focusing heavily on root health and optimal growth.

Choosing the Size of Your Container

With so many cannabis grow pot sizes, how do you know which ones are best? The answer changes depending on your growing style, whether you are growing autoflower seeds or photos, and the growing space. Let’s explore various sizes and when to use them.

Starting Small

Most growers begin their cannabis plants in small containers, such as solo cups or budcups, to promote healthy root development before transplanting to larger pots. Starting small allows better control over watering and helps avoid overwatering issues common in larger containers. However, autos and photoperiod plants differ in their transplanting needs.

• Autos: Autoflowers grow quickly and don’t respond well to transplanting, so it’s best to start them in their final container (3–10 gallons).
• Photoperiods: Photoperiod plants benefit from starting small and moving to larger containers (10–200 gallons), especially if grown outdoors. This allows for root systems to expand gradually and avoid becoming root-bound.

Visualizing Pot Sizes

Here’s a general size guide for cannabis containers tailored to both indoor and outdoor setups:

Pro Tip: While transplanting can be beneficial, avoid transplanting autos. Instead, focus on final containers that balance size and convenience.

Factors to Consider When Choosing Cannabis Pots

When it comes time to choose your cannabis pots, there are several factors to take into consideration. The size of the plant, the style of growing, and the space you’re growing in all influence this decision.

Plant Size & Growing Space

Larger container sizes mean more root space, which, in turn, affects the size and yield of your plants. If you are confined to a small indoor tent or patio, you may want to keep your containers at a smaller size between 3 and 15 gallons. If plant size and growing space are not a concern, such as outdoors, you may want to invest in larger containers, like 30-200 gallons; these will produce big plants with hefty yields.

In certain scenarios, you can use raised beds indoors, like these grassroots fabric beds, and maintain smaller plant sizes. Choosing the right size for your growing style is key.

Growing Style

You may think that growing weed consists of a plant in a pot with soil and water, but you would be sorely mistaken. With so many different techniques to choose from, it’s important to choose the style that best fits your lifestyle and resources. Let’s discuss some of the most popular growing methods and what types of containers they use:

Indoor Hydroponics

The hydroponic style of growing typically uses synthetic fertilizers run through a medium like rock wool, coco, or hydroton. Smaller pot sizes are used for this style of growing. If you prefer to keep it compact and grow your plants with a specific feeding schedule, choose smaller containers (3-7 gallons).

Sea of Green (SOG)

Sea of Green is a technique that involves growing smaller plants spaced more tightly to maximize yields in a limited space. If plant count isn’t an issue, this method works great in both greenhouse and indoor settings when multiple harvests are desired. Raised beds work great in greenhouses or planting directly in the ground.  Smaller containers on rolling trays are efficient indoors. Plastic or fabric pots are commonly used for their cost-effectiveness and easy handling.

The Screen of Green (ScrOG)

ScrOG involves training plants to grow horizontally along a screen to maximize light exposure and canopy control. This style pairs best with larger containers (5–10 gallons) to support the plant’s extended vegetative growth phase and ensure the root system has enough room to thrive. Fabric pots are ideal here due to their superior aeration and root health benefits.

Check out our article, The Ultimate Guide to SCRoG, to learn how to utilize this style. 

Living Soil

Living soil grows rely on a thriving microbiome in the soil to feed the plant naturally, without synthetic inputs. This method often requires larger containers (20 gallons or more) to provide ample room for microbial life to flourish and digest the nutrients. Fabric pots and raised beds are popular choices for living soil enthusiasts.

Deep Water Culture (DWC)

Deep Water Culture is a hydroponic method where plant roots are suspended in a nutrient-rich, oxygenated solution. Instead of traditional pots, DWC uses specialized buckets or containers with net pots to hold the plants in place. These systems are compact, often with container sizes ranging from 5 to 10 gallons per plant.

Outdoor Full-Season

For outdoor full-season growing, photoperiod plants often need massive containers to support their long growth cycle. Consider planting in the ground by enhancing the native soil with compost and potting mix or hügelkultur mounds. 

Avoid using potting mixes with perlite outdoors, as it is a highly processed garden material that rises to the top of the medium and blows away into the ecosystem. 

Instead, look for outdoor blends that utilize rice hulls for aeration.

If planting in the ground isn’t feasible, containers ranging from 30-200 gallons are ideal for maximizing yield and giving roots the space to expand. Fabric pots and wooden raised beds are popular choices due to their breathability and durability under outdoor conditions.

By understanding your growing style and its specific needs, you can select the best container size and type to support healthy growth and achieve the highest yields. Each method has unique container requirements, so take the time to assess your resources, space, and preferences before planting.

What are the best pots for growing weed?

When selecting cannabis pots, the material plays a key role in influencing drainage, aeration, and root health. Below are the major types of pots, their pros and cons, and use cases:

Grassroots Living Soil Fabric Pots or Raised Beds

Best for living soil growing where microbial digestion of nutrients is optimized by a consistently moist environment with the benefit of air pruning.  These fabric pots and raised beds are lined with plastic until the last 3-4 inches from the bottom.

• Pros: Designed to keep soil moist to ensure microbiology is thriving and nutrients are cycling in living soil grows.
• Cons: Algae can build up on the fabric

Fabric/Smart Pots

Best for indoor grows that utilize daily feeding schedules. Fabric pots help prevent your plants from becoming root-bound through air pruning. The same mechanisms that contribute to air pruning also dry out the soil more quickly.

• Pros: Air pruning reduces the likelihood of plants becoming root-bound.
• Cons: Dries out quickly.

Plastic pots

Best for indoor growers on a budget or young plants.

• Pros: Affordable and easy to sanitize.
• Cons: Can retain too much water if not well drained.

Do You Need Different Pots for Indoor and Outdoor?

Yes, container requirements often vary between indoor and outdoor grows:

• Indoor Pots: Focus on manageable sizes (e.g., 3-10 gallons) to fit within confined grow spaces. Lightweight materials like plastic or fabric work well for easy mobility.
• Outdoor Pots: Larger containers (10–200 gallons) are better suited for photoperiod plants that grow to full maturity. Durable options like raised beds or fabric pots handle outdoor conditions effectively.

3 Tips to Find the Best Cannabis Container

1. Budget: Decide how much you’re willing to invest in containers. Fabric and air pots are pricier but offer long-term benefits for root health.
2. Size: Match your pot size to the plant type and growth stage to prevent overwatering or stunted growth.
3. Space: Ensure your pots fit your growing environment, considering height, width, and space for light penetration.

Conclusion

Choosing the right pot for cannabis cultivation can make the difference between a mediocre harvest and a thriving garden. By selecting the appropriate size and type based on your plant’s needs, you can support robust root systems, optimal growth, and higher yields. Whether you grow indoors or outdoors, your container choice matters—so make it count.