Terra Aquatica green hydroponic pot filled with clay pebbles, irrigation ring, blue level tube, and air pump

Hydroponic pot seen from three-quarter view, water-level tube visible on the side

45 L hydroponic pot with solar panel and self-contained air pump.

Solar panel and pump placed beside the pot, standalone version

Box contents: tank, growing basket, tubes, distribution ring and pump

Illustrated parts diagram from the manufacturer, piece by piece

Illustrated assembly steps, manufacturer's instructions

Hydroponic reservoir pot 15 or 45 L, mains or solar

¥13,200

Reservoir	Price	Price per L	vs 15 L
15 L	¥13,200	¥880	—
45 L	¥16,500	¥367	−58 %

¥4,400 × 3 with no fees Klarna.

The CultiMate is a soilless growing pot that sits on its own reservoir: 15 L for a medium-sized plant or a herb, 45 L for a large specimen, or two more compact plants, with greater autonomy. An air pump lifts the nutrient solution up to a ring that waters the plant continuously, with no water pump or timer, and the 45 L solar version works where there is no power socket.

Ref. TA-CM-S·Soilless growing system

Reservoir : 15 l

45 L solar

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The summary

What it is: a soilless growing pot sitting on its own reservoir, for one plant in the 15 L, one or two in the 45 L. An air pump circulates the solution and oxygen continuously, with no water pump.
Three versions: a 15 L reservoir for a balcony or a medium-sized plant, a 45 L for a large plant and more autonomy, and a 45 L solar version for growing where there is no power socket.
Nothing to programme: it runs continuously, and no electrical part touches the water.
Your routine: a top-up every 2 to 4 days on the 15 L in high summer, every 1 to 2 weeks on the 45 L.
What you choose to go with it: about twenty litres of clay pebbles, a complete hydroponic nutrient and something to read the pH.
Dimensions: 31 x 31 x 38 cm for the 15 L, 47 x 47 x 43 cm for the 45 L.

A 15 or 45 L reservoir beneath the plant, continuously irrigated by an air pump

This grow pot sits a plant on its own reservoir, in 15 or 45 L. The mechanism is the same in both volumes, right down to the pump. What changes comes down to one figure, since there is three times more solution beneath the plant, and therefore three times more autonomy between refills.

💨 Air emulsion

This system works without a water pump. A small air pump sends air to the bottom of a column sunk into the reservoir. The rising bubbles carry the nutrient solution up with them, to a perforated ring set above the grow pot, from where it falls as a fine rain onto the clay pebbles. It passes through the grow medium, waters the roots on the way, and returns to the reservoir. This is the principle of the air-lift, or airlift, used in aquarium filters, where the only moving part is the pump diaphragm, which is therefore also the only wear part in the system.

The reservoir

It comes in 15 or 45 L, with a clear level tube on the side. Filled, the 45 L weighs about fifty kilos.

The pump

It is a 1.8 W air pump delivering 1.3 litres of air per minute, the same on both volumes. Its diaphragm can be replaced.

The grow chamber

It is a slotted tray that holds the grow medium and the plant. Allow around twenty litres of pebbles for the 45 L one.

The circuit

Pump column, strainer, pierced distribution ring, tubes and seals. No electrical part comes into contact with the water.

🪴 Which volume for which plant

The 15 L pot takes one plant, the 45 L pot one or two, and since the whole solution is shared, two plants in the same pot must have the same needs. You put the plant in already rooted, as a rootball or an established cutting, and wedge it into the clay pebbles. The 15 L suits a herb, a cut-and-come-again lettuce, a chilli or a strawberry plant. The 45 L takes on what the smaller volume struggles to keep up with: a full-sized tomato, cucumber, aubergine or pepper, a plant meant to stay with you for the entire season. Our guide to what to grow in hydroponics details the cycles.

Before filling, three precautions

Three precautions will save you from losing a crop right at the start. Don't move the pot once it is filled, because 45 L of water plus the wet grow medium weigh around fifty kilos, and the level tube will break at the first clumsy move. Don't fill above the upper mark on the tube, otherwise the solution drowns the crown and the stem rots at the level of the pebbles. Don't add clay pebbles that haven't been rinsed, since the dust settles in the strainer and blocks the distribution ring.

Pot, grow medium and nutrients in a single order

If you are starting from scratch, the 45 L pot pack brings together the pot, the grow medium, the nutrition and the pH control in a single order, so you have no grow medium, nutrition or pH test to choose separately. To run several pots together, the constant-level reservoir links them to a single filling point.

Volume also affects your margin for error. A large reservoir cushions mistakes better, since the pH changes more slowly in it, the salt concentration rises more slowly through evaporation, and a dosing error is diluted instead of burning the roots. In summer, with a plant in full production, this reserve needs topping up every 1 to 2 weeks, whereas the 15 L reservoir needs topping up every 2 to 4 days.

☀️ The solar version

A south-facing balcony, a greenhouse at the bottom of the plot or a shared allotment with no electricity, and solar becomes the only way of circulating the solution. The solar pump delivers 2 litres of air per minute at 8 volts, and its panel is staked into the ground on an adjustable spike, connected to the pump by 3 m of cable. It runs as the sun allows, which is enough for a clay pebbles grow medium, as moisture stays in it for several hours after the last watering. If you have a socket next to the pot, the mains version remains simpler, and its power consumption is negligible. Factor the panel into your layout from the outset, because it needs full exposure all day, which is not always where you had planned to put the pot.

🧪 pH and top-up water

In a closed loop, the pH shifts as the plants take up nutrients. The working range is 5.8 to 6.2, and it is the measurement you will take most often. Our article on pH regulation applies here too, and the correction can be bold since no fish live in this reservoir. On 45 L it shows up more slowly than on 15, so leave it running for an hour before measuring again.

Topping up the water follows the same rhythm as the plant. Allow for a top-up every 2 to 4 days on 15 L in the height of summer, every 1 to 2 weeks on 45 L, and read the transparent tube rather than opening the pot. Top up with clean water as long as the conductivity stays within its range, since it is the water that evaporates and not the salts, and replace the whole solution when the gap becomes clear. A complete change every 2 to 3 weeks is a good guide for a plant in full production, and it saves you chasing an imbalance that topping up with water no longer corrects.

🔧 Routine maintenance

This system asks very little, and the essential point is the air pump. Its diaphragm wears with hours of continuous running, and the warning sign is a weaker spray at the outlet of the ring rather than a sudden stop. Place the pump above the level of the solution, otherwise a power cut can let the solution flow back along the air line to the pump. The distribution ring can also be replaced on its own, if it cracks or if its holes stay blocked despite a soak in vinegar. Finally, rinse the strainer and the distribution ring at every change of crop, as a deposit of salts is enough to reduce the flow without being visible from the outside. A night's soak in vinegar water restores the holes of a scaled-up ring, and that way you will avoid buying a new one.

Technical specifications

The essentials

Capacity: 1 or 2 plantsOne plant in the 15 L reservoir, one or two in the 45 L, each with a grow chamber sized to match.
Principle: Continuous irrigation by air emulsionNo water pump: an air pump lifts the solution up a column, which releases it as rain through a ring.
Reservoir volume: 15 L or 45 LTwo reservoir sizes, each with its own grow chamber, for the same pump.
Footprint: approx. 31 x 31 x 38 cm · 47 x 47 x 43 cmDimensions of the 15 L, then the 45 L, excluding the plant and the solar panel.
Empty weight: 3.05 · 6.73 · 7.7 kg15 L, 45 L, then 45 L solar with its panel.
Manufacturing: FranceRotationally moulded bodies in opaque recycled polyethylene. Tank guaranteed for life, pump guaranteed for 2 years.

Mains-powered versions

Pump included: Air pump, 1.8 WIdentical on both reservoir sizes, and can be replaced on its own.
Air flow: 1.3 L/minConstant airflow, day and night.
Feed: 220 to 240 VHousehold socket. The pump sits next to the system, out of the water.
Consumption: 0.04 kWh per dayDirect calculation: 1.8 W for 24 h. The 45 L tank uses no more power than the 15 L one.
Part in contact with the water: No electrical partsOnly air circulates in the tube immersed in the solution.
Timer: UnnecessaryThe air pump runs continuously. Nothing to programme.

Solar version

Panel: On an adjustable stakeTo be placed in full sun, connected to the pump by a 3 m cable.
Air flow: 2 L/minSlightly more than the mains pump, which makes up for running with the sun.
Voltage: 8 V DCLow voltage, supplied directly by the panel.
Pump operation: Following the sunIrrigation follows the daylight. The clay pebbles hold moisture for several hours after the last circulation.
Outdoor use: Designed forThat is the whole point of this version: growing where there is no mains socket.
Overwintering: Tank to be emptiedThe pot and the panel stay outdoors; water in the reservoir splits the fittings when it freezes. The pump is stored somewhere dry.

To budget for separately

Grow medium: Clay pebbles 8 to 20 mmAround 20 L for the growing chamber of the 45 L, to be rinsed before use.
Nutrient solution: Complete hydroponic nutrition
pH reading: Drop test or meterWorking range 5.8 to 6.2.
Electrical socket: Mains-powered versionsFor the air pump alone, placed beside the pot, out of the water. Not needed on the solar version.

14 further specifications are available in the detailed view.

In the box

1 tank of 15 or 45 L with its perforated growing chamber.
1 pumping column with its strainer and 1 drilled distribution ring.
3 connecting tubes cut to length, the sealing gaskets and the retaining clip.
1 transparent level tube.
1 air pump: 1.8 W on mains power, or a solar pump of 2 L/min and its panel on the solar version.

Volumes, dimensions, weights and parts taken from the manufacturer's parts catalogue and packing list, on 10/09/2026. Solar pump and warranties taken from the manufacturer's shop, on 08/10/2026.

Which reservoir?

Same pump, same principle: the reservoir, its growing chamber and the feed are what change.

The available power decides, and the reservoir covers your absences Only the solar version needs no mains socket. As for the two tanks, what decides is how long you want to leave between refills.

	Volume (L)	Summer run time (days)	Side on the ground (cm)	Empty weight (kg)	Mains power socket required	Works at night	Can be used away from a socket	Timer required
15 LYour choice	15 L	3 days	31 cm	3.05 kg	Yes	Yes	No	No
Recommended 45 LYour choice	45 L	10 days	47 cm	6.73 kg	Yes	Yes	No	No
45 L solarYour choice	45 L	10 days	47 cm	7.7 kg	No	No	Yes	No

15 L

Reservoir

Volume (L)15 L

Summer run time (days)3 days

Footprint

Side on the ground (cm)31 cm

Empty weight (kg)3.05 kg

Feed

Mains power socket requiredYes

Works at nightYes

Can be used away from a socketNo

Timer requiredNo

45 LRecommended

Reservoir

Volume (L)45 L

Summer run time (days)10 days

Footprint

Side on the ground (cm)47 cm

Empty weight (kg)6.73 kg

Feed

Mains power socket requiredYes

Works at nightYes

Can be used away from a socketNo

Timer requiredNo

45 L solar

Reservoir

Volume (L)45 L

Summer run time (days)10 days

Footprint

Side on the ground (cm)47 cm

Empty weight (kg)7.7 kg

Feed

Mains power socket requiredNo

Works at nightNo

Can be used away from a socketYes

Timer requiredNo

Dimensions, flow rates and weights taken on 10/09/2026 from the manufacturer's parts catalogue.

Documents & manuals

Manufacturer's page, CultiMate range

Introduction to the Terra Aquatica range, in French.

LIEN

Download

Manufacturer's page, four-pot system

Description of the four-connected-pot system and its management module, in English.

LIEN

Download

Estimate your
delivery time

A single parcel of approximately 47 x 47 x 43 cm weighing 6.7 kg. The format is bulky but light; it will not fit through the smallest parcel collection points. Exact shipping costs and final delivery times are shown at checkout once your address has been entered. Outside the European Union, import duties and taxes remain the responsibility of the recipient. Delivery times run from dispatch, excluding public holidays.

Frequently asked questions

10 questions

6 key questions, 10 in the detailed view

15 L, 45 L or 45 L solar: which should you choose?

The principle is the same in all three cases. What changes is the volume of the reservoir, and therefore the autonomy and the size of plant it can support, as well as the way the pump is powered.

Point	15 L	45 L	45 L solar
Reservoir	15 L	45 L	45 L
Autonomy in summer	a few days	1 to 2 weeks	1 to 2 weeks
Footprint	31 x 31 cm	47 x 47 cm	47 x 47 cm
Power socket	required	required	not needed
Circulation at night	yes	yes	follows the sun
Empty weight	3.05 kg	6.73 kg	7.7 kg

Indoors or on a terrace with a power supply, the choice comes down to the space you have and the size of the plant. The solar version is the one to choose if you want to do away with the cable, as the mains pump's power consumption is negligible anyway.

How many plants can you put in it, and which ones?

The 15 L pot takes one plant, the 45 L one takes one or two. The whole solution is shared, so two plants grown together in the same pot must have the same requirements.

15 L tank: suitable for basil, parsley, chives, mint, chilli, dwarf pepper, cut-and-come-again lettuce and strawberry. It suits one medium-sized plant with a short or medium cycle.
45 L tank: suitable for one tomato, aubergine, cucumber, courgette or pepper plant meant to last a whole season, or two more compact plants of the same species. The volume copes with the evaporation from heavy foliage in midsummer.
In both cases, avoid plants with storage roots, such as carrot, radish and beetroot, and perennial shrubs, which end up filling the basket with woody roots.

Is there anything to programme?

How often does water need topping up?

2 to 4 d15 L reservoir, large foliage in summer

1 to 2 wk45 L reservoir, same plant

This is the only day-to-day difference between the two sizes, and it is decisive if you go away. The level tube on the side of the pot can be read at a glance: top up with clean water as long as the solution is not too old, and replace the whole solution every 2 to 3 weeks. In winter, or with a small plant, these intervals easily double.

On the solar version, what do you receive, and does the pump run at night?

The solar pump runs with the sun: circulation follows the daylight and stops at night.

On this type of system, the overnight pause has no real consequence, as the clay pebbles stay moist for several hours. In a heatwave, a warm night without circulation is more noticeable. If your crop cannot tolerate any interruption, choose a mains-powered version, where the pump runs 24 hours a day.

The pot, its growing chamber and its circuit are identical to the mains version. Only the power supply changes: the air pump is replaced by a 2 L/min solar pump, powered by 8 V DC from a photovoltaic panel mounted on an adjustable stake and connected to the pump by a 3 m cable.

Can the solar version stay outside over winter?

The pot and its panel are designed for outdoor use, and there is no need to bring them indoors before the first frosts. What will not survive winter is the water in the reservoir: 45 litres of freezing water will burst the fittings and crack the level tube.

Winterising takes three steps: empty the reservoir completely at the end of the growing season, disconnect the pump and store it somewhere dry, and leave the pot in place with its lid on. The photovoltaic panel can stay outside without any harm. During the season, shelter the pump and its connection from driving rain.

Keep the lid on all year round, too: rain getting in dilutes the solution and alters the pH without you noticing. Check the level after a heavy storm.

Which grow medium should go in it?

Use expanded clay pebbles, grain size 8 to 20 mm, rinsed before use. They hold almost no water, which is exactly what you want here: it is the circulation that brings the water, and the grow medium only serves to hold the plant and let air through.

Rockwool and coco fibre also work, but they retain more: so make sure the grow medium is not permanently waterlogged. Our article on choosing a grow medium sets out the trade-offs.

The pump runs day and night: what does it cost to run, and is it noisy?

1.3 kWhper month, mains versions

0 kWhsolar version

The air pump is rated at 1.8 W and runs continuously, which comes to about 1.3 kWh per month. The 45 L reservoir costs no more to run than the 15 L one: the pump is the same. On the solar version, circulation costs nothing, but the air flow follows the sunshine.

As for noise, it gives off a discreet hum, comparable to that of an aquarium air stone pump. Placed on a foam mat rather than directly on a shelf, the pump fades into the background; placed on a hollow surface, it resonates. The noise comes from the diaphragm, not the water: the pot itself is silent.

Algae are appearing in the reservoir, what should I do?

The reservoir looks like an aquarium, can fish be kept in it?

The resemblance ends at the volume. At 45 litres, the reservoir is the size of a small aquarium, but it lacks everything that makes an aquarium habitable: no biological filtration, no exchange surface, and above all a mineral fertiliser solution dosed for plants, which is not water suitable for keeping fish.

If the idea of keeping plants and fish together appeals to you, you should look towards aquaponics, with equipment designed for it.

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Hydroponic reservoir pot 15 or 45 L, mains or solar

The summary