Okay so 2 inch net pots and neoprene cloning collars start to finish is the way to go if you are running 5 gal dwc buckets or any dwc buckets for that matter. Why 86 hydroton out of the picture lordhooda? Because it cost a bunch of money and lets face it, if its costing money and you don't need it then you can consider the hydroton an un-needed expense. And yes you can do it, the roots believe it or not play a very important roll in the support of the plant not the pot size or medium its the roots that hold the plant up and as the stalk grows on the bottom it will only grow itself more securely into that 2inch hole as it gets bigger. I recently have taken out hydroton by switching to 2 inch net pots and cloning collars because I root in an aeroponic EZcloner and I put them directly into the container the will ve in until the end from there and they stay fixed into the little 2 inch hole in 5 gal bucket lids and the 27gal tough box lids as well I have 2 container types works great in both start to finish. Hope this helps