Net Cup – 3″ (Pack of 100)

The Hydrofarm 3-inch net cup — sold in packs of 100 — is a standard mesh container used in hydroponic and aquaponic systems to hold plants and growing media while allowing nutrient solution, water, and air to circulate freely around the root zone. Each cup fits common net pot sites found on DWC buckets, NFT channels, and grow lids, making this pack a practical choice for growers setting up or restocking a larger system.

Net Cup – 3" (Pack of 100) Specifications

Core dimensions and product details for the Hydrofarm 3-inch net cup, pack of 100.

Specification	Value
Brand	Hydrofarm
Cup Diameter	3 inches
Pack Quantity	100 cups per pack
Construction	Mesh/net sides for drainage and airflow
Supplier SKU	HG3NETCUP-pack
Category	Pots & Containers / Growing Media & Containers

Why Choose Hydrofarm Net Cups

Net cups are one of the most straightforward components in a hydroponic setup, but the quality of the mesh pattern and the rim fit directly affect how well your system performs. Here is why these Hydrofarm cups are a practical choice:

• Mesh design promotes drainage and root health. The open net sides allow nutrient solution to drain freely and oxygen to reach the roots, which helps prevent root rot and supports faster, more vigorous growth compared to solid-walled containers.
• Fits standard 3-inch net pot sites. The 3-inch diameter is one of the most common sizes used in DWC (deep water culture) lids, NFT (nutrient film technique) channels, and aeroponics systems. Having a consistent fit across your sites reduces leaks and tipping.
• Bulk pack reduces per-cup cost. At 100 cups per pack, this is suited to growers setting up multi-site systems or anyone who needs to replace cups between grows without ordering frequently in small quantities.
• Compatible with a wide range of growing media. The cup works with expanded clay pebbles (hydroton), rockwool, coco coir, perlite, and other common hydroponic substrates. The mesh holds media in place while allowing full water and air contact at the roots.
• Available in multiple sizes from Hydrofarm. Hydrofarm produces net cups across a range of sizes and mesh patterns, so if your system uses multiple site diameters you can source from the same product line for consistency.

Best Uses for Hydrofarm 3-Inch Net Cups

The 3-inch size fits a broad range of common hydroponic configurations. Below are the setups where these cups are most commonly used:

• Deep water culture (DWC) buckets and totes. The 3-inch net cup is a standard fit for the hole-saw cut-outs in most DWC bucket lids and multi-site tote systems. Plants are started in the cup with a small amount of clay pebbles or rockwool, with roots descending into the oxygenated nutrient solution below.
• Nutrient film technique (NFT) channels. Inserted into pre-drilled holes along an NFT channel, net cups hold the plant above the thin film of nutrient solution flowing beneath. The mesh allows roots to extend down through the cup bottom into the channel.
• Kratky passive hydro setups. The 3-inch cup fits standard mason jar lids and purpose-built Kratky containers. This is a straightforward no-pump method suited to herbs, lettuce, and leafy greens.
• Aeroponic cloner inserts. Many aeroponic propagation chambers use 3-inch net cup holes for clone collars. The cups can seat neoprene inserts or coco plugs for clean stem support during propagation.
• Recirculating drip systems. Net cups placed in drip manifold sites allow media to drain freely between irrigation cycles, preventing waterlogging at the root zone.
• Seedling and clone starts before transplant. A net cup filled with moistened rockwool or a coco plug is a common way to start seeds or cuttings before transferring to a larger container or outdoor media. If you are also running fabric-pot grows, these cups work alongside products like the Smart Pot 3-Gallon fabric container as part of the same propagation-to-finish workflow.

Compatibility

These net cups are designed to seat in any standard 3-inch net pot opening. Most commercial and DIY hydroponic systems — including DWC buckets, multi-site totes, NFT rails, Kratky jars, and aeroponic cloners — are built around the 3-inch hole size as a baseline. Verify the hole diameter on your specific system before ordering if you are unsure; some manufacturers label their openings in millimeters (approximately 76 mm for a 3-inch cup).

Growing media compatibility is broad. Expanded clay pebbles (LECA/hydroton), rockwool cubes, coco coir, perlite, and growstone are all commonly used inside 3-inch net cups. The mesh pattern holds granular media like clay pebbles without excessive fallthrough while still allowing full drainage. For a growing media option to pair with these cups, Pro-Mix HP with Mycorrhizae is a popular peat-perlite blend used in hybrid systems where some soil-like buffering is desired alongside net cup drainage.

The cups are not rated for use as standalone outdoor containers or in soil-based container gardening — they are purpose-built for hydroponic and aquaponic water-based systems where the nutrient solution provides the plant with what a substrate would otherwise supply.

Sources & Further Reading