The Most Common Hydroponic Systems
Hydroponics – the growing of plants without soil – can be achieved by a vast variety of methods. The concern lies on how to position the plants that will expose the roots to a continuous supply of nutrient formula. There are a number of ways you can do this and some of these techniques are more efficient that the rest. Hydroponic systems have 4 categories the active which utilizes a pump, the passive, the recovery which requires recirculation of the solution, and the non-recovery. Also, nearly all systems will use some kind of grow tray to hold the plants, and a tank which holds the solution. Here are some popular hydroponic systems you might be acquainted with.
Ebb and Flow
In this active recovery system, crops in the grow tray are usually anchored by some sort of medium (preferably one that retains water, like rockwool). A water pump on a timer regularly floods the grow tray with nutrient formula from the reservoir, then turns off and allows the solution to drain back through tubes into the reservoir to be reused. This technique is otherwise identified as the flood-drain system which is very famous among beginners.
The Drip System
This system is more or less the same with ebb and flow but instead of flooding the grow tray this method uses a pump that pushes the nutrient solution around the network of tubes that drips the solution straight on the plant roots. Depending on your choice you can turn the hydroponic systems into a recover or non-recovery system. The non-recovery version is more low-maintenance because you do not have to keep track of the pH of the reservoir nearly as much.
The Wick System
This program is an case in point of a passive non-recovery hydroponic method in which the solution gets to the roots through a wick. There is no need for a pump and for water flow thus making this system simple and low-cost. Nonetheless, the yield may not be as impressive because controlling the water flow is a challenge which means that the roots are getting too much or too little solution.
Nutrient Film Technique
This method is also known as the NFT which is an active recovery method where the roots suspend in a constant flow or film of solution. A tube is used as a grow tray and the plants are dangled on top while the roots are suspended and open beneath. The pump motor sends the solution into one end of the pipe, and it drains out the other end back into the tank. This approach may be effective but it can be complicated and high-maintenance as well.
There are other kinds and variations of methods as well, but these are the most common hydroponic systems. Which hydroponic systems you choose will rely mainly on your skill level and budget.
