Hydroponic Systems

Seven Types of Hydroponic Systems

• Deep Water Culture
• Water Culture

• Ebb and Flow

• Nutrient Film Technique

• Drip System

• Aeroponic

• Wick System

The Deep Water Culture Hydroponic Systems

Deep water culture is the simplest of the hydroponic systems. The plant roots are suspended in  nutrient
solution and they take in what they need. The oxygen level in the water is low because it isn’t moving but can be easily fixed with an air pump supplying air to one or two air stones depending on the size of the container. The container can be some type of tote container with a flat surfaced lid. You cut holes in the lid to place pots in, and put growing medium in the pots.

 

The Water Culture Hydroponic Systems

 

One of the simplest hydroponic systems is the water culture system. The plants are held in a platform usually made of styrofoam and float directly on the nutrient
solution. An air pump is used to supply air to the air stone that bubbles the nutrient solution and supplies oxygen to the roots of the plants. These hydroponic systems work great for water loving plants such as leaf lettuce. However very few other plants will do well with this system.

 

 

 

The Ebb and Flow Method Hydroponic Systems

Also called the flood and drain method. These type of hydroponic systems involve pots filled with growing medium in a grow tray, or you can fill the tray with growing mediums without using pots. The advantage of using pots is that you can move the plants around in or out of the hydroponic system easier. Nutrient solution is pumped from the reservoir to the grow tray for a set amount of time, (flood). Then the water drains back into the reservoir. This action is normally done with a submerged pump connected to a timer. An overflow pipe is also connected from the grow tray to the reservoir. The timer is set to come on several times a day, depending on the size and type of plants, temperature and humidity and the type of growing medium used. Growing media such as Rockwool and Vermiculite retain more water than Gravel, Growrocks, or Perlite. These hydroponic systems allow fresh oxygen to reach the roots and work great for both short and long term crops. However it is vulnerable to power outages as well as pump and timer failure. The roots can dry out quickly if the watering cycles are interrupted.

 

 

The Nutrient Film Technique Hydroponic Systems

 

The N.F.T. (Nutrient Film Technique) system has a constant flow of nutrient solution. The nutrient    solution is pumped into the growing tray (usually a tube) and flows over the roots of the plants, and then drains back into the reservoir. Normally no growing medium is used, the plant is supported in a small plastic basket with the roots dangling into the nutrient solution. These hydroponic systems are very susceptible to pump failures and power outages. The roots dry out quickly when the flow of nutrient solution stops. The N.F.T. is probably the most commonly used type of home hydroponic system.

 

 

The Drip Hydroponic Systems

 

Drip Hydroponic Systems are probably the most widely used hydroponic system, but they are used more in large greenhouses not as much in home hydroponic systems. Operation is simple, the growing tray is placed on top of the reservoir, the reservoir is filled with water and nutrients. A pump inside the reservoir pumps the water through emitters drip by drip to the plants. A timer is used, the water and nutrient solution is usually pumped to the plants for 10 minutes an hour. An air pump and air stone are used to airiate the water. The excess water drains back into the reservoir. Plants grown in these type of hydroponic systems are grown in a grow medium such as Perlite, Rockwool, or Clay Pebbles.

 

The Aeroponic Hydroponic Systems

The Aeroponic system is the most high-tech of the hydroponic systems, which means it is more expensive and less popular with home hydroponic systems. The plants are suspended and the roots hang in the air inside the reservoir. The reservoir has water and nutrient solution but the roots are above the water level, the roots are fed water and nutrient solution through a mist set to turn on every couple minutes and runs for a few seconds. Plants produce well with these hydroponic systems because nutrients in the mist are sucked in fast by the roots. However the roots will dry out fast if the pump breaks down or isn’t working properly.

 

The Wick Hydroponic Systems

These hydroponic systems are very basic and easy to create. A grow tray is held on top of the reservoir with a wick or wicks connecting the two. The grow tray contains grow medium and the plants. The reservoir has an air stone connected to the air pump and contains water and nutrient solution. However large plants or a large number of plants may require more water and nutrients than the wick or wicks can supply. I hope this helps you decide which of the hydroponic systems is for you.