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How to Use Hydroponic Growing Systems |
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How to Use Hydroponic Growing Systems
Hydroponics
is the technique of growing plants without soil. It
works on the principle that plant growth can be
optimized by controlling the conditions of growth.
Towards this end, different hydroponic growing
systems have evolved to suit different growing
requirements.
The choice of an appropriate
hydroponic growing system depends on the type of
plants, the scale of the growing unit, and the
expense and time that the grower is ready to invest.
Described below are some hydroponic growing systems:
Wick system: This is the most basic
hydroponic growing system. It makes use of an
absorbent 'wick' such as a nylon rope suspended
between the growing medium of the plants and a
reservoir of nutrient solution. The wick draws in
nutrients based on how soon the plants absorb it. A
suitably absorbent medium is needed for this system
such as a combination of perlite with either
vermiculite or coconut coir. This system can be
built using simple materials at home and is ideal
for hobby growers having few plants.
Reservoir system: This is another simple
hydroponic growing system that is somewhat more
advanced. Instead of a wick, the plant containers
are directly placed in the reservoir of nutrient
solution. An air pump is used to keep the nutrient
solution aerated with oxygen. This system can be
used with mediums having limited absorbing
properties, such as volcanic chips or clay pellets
combined with vermiculite. This system is
inexpensive to set up and easy to maintain, but may
lead to a root rot situation as the plants are
always submerged in the water so much aeration is
required for the reservoir full of water.
Flood and drain system: In this system, the
plant container is separated from the nutrient
reservoir below. A pump attached to a timer is used
to periodically draw up the solution into the plant
container and flood the roots before being drained
out. It is important to set the flood drain cycle to
suit the growing medium. Less absorbent mediums,
such as clay pellets or perlite, may require
flooding for 5 minutes, 10 times a day. More
absorbent mediums, such as rockwool, will require
less flooding. This popular hydroponic growing
system is used by both hobby and professional
growers. It can easily be built at home at little
cost.
Drip system: In this hydroponic growing
system, the nutrient solution is fed to plants from
above using thin tubes. The flow is controlled using
different emitters. More absorbent mediums require a
slower drip as compared to less absorbent ones. This
is an advanced system that can serve the needs of
the serious hobby and commercial grower. It cannot
be used with organic nutrients that can clog the
emitters.
The Nutrient Film Technique (NFT): This
hydroponic growing system involves using a running
thin stream of nutrient solution flowing through the
plant roots. This system is good for larger growing
units and can easily be set up at home. However, it
is only ideal for plants with a root system that is
large enough to benefit from the flowing stream.
Aeroponic system: In this hydroponics growing
system, the roots of the plants grow in the air,
suspended above a reservoir containing the nutrient
solution. A pump is used to spray the roots through
tubes with a fine mist of oxygenated solution. While
it is an excellent system for advanced hydroponic
gardening, it requires the most attention. Also, it
requires regular maintenance. As with the drip
system, it cannot be used with organic nutrients.
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