Art-ology

Hydroponics – the growing of plants without earth – can be achieved by a wide variety of techniques. The challenge in each method is to suspend the plant in place while exposing the roots to a constant supply of water-nutrient formula. This can be carried out in several ways, quite a few more efficient than others. Hydroponic systems have four categories the active which utilizes a pump, the passive, the recovery which demands recirculation of the solution, and the non-recovery. Also, most systems will use some kind of grow tray to hold the plants, and a reservoir which holds the solution. With these items in mind, here are some of the most popular hydroponic systems.

Ebb and Flow

This is an example of a system that employs the recovery method which anchors plants in mediums like rockwool. A pump motor floods the grow tray with water occasionally based on the time you set on the timer, it then shuts down and lets the nutrient solution drain through a maze of tubes attached to the tray that leads back to the reservoir. 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 surging 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. This hydroponic systems can be either recovery or non-recovery, depending on whether you strain the solution back into the reservoir. The non-recovery variation 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 is a basic, passive non-recovery hydroponic method in which the nutrient formula is carried from the reservoir to the plant roots by means of a wick (like an oil lamp wick). Absolutely no pump is required, and the water is not re-circulated, making it one of the simplest and least costly systems. Nevertheless, it also tends to be less productive because it is tougher to regulate the water flow, which means (depending on the type and quantity of plants) there can be either too much or too little solution getting to the roots.

Nutrient Film Technique

This method is also known as the NFT which is an active recovery method where the roots dangle in a continuous flow or film of solution. A pipe is used as a grow tray and the plants are hanged on top while the roots are dangled and exposed beneath. With the pump the formula goes through one tube and drains on the other end and into the reservoir. This method may be effective but it can be complex and high-maintenance as well.

There are other types and variants of systems as well, but these are the most common hydroponic systems. Which hydroponic systems you select will depend mainly on your skill level and funds.