A Discussion of Hydroponic Growing Systems

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Thursday, June 4th, 2009 Subscribe To Our Feed

Hydroponic gardening has advanced rapidly to become a sustainable and environmentally friendly alternative agricultural method.

It is a form of gardening which neatly side-steps the problem of soil pests and infestions, and plant nutrient uptake can be easily optimised. Incredible yields can be achieved in a relatively small space with hydroponic systems. For home and commercial use there exist a variety of techniques..

These systems include the Rockwool Based Systems, Aeroponic Systems, the Ebb and Flow System, the multi- flow system and Continuous Drip Systems. As a hydroponic guide; systems come in all shapes and sizes and can be adapted for nearly any budget.

Another well liked system is the Nutrient Film Technique (NFT). Within the troughs in which they are grown the plants receive almost constant feeding.
A reservoir with a pump that is submersible re-circulates the hydroponics solution on all the time, pumping the solution to the top of the troughs to trickle back through the system.

Larger Nutrient Film Technique systems are used commercially, both abroad and in the United States. To select the right trough size is crucial especially for the techniques using nutrient films.

The largest size systems while still not being very huge are using wider troughs etc.

Aeroponics is a system in which the plant’s roots are suspended in air They are excellent for growing herbs and leafy vegetables. The planting is possible fue to the provision of web-pots which have neoprene inserts.

Varying hole designs in the top cover provides the proper spacing. and looks good.

These so called aeroponic hydroponics are also great seedling producers.. The seeds germinate well in a rockwool based growth medium and are then potted-on to special pots.

A thing similar to this is aeroponics and the NASA scientists developing soil-less growing for space flight residents have been promoting the technique around the world.

The Europonic System is modeled after commercial systems that are used in Europe. A basic system has three trays and holds eight plants each. The system may also be expanded to five trays if desired.

A nutrient solution is pumped from a thirty-gallon reservoir to individual emitters at each plant. On a non-stop basis the nutrient enhanced water recirculates across the plant roots and back to the storage tank.

Rockwool, or mineral wool, is the most popular and highly used hydroponic container gardening medium. It is basically a material of spun fibre providing a high surface area for a high ability to hold water. It is also fabled for its legendary ability to be remodeled into new shapes to suit almost all plans and rooting requirements.

Under the Eurponic system there are 2 rockwool slabs fitted ito each of the trays. Europonic Systems are good for the larger plants which have extensive systems of roots. Such systems are therefore good for plants like tomatoes, cucumber, and peppers, plus large flowering plants.

In a continuous drip system, a single pot is used with a two-gallon reservoir underneath. Sadly, for commercial growing this is not really viable.
Ebb and flow methods are most well liked in hydroponics.

Ebb and flow is good for lettuce, pepper plants, mini tomatoes, and potted decorative plants. Ebb and flow systems can also be used as an herb garden to provide fresh basis, thyme, and oregano year round. Ebb and flow systems are not perfect and a concern with them can be the builing up of crystal fertizing salts in the growth medium.

As water loss occurs through evaporation salts are left as a residue and the concentration of these can add up over time and become toxic It is best to flush the system with pure water periodically to take away any toxic salt buildup.

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