Hydroponics Systems

Each hydroponics system has its own way of supporting plants throughout their lifecycle.

Despite the different techniques for hydroponic growing, the goal of each hydroponics system or hydroponics growing method is the same: Providing the optimal amounts of nutrition, water, and oxygen (to the roots), required by each plant.

Water culture hydroponics, often referred to as deep water culture or (DWC), is one of the more simple hydroponics systems to understand, build and maintain. Plants are suspended above a reservoir of oxygenated nutrient solution. Oxygenating or aerating the nutrient system is easily done with an aquarium style air pump. The roots of the plant are placed in direct contact with the nutrient solution, thus allowing the plant to receive the necessary nutrients and water.

The nutrient film technique or (NFT) hydroponics system is also a fairly simple method of hydroponics growing. Plants are placed in a tray or gutter separate from the nutrient reservoir. One end of the tray is elevated slightly to encourage the flow of water, while the lower end of the tray is suspended directly above the reservoir. A submersible pump located in the reservoir delivers a constant stream of nutrient solution to the top end of the tray. The roots of the plants take up the nutrients they need as the solution runs through the system from top to bottom.  The excess solution runs off and is collected in the reservoir. The process then repeats itself by constantly recirculating the nutrient solution through the system.

The Ebb and Flow or Flood and Drain hydroponics system uses similar components to the NFT system described above. A reservoir with submersible pump will deliver nutrient solution to a separate container, such as a tray, that is located directly above the reservoir. The plants reside in the tray, rooted either directly in grow media or in pots containing grow media. The nutrient solution periodically “floods” the tray allowing the plants to uptake necessary nutrients. The excess nutrient solution is returned to the reservoir below via an overflow tube and the process repeats itself. A recirculating timer is used to control the intervals and duration of the flood and drain cycles. The flood and drain cycles can be determined by many factors including the size of the grow area, size of the plants, the porosity of grow media, and the concentration of nutrients.

Drip or top feed hydroponics systems are similar to the NFT and flood / drain hydroponics systems discussed above. Drip hydroponics systems also utilize a nutrient solution reservoir in conjunction with a pump, to deliver plants the necessary nutrients. It is the delivery of the nutrient solution to the plants however, that differs slightly. As the name suggests, the drip or top feed method, delivers nutrient solution  to the plants via irrigation tubing and drip emitters. Nutrient solution is provided to the plant from above rather than below. Excess nutrient solution can then be collected and returned to the reservoir allowing the process to repeat.