Exploring Different Types of Hydroponics: Which Method is Right for You?

Have you heard of hydroponics?

Hydroponics is a plant growing technique that uses a water-based nutrient solution instead of soil.

Also hydroponics uses growing media such as vermiculite, coconut coir or perlite for growing plants.

A variety of plants can be grown hydroponically. These include lettuce, spinach, strawberries, as well as a certain recently legalized substance.

Hydroponics has many benefits. These include being able to grow food in an urban environment with limited land and space.

The food you grow hydroponically can grow faster and be harvested faster than traditional methods.

Also pests are easier to manage when you grow food hydroponically. As a result, you end up not using toxic pesticides.

Hydroponics requires less water than traditional farming or gardening.

Hydroponics does have its drawbacks. It can be expensive when you first start out because of high installation costs. Also there’s a steep learning curve.

Any errors that are made can affect your whole crop.

Errors include equipment not being used properly. Also equipment can fail due to a power outage and this can kill your plants in a few hours.

Many questions come up about hydroponics.

Does the food you grow hydroponically taste good?

Is it safe to eat what you grow hydroponically?

If the food you grow hydroponically is grown properly using the right mineral solution, it can be more flavorful than soil grown. Also you may not end up with the artificial chemical taste you can get with food that’s soil grown.

Questions also come up about how safe it is to grow hydroponically food?

The food that is grown is generally safe to eat, however the process of growing hydroponically does have its risks.

The water solution used in the process has the potential to become a breeding ground for e-coli bacteria. In order to prevent this, you may need to change the water in your hydroponic system periodically.

Also the grow lights used have the potential to become a fire hazard. It's important to not keep anything combustible or even move the lights when your plants get too big.

If you still want to use hydroponics to grow plants, there are at least five different types to consider.

Here are 5 Types of Hydroponic Systems:

1. Wick Hydroponic System:

A wick system is the simplest type of hydroponic system. It's largely due to no moving parts being used.

Instead it's a system that uses a soft fabric string called a wick made of either cotton or nylon.

The wick is run from the nutrient solution reservior to the bottom of the grow trays where a plant's roots are located. Since the wick allows for a constant supply of nutrition rich water, it results in bigger plants without much effort.

A wick hydroponic system is one of the easiest and cheapest way to grow plants hydroponically.

2. Deep Water Culture Hydroponics:

A deep water culture hydroponics system uses a technique where your plants are suspended above the nutrient solution reservior.

The plants are suspended using styrofoam, their roots need to be submerged in the reservoir 24/7. Also the reservoir should be deep enough for the roots to grow.

A deep water culture hydroponic system is simple and inexpensive to use like a wick system.

However the water in the nutrient solution reservoir is prone to oxygen depletion. As a result, your plants will suffocate unless you use an air pump to recirculate the water in the reservoir.

3. Drip System Hydroponics:

A drip system is a type of active hydroponic system.

It's called an active system becauses it uses a pump to feed your plants with nutrients and water regularly.

It's also called a trickle or micro irrigation system.

As the name suggests, a drip system uses small emitters to drip the nutrient solution directly to the plant.

4. Ebb And Flow Hydroponics:

Ebb and flow, also called a flood and drain system is a type of hydroponic system.

Ebb and flow is a popular way to grow hydroponically. The roots of your plants are held within a growth tray.

The nutrient solution is pumped from one area to another in order to supply enough oxygen and to aerate the plant's roots.

Also the nutrient solution is constantly pumped through a drain at the bottom of the growth tray.

5. Nutrient Film Technique:

Nutrient film technique (NFT) is a type of hydroponic system where plants are grown in a suspended growing channel.

It allows for plants to be grown in pots sitting in channels on a small incline. Then there's a constant flow of water and nutrients running down the channel or gutter.

The nutrient film technique allows roots to be suspended in the air. By doing this, you're allowing for more oxygen and nutrient intake.

Have You Grown Plants Hydroponically?

Please Like And Follow!

Sources: