Grow Tips
How to Grow Plants Hydroponically
Aug
So, are you looking to switch to Hydroponic gardening or are you looking for a different hydroponic technique? There are many different ways to grow crops hydroponically, below are some of the most common and easiest to use farming techniques. These different hydroponic systems and techniques can be suited for different types of growers.
The EBB & Flow System
First on the list of Hydroponic systems is the most common and one of the easier techniques to use. With the ebb and flow hydroponic system, the plants in your grow room get given a nutrient solution for a short period of time, multiple times a day. This ensures that your plants are given the correct amount nutrients with the solution and the correct amount of oxygen as the roots are exposed to the air.
This hydroponic system and technique is recommended for the average home and indoor grower.
The NFT System
The next technique is unlike the Ebb and Flow above. This Nutrient Film Technique (NFT) floods the plants with a nutrient solution regularly. The NFT system should leave the upper parts of the plant’s roots exposed while the bottoms are constantly soaked. This Nutrient Film Technique works best with short term vegetable and herb plants, it’s not recommended to use it with any long term crop.
The Drip System
The third technique is the Drip System. This hydroponic technique is often used by high scale, commercial growers. The name of this technique is self-explanatory as it provides the nutrient solution from a pipe above the growing plants while working with a timer to ensure the correct amount of solution is being provided. This drip system works best with long term crops (Tomatoes, berries etc…) unlike the NFT.
The Passive System
The final hydroponic growing technique on this short list is the Passive system. This system may be the easiest and cost free as it does not require much equipment to allow the crops to grow. It’s a simple process as the plants have a never ending supply of the nutrient solution, covering the roots at all times.
The one main and obvious disadvantage to this hydroponic technique is that the roots have a very low amount of oxygen available. This disadvantage can be easily countered by using an oxygen pump that would be placed in the nutrient solution reservoir.
There are many more Hydroponic methods, systems and techniques that are not on this list. However, the stated techniques are the most common and most simple. If it is going to be your first time using a hydroponic system or you are just looking for a change, using one of the above stated hydroponic techniques should do the trick.
