Hydroponics

The basic and most popular types of hydroponic systems include the following methods. Even though there are hundreds of variations on these basic hydroponic systems, all are based on one, or a combination of the following:

Ebb and Flow - sometimes called flood and drain hydroponics, works by temporarily flooding the grow bed in intervals, according to a set timer and pump. The pump floods the plant roots with nutrient solution for a few minutes and then shuts off, draining the nutrients back into the tank and providing a rush of oxygen to the plant roots.

Drip Systems - are either recovery or non-recovery systems, both of which are controlled by a pump and timer. With recovery systems, nutrient solution is dripped onto the plant roots and the excess nutrients are collected in a reservoir tank and re-circulated. Non-recovery drip systems operate the exact same way, except that they don't collect and recycle the run-off.

Nutrient Film Technique (NFT) - grows plants in a constant flow of nutrient enriched water. This universal growing system was developed so that plants could be grown even in areas with poor soil quality. The way NFT works is fairly simple - it provides a slowly moving stream of fertilizer solution (referred to as film) over the roots of plants immersed in sloped channels. Once the stream reaches the end of the table, it flows into a reservoir tank and is then re-circulated over the plant roots during the next feeding cycle. NFT feeds plants constantly because the pump is continual.

Aeroponics - repeatedly emits a thin mist of nutrient solution onto the roots of plants. Each plant is self-contained in its own individual lattice grow pot and suspended from a hanging frame.