Which Hydroponic System is Right for You?

If you’ve been thinking about installing a hydroponic system in your garden, you may feel overwhelmed by the number of choices available to you.

We’ll explain and define each of the most popular hydroponic systems so that you can choose the best one for your variety of plants.

Hydroponics

Hydroponic growing refers to a soil-free method of gardening for both commercial and residential use. These systems provide fresh water and nutrients for plant growth through a non-soiled growing medium. Most common growing media include:

• Clay pellets
• Coconut coir
• Peat moss
• Perlite
• Rockwool/stonewool
• Sand/gravel/sawdust
• Vermiculite

Hydroponic gardening removes the barriers between plants and their search of nutrients. This allows the roots to get the oxygenated water, and nutrition they need to grow and survive. There’s no need for harmful pesticides and chemicals because there’s no need to grow plants in soil. There’s less chance of plant diseases or exposure to external elements when growing indoor gardens.

Wicking, deep water culture (DWC), nutrient film technique (NFT), ebb and flow, aeroponics, and drip systems are the six basic types of systems to choose for your hydroponic garden.

Wicking Systems

The wick system, sometimes known as “the training wheels of the hydroponic world,” is the most basic type of hydroponic process. It has been used for thousands of years, long before the name “hydroponic” was established. This is the kind of structure you’ll see in science classes for children.

A wick system transports nutrient-filled water to the root systems of plants using a wick, such as a rope or a piece of felt. Plants are suspended in a growing media, such as coconut coir or perlite. A reservoir of nutrient-rich water is located beneath the growing tank. One end of the wick is immersed in the hydroponic solution, while the other is immersed in the grow medium. This enables the wick to transmit water and nutrients at the same rate that the roots of the plants require them. When the roots are ready to absorb, the nutrients from the wick will be taken in.

Wick systems are referred to as “passive hydroponics” since they do not require the use of air or electric pumps. This makes plants inexpensive and simple to manage, particularly for new growers.

Pros:

• For smaller plants, the wick technique is ideal.
• It’s a simple and hands-off growing process once it’s been applied.
• It’s a fantastic choice for new gardeners or children.
• Wick is one of the cheapest systems to set up.

Cons:

Larger plants or gardens will not benefit from wicking.
The plants can be killed if the wick is not correctly put up or maintained.

You will need:

• Distilled water
• Growing medium
• Monitor systems
• Nutrient solutions
• Reservoir
• Wick

Deep Water Culture (DWC)

For most gardeners, a deep water culture system is the easiest to manage.

A DWC is made up of a water and nutrient solution reservoir. Using a net pot and growing material, the plants are suspended over the reservoir. Because the roots are submerged in the reservoir, they have access to water and nutrients at all times.

Because plant roots require oxygen to survive, you must use an air pump with an air stone to continuously push bubbles into the reservoir, oxygenating the hydroponic water and delivering oxygen to the roots.

Pros:

• DWC is low-cost to install and maintain.
• The reservoir, suspension system, and simple air pumps are all that are required for
• maintenance.
• It’s a recirculating system, so there’s less waste and more money saved.

Cons:

• For larger garden plants or those with a longer growing time, DWC is usually ineffective.
• Plant roots might suffocate in the water solution if not adequately maintained.

You need:

• Air pump & air stone
• Distilled water
• Growing medium
• Net pots
• Nutrient solution
• Reservoir

Nutrient Film Technique (NFT)

The nutrition film technique (NFT) coats the roots of the hydroponic crops with a thin layer of hydroponic nutrients.

To keep the water and nutrient solution oxygenated, a huge reservoir with an air pump and air stone is used (like a DWC system). In contrast to the DWC’s submerged roots, NFT-system plants are grown in a nearby canal (in net pots).

Water is pushed through the channel by a timed submersible pump. Where the roots are not totally submerged, this provides a thin film of hydroponic nutrients and water to the plants. The solution returns to the main reservoir at the end of the channel to be reused in the system.

Pros:

• NFT is a recirculating system with minimal waste.
• The film of nutrients ensures that your roots are not suffocated.
• There is little to no need for growth media.

Cons:

• The crop could be ruined if the pumps fail.
• Roots can tangle and overgrow along the channel.
• If the water isn’t balanced properly, the recirculating system can block the pipes and channels.

You will need:

• Air pump & air stone
• Distilled water
• Net pots
• Nutrient solution
• Plant channel
• Reservoir
• Timer
• Water pump

Ebb and Flow

An ebb and flow system, commonly known as a “flood and drain” system, continuously floods your plants with nutrients. This is a less popular method because it is less adaptable to the needs of your healthy plants. However, some gardeners prefer this approach because the plant roots are not constantly exposed to the fertilizer solution.

To house the plants, you fill a plant tray with a growth medium. On a cyclic cycle, a scheduled pump will “flood” the tray with the nutrition solution. The type of plants, water tests, air temperature, growth cycle, and other factors all influence the flooding cycle.

Gravity drains the solution back into the reservoir of water after flooding the tray, allowing it to be reused. While waiting, an air pump should oxygenate the water in the reservoir.

Pros:

• Your plants are not constantly wet using an ebb and flow system. If cycled properly, this can assist enhance growth and yield.
• Ebb and flow systems are recirculating systems that save water and energy.

Cons:

• The system may over-saturate or dry out your hydroponic vegetables if it is not balanced or timed correctly.
• An ebb and flow system needs consistent monitoring, particularly of environmental parameters such as water pH.

You will need:

• Air pump
• Distilled water
• Growing medium
• Nutrient solution
• Reservoir
• Timer
• Tray
• Water pump

Aeroponics

Aeroponic systems are the most advanced and frequently the most expensive, but they are also the most effective.

Plants and roots are suspended in the air in an aeroponic system. Misters spray a thin spray over the plant roots from the water reservoir (with oxygenating air pump).

Some growers will mist continuously, while others will mist on a schedule. With only a few minutes between each cycle, the misting cycle is shorter than the flood and drain type. This permits the roots to receive nutrients without becoming oversaturated or submerged. It also provides the roots with more oxygen, which is essential for their growth and development.

Pros:

• More oxygen is available to the roots.
• Roots are less likely to be over or under-saturated.
• Aeroponic systems are the most straightforward to maintain and monitor.

Cons:

• One of the more costly indoor gardening systems.
• Hydroponic plants can be severely harmed by the failure of a pump or mist nozzle.

You Will Need:

• Air pump
• Distilled water
• Mist nozzles
• Nutrient solution
• Reservoir
• Suspension pots
• Timer

Drip Systems

Drip systems are more commonly found in commercial settings than in residential ones since they are easier to implement on a big scale.

These systems are similar to NFT systems in that the plants are kept in their own channel. Over a thin layer of water and fertilizer solution, the indoor plants are hung in net pots. To increase oxygenation and nutrient uptake, a pump continuously pushes water along the channel. The unused solution returns to the water reservoir to be reused.

Pros:

• Drip systems provide you with more control over your feeding schedule.
• These can be both economical and effective in business environments.

Cons:

• These systems have a lot of moving elements, which may be excessive for a small hydroponic garden.
• Monitoring pH and nutrient levels require a lot of attention.
  These do not recirculate all of the solution, which can result in a significant amount of waste.

You Need:

• Channel
• Distilled water
• Growing medium
• Net pots
• Nutrient solution
• Pump system
• Reservoir
• Timer
• Water pump

In Summary

Your hydroponic farming success relies on selecting the correct system. Consider a wicking system, DWC, or NFT if you want something low-cost and low-maintenance, especially for novice growers. Consider ebb and flow or aeroponics if you’re a more advanced grower seeking a higher yield and better monitoring.

When selecting a hydroponic system, there are several factors to consider. It’s critical to find the ideal system for your hydroponic garden, from price to the types of plants to wastage.