Drip Dangle

Drip Dangle

New Hydroponic Systems

The Water Culture System

Perhaps the simplest of all hydroponic systems is the Water Culture system. It is economical to use, and can even be made using an old aquarium or any water tight container. There is a Styrofoam platform involved, that holds the plant and floats atop the water mixed nutrient solution. Additionally, there is also an air pump used to supply oxygen to the roots of the plants.

The water culture system, with all its features, is best for plants like leaf lettuce that grow fast with water. However, this particular hydroponic system is not adequate for growing larger plants, and this proves to be its biggest disadvantage!

The Wick System

Yet another simple hydroponic system, the wick system is different from the water culture system because it is a passive system, which implies that no moving parts are involved in it. A wick is used to draw the nutrient solution into the growing medium from the reservoir. It may be noted that several growing media can be used with the wick system, like Vermiculite, Perlite, Pro-mix, and Coconut fiber.

The biggest disadvantage of the wick system is its inability to supply water fast enough to those plants that are large and use large quantities of water, and use the up the nutrient solution rather quickly!

The Ebb and Flow System

Also known as the Flood and Drain System, the Ebb and Flow hydroponic system periodically floods the grow tray with the nutrient solution and then drains it back into the reservoir. It is rather a dynamic hydroponicsystem that is compatible with several different growing media like Grow Rocks, gravel, and granular Rockwool.

The operation of the Ebb and Flow system involves a submerged pumped that is connected to a timer. This timer can be controlled, so that when it is turned on, the nutrient solution is flooded into the grow tray, and when it is shut off, the solution drains back into the reservoir. Controlling the operation of the timer depends on the size and kind of plants, the environmental temperature and humidity, as well as the growing media that is used.

The biggest drawback of the Ebb and Flow system is that the pump and timer that are used in the system's operation may be susceptible to functioning failures, or power outages. Such a disruption can cause the plants roots to dry out or wither. It is advisable therefore, in using the Ebb and Flow system, to use growing media that retain more water, such as Rockwool, Vermiculite, or Coconut Fiber.

Drip Systems

Owing to its simplicity of operation, the Drip Hydroponic System is perhaps the most commonly used around the world. This system also involved timer that controls a submerged pump by turning it on so that the nutrient solution is provided to the plant base through a small drip line.

There are two types of Drip Systems that are used in Hydroponics, the Recovery Drip System and the Non-Recovery Drip System. In the former, the extra nutrient solution water that runs off is collected back into the reservoir and can be re-used, whereas in the latter, this is not the case.

Given the fact that in the Recovery Drip System, the extra nutrient solution is collected in the reservoir and can be reused, it is a more cost effective and efficient system.  The non-recovery drip system on the other hand does not require a lot of periodic maintenance, given the fact that the extra nutrient solution is not collected back into the reservoir.

Nutrient Film Technique

The operation of the Nutrient Film Technique Hydroponic System entails a continuous flow of the nutrient solution to the plants through a tube like growing tray. The solution flows over the plant roots and then drains back into the reservoir. The NFT system is also rather economical, since no growing media other than air is required. The plant is usually contained and supported in a plastic basket, and its roots remain hanging in the nutrient solution.

Like the Ebb and Flow system, the N.F.Tsystem is also vulnerable to electricity outages and pump operation failures, for if the plant roots do not receive the flow of the nutrient solution continuously, they may dry out rather quickly!

The Aeroponic System

The Aeroponic Hydroponic System is perhaps the most technical of all the other systems, and it uses air as the main growing medium in its operation.  A timer is used to control a pump that moistens the plants roots, dangling in the air, every few minutes. If the periodic moistening of the roots is interrupted, they would dry out rapidly!

About the Author

The Author Cathriene Zieta is freelance writer in local newspaper and magazine covering topics like Hydroponics and hydroponic systems