Hydroponic Systems

There are many different styles of hydroponic system. Some popular systems of soil-less plant production are:

• One of the most high tech growing systems
• The growing medium is primarily air
• The roots hang in the air and are misted with nutrients every few minutes
• A timer must be used to control the nutrient pump to ensure the plants are properly misted with the nutrients

• The most widely used type of hydroponic systems
• A timer controls a submersed pump that releases a nutrient solution onto the base of each plant
• In a Recovery Drip System, the excess nutrient solution is collected and reused
• The Recovery Drip System is more sustainable, however the pH and nutrient strength levels may vary because the nutrient solution is reused
• In a Non-Recovery Drip System, it does not collect the excess solution
• The Non-Recovery Drip System must have a precise timer to ensure that the least amount of nutrient solution is wasted

• This system works by temporarily flooding the grow tray with nutrient solution and then draining the solution back into the reservoir, which is controlled by a submeresed pump on a timer
• Several times a day, the timer comes on and allows the pump to release the nutrient solution into the grow tray
• When the timer shuts off the nutrient solution is collected back into the reservoir
• This system can be modified in many ways such as filling the grow tray with grow rocks or gravel
• One main disadvantage of this system is the possibility of a power outage and/or pump timer failures, due to the growing medium that is used

• The most commonly thought of hydroponic system
• N.F.T. systems have a constant flow of nutrients, therefore no timer is needed for the submersed pump
• The nutrient solution is pumped into the grow tray over the plant roots and is then drained into the reservoir
• The only grow medium that is used is air
• The plants are typically supported in small plastic baskets, with the roots dangling into the nutrient solution
• This system faces the possibility of power outages and pump failures

• A very simple to use hydroponic system
• A styrofoam platform typically holds the plants and floats on the nutrient soltuion
• An air pump is used to supply air to a bubbling stone that releases the nutrient solution and supplies oxygen to the plant roots
• Leaf lettuce is the predominant plant grown in this type of system, very few other plants grow well in the Water Culture System

• The simplest of all hydroponic systems
• The Wick System is a passing system, meaning it has no moving parts
• The nutrient solution is released into the grow tray through a wick
• There are several different growing mediums that can be used in this hydroponic system

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