styles. Pen and combo meters
should be used to test the incoming
water and troubleshoot crop issues.
In-line systems continually read pH
and EC levels and warn growers
when values fall out of their desired
range.
Equally important as ensuring
water quality is giving crops the ap-
propriate amount of water. Overwa-
tering will cause the roots to rot and
under watering will make the roots
dry out. Achieving optimum hydra-
tion is a balancing act that requires growers to watch
how the leaves of crops behave after waterings. If
plants perk up, water more frequently. If plants wilt,
water less frequently.
Get the Air Flowing
The importance of air movement cannot be over-
stated when it comes to hydroponics installations.
Ventilation removes warm, carbon-dioxide-depleted
air and funnels in fresh, cool air. Hydroponically pro-
duced plants need plenty of ventilation not only to
thrive, but also to avoid foliar disease. Hydroponic
crops absorb carbon dioxide pretty quickly, so it’s
very important to have a steady supply of fresh air.
Low carbon dioxide levels result in
small yields and slow growth.
Insects have an easy time set-
tling on plants in environments
where the air is still. The simplest
way to minimize the damage caused
by insects is, once again, to have
plenty of air circulation. Fixed or
oscillating fans provide a continu-
ous stream of air flow over the grow
area, which makes it hard for insects
to land and potentially wreak havoc
on crops.
Different types of fans can create their own air
circulation patterns, so growers should consider what
kind of fan or fans would be ideal for their space.
An HAF (horizontal airflow) fan effectively reduces
temperature gradients and patches of stagnant, humid
air. HAF fans are the standard way to ensure unifor-
mity in both greenhouse and warehouse spaces. In
small spaces, a few fans can be set up to create circu-
lar airflow. In bigger spaces, fans can be used to cre-
ate more complex flow patterns.
Invest in a High-Quality System
Successful hydroponic production begins with
a top-quality hydroponic system. The most popular
growing method used by those in commercial hydro-
ponics is NFT (nutrient film technique.) Crop roots
are suspended in channels, allowing for high yields
with greatly reduced water and nutrient waste. Many
NFT systems come in numerous sizes and can ac-
commodate differently sized crops, from lettuce to
larger plant varieties like tomatoes. Also useful are
the snap-on, removable lids, which enable growers to
reuse channels to grow multiple crops.
If growers are looking to grow very large crops,
the wide, channels of an NFT system are an ideal op-
tion. These large channels provide plenty of space
for root mat development. For growers in need of a
compact design, a vertical NFT system is an excel-
lent space-saver. Channels are stacked on top of one
another instead of being spread out, creating a con-
densed yet highly efficient overhead space.
Large crops with vines, such as tomatoes and
cucumbers, do quite well in a Dutch bucket sys-
tem. These versatile systems function in essentially
the same way as a drip irrigation system. They con-
tain a siphon-designed drainage system and nutrient
reservoir with dripper stakes to feed the plants. It’s
easy to adjust the bucket spacing of plants, so grow-
ers have the freedom to grow a wide variety of crops.
Dutch buckets are versatile enough to be used in
both commercial and home settings. GG
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