Maximum Yield USA 2011 May | Page 50

Hybrid Hydroponics Please don’t handle your roots. I had to lift them out of the bucket for the photos. Great root systems give us great plants. Large yields just aren’t possible without large root systems, and most indoor gardeners can tell you their favorite method for achieving thick mats of healthy white roots—although their advice will vary widely. Some growers will even combine multiple techniques to reap the benefits of different styles of gardening. Top-feed drip systems and deep water culture are two common hydroponics methods known for creating amazing root systems. Some of the most popular growing media are soilless mixes and grow rocks (usually expanded clay), both of which are known for generating luscious root growth. While researching root growth, I heard about some European growers running an interesting hybrid hydroponics garden and obtaining yields higher than I ever thought possible. I dug up as much information as I could a