Analyzing nft
NFT
systems are easily
customizable to
any shape or style
of garden.”
issue associated with large plants in a NFT system.
Since the roots tend to follow the flow of the nutrients
and large plants tend to have large root masses, you can
imagine some of the troubles this could cause. Intertwining
of root masses is fairly normal in NFT systems, but if the
plants get too large they can actually cause damage to each
other and potentially clog or disrupt the flow of nutrients
through the trays or gutters. Generally speaking, it is best to
avoid this method if growing ginormous plants is your goal.
The Nutrients
Any soluble hydroponic nutrient regiment is compatible
with an NFT system, but many NFT growers prefer nutrients that tend to leave less residue behind. Generally speaking, the highly concentrated powder fertilizers tend to leave
excess salt build-up in NFT systems and should be used with
caution. Because the roots are literally lying in the nutrient
film, they are more susceptible to nutrient lockout by way
of excess salt accumulation. Flushing the NFT system at
transitional periods is highly recommended. It is also wise
for NFT growers to flush the system a minimum of 10 days
before harvest.
Overall Advantages
The overall advantages of NFT hydroponic systems include
the efficiency of nutrient delivery, continuously available
nutrition and automatic circulation and aeration of the
nutrient solution. These systems are also some of the least
expensive to set up and maintain, are perfectly suited for
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Maximum Yield USA | February 2014
sea-of-green-style growing and allow for fast crop rotations.
NFT systems are easily customizable to any shape or style of
garden, which means the sky is the limit when it comes to
room and lighting configurations.
Overall Disadvantages
The main disadvantage of the NFT system is the limited
space for the root mass. This, in turn, limits the size of the
plants that can be grown in the system. The continued
delivery of moisture is advantageous during vegetative
growth but can cause less-than-optimal growth for some
fruiting or flowering plants.
The Future of NFT
NFT systems are still widely used by both commercial and
hobbyist horticulturists. Although the commercial use of
NFT is focused on leafy greens and vegetative crops, hobby
growers are still discovering new ways to make NFT work for
them. Some indoor growers have had great success with NFT
systems and sea-of-green-style gardens while others use it for
fast vegetative growth and then transfer the plants to a different hydroponic system for fruiting or flowering. Whether it is
used exclusively or in conjunction with another hydroponic
system, it is safe to say NFT will continue to have a place in
the future of hydroponics and indoor horticulture.