NFT hydro systems
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A main advantage of an NFT system is that it does not need additional time for transplanting to get to the aggressive vegetative phase .
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You should also put the system through a test run with plant containers ( a . k . a . net pots ) and no plants . First , run the system with aerated water for a while to check water levels and drainage . After dialing in the water levels and drainage to ensure the roots will receive proper moisture and aeration , mix nutrients into your reservoir in accordance with the manufacturer ’ s specifications . Don ’ t forget to check EC / ppm and pH before placing seeds , cuttings , or rooted plants into the system .
Rooting in an NFT Hydroponic System
To establish roots as quickly as possible , you need to provide a humid yet aerated environment to the cutting or seed for several days . This can be done easily in most NFT systems if they are configured with adaptable drains . For the early rooting stages , simply flood the system with deeper water . Be sure there is also plenty of room for air in the root chamber and that your air pump is keeping the recirculating water and nutrient mix well-aerated . Roots will emerge in about 10 days if submerged in properly aerated water . This method of rooting eliminates the need for transplanting and reduces overall production time . After roots begin to form and multiply , you will notice when the plants have hardened off because they will begin to grow vigorously . This is when your plants can handle a little more nutrients in the reservoir mix . They are now ready for aggressive growth .
Aggressive Vegetative Phase
A main advantage of an NFT system is that it does not need additional time for transplanting to get to the aggressive vegetative phase . Due to the NFT system ’ s design , vigorous growth can happen without waiting for plants to recover from transplant shock . To support the aggressive veg phase , be sure to feed the proper amount of nutrients and adjust EC / ppm . Just follow the manufacturer ’ s directions .
If you need to purchase equipment to measure the EC / ppm , be sure and do so , as this is an important parameter . Also , pay close attention to your nutrient mix , as plants ’ needs change throughout their lifecycle . Be sure not to exceed the manufacturer ’ s strength recommendations throughout the remainder of the crop cycle , and give your plants the ability to rise to their full potential . Like aeroponic systems , NFT and other hydroponic systems can be finicky . More things go right quickly — growth occurs bigger , faster , and stronger — yet things can also go wrong more quickly compared to other methods . Check pH and EC / ppm often . Keep reservoirs out of direct light and keep average water temperatures below 64 ° F to avoid growth of unwanted pathogens .
Finishing Flowers and Fruits
After you ’ ve fed them well and grown them close to ripening , your flowers , fruits , and other produce are about ready to finish . Think about your harvest ahead of time . In preparation , flush the nutrient salts out of the system for at least a week . Change the reservoir several times , being sure to change your old nutrients out and provide fresh water each time . Do not , however , flush with just water . It has been proven that plants getting absolutely zero nutrients during a flush will save , instead of cannibalizing , their stored nutrients ( you want them to cannibalize their nutrients ). So , provide them with a very small amount of nutrients , less than 10 per cent of the manufacturer ’ s recommended strength . Once they ’ ve used up the available nutrients , the plants go ahead and cannibalize their stored nutrients .
90 grow cycle