beginner ’ s corner
The modern age of technology has allowed us to move the garden from the outdoors into carefully controlled environments where we can fine-tune every aspect of the growing process . Hydroponic technologies have allowed us to ditch traditional soil and maximize nutrient absorption , all the while saving water and producing higher yields . Of course , hydroponic systems have come a long way since they were first envisioned . These are the six types of hydroponic systems that you will find in the modern cultivator ’ s growroom .
DEEP WATER CULTURE
Deep water culture ( DWC ) involves the suspension of the plant above a nutrient solution in which the root system is completely submerged . We all know the effects of overwatering , so how do plants in this set up survive ? Since overwatering deprives the root system of oxygen , the nutrient solution in a DWC system is aerated with oxygen bubbles that flow upward from the bottom of the reservoir . This provides all the oxygen the root system needs . Injecting air through a pump and various hoses allows the grower to control the size of the bubbles and the amount of aeration .
EBB AND FLOW
Ebb and flow hydroponic systems involve the use of a tray and reservoir system . The reservoir system holds water and your nutrient solution . Above it sits what is called a “ flood table .” Connecting the flood table and the reservoir are two tubes . One tube is connected to a pump in the reservoir that keeps a steady flow of water cycling through the tray . The other tube is connected to an overflow , which delivers the nutrient solution back into the reservoir . Plants growing in an ebb and flow system are potted in a neutral medium and only sit an inch or two beneath the surface of the water . This allows the root system to absorb as much as it needs while receiving proper aeration .
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GROW TRAY |
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RESERVOIR / NUTRIENT SOLUTION |
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RESERVOIR / NUTRIENT SOLUTION
AIR STONE
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AIR PUMP |
TIMER |
NUTRIENT PUMP
AIR STONE
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AIR PUMP |
106 grow cycle