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Growing Hydro
Ebb and Flow
Part 2 of 2
by Jason Mispagel , contributing writer
Jason Mispagel is the co-owner and operator of Year-Round Garden , a grower ’ s supply center serving both home and commercial customers since 2016 . His extensive growing experience in hydroponics and soil dates to the early days of legalization in Colorado , where he served as one of the state ’ s early caregivers . Year-Round Garden . 1225 W 103rd St , Kansas City , MO . 816.216.6917 – FB : yrroundgarden ● IG : @ yrroundgarden
In last month ’ s issue , we introduced our in-depth series on hydroponic growing methods , beginning with Deep Water Culture ( DWC ). This month , we ’ ll investigate another popular system — Ebb and Flow , also known as Fill / Flood and Drain .
As a quick refresher , hydroponics is simply growing plants using nutrient solutions without the benefit of the minerals and organic matter found in soil . Cannabis is particularly well-suited for hydroponics because of its physical structure and environmental needs .
With that out of the way , let ’ s jump right in ! Ebb and flow systems can be set up in a variety of ways using many different types of materials , but the main principle remains the same — plant roots are suspended in a neutral grow media such as Rockwool , clay pebbles , or coco coir . On a periodic basis , a solution of water and nutrients floods the grow media , contacting the plants ’ roots . The solution is then drained into a reservoir , allowing the media to dry before the cycle repeats .
To get started , sprout your seeds or root your clones in any type of starter pellet or cube . I prefer Rockwool or biodegradable foam Oasis cubes because they don ’ t create much mess , but peat pellets , coco coir bricks , or root riot starters would all suffice .
Now it ’ s time to construct your ebb and flow system . There are a number of pre-built versions available that can be purchased in your local grow shop or online , but it ’ s often less expensive to build your own . The other benefit to a custom system is that it can be tailored to the dimensions of your particular grow space .
The first component you ’ ll need to build your own ebb and flow system is a flood tray . These trays are typically made of waterproof plastic and range from fifty to hundreds of dollars , depending on their size . They often include pre-drilled holes for ebb and flow fittings and are constructed of heavy material that can withstand the weight when fully flooded with water . Sidewall heights from 4 ” to 7 ” allow you to choose a tray whose depth matches the size of container you ’ re using for your plants . Color options tend to be limited to white or black , with white providing better
reflectivity for energy efficiency but also creating an increased risk of algae buildup . You could certainly craft a flood tray from an old Rubbermaid bin , but hydroponic-specific trays have benefits that make them worth the cost if you have the budget . If you ’ re growing in a 4 ’ x 4 ’ tent , I ’ d recommend either a 4 ’ x 4 ’ or 3 ’ x 3 ’ tray with 6 ” sidewalls .
Because the “ flow ” portion of an ebb and flow cycle requires a nutrient solution to drain from the tray , it must be elevated so gravity can do its work . Therefore , you ’ ll need a sturdy stand on which to set your tray . Most trays can be purchased with corresponding stands , designed specifically for their dimensions , but you could easily build your own from