hydroponic system

The Wick System

By far the simplest type of system, the wick system is a passive hydroponics system, meaning that there are no moving parts in it. The nutrient solution is gets drawn into the growing medium from a reservoir with a wick.

Ebb & Flow System

The Ebb and Flow hydroponic system temporarily floods the plant grow tray with nutrient solution and then drains the solution back into the reservoir. A submerged pump is usually connected to a timer in this system. The timer pumps the nutrient solution onto the grow tray. The nutrient solution flows back into the reservoir when the time is turned off. It is set to be activated several times a day, depending on the size and type of plant, temperature, humidity and the kind of plant growing medium that is used.

There are two types of drip systems, Recovery Drip and Non- Recovery Drip System. In the Recovery Drip system, the left over nutrient solution is accumulated back into the reservoir for re-use, whereas in the Non-Recover Drip system, the excess nutrient solution is not collected back into the reservoir. In the recovery drip system, therefore, the timer is inexpensive and efficient since it does not require an accurate control of the watering cycle. On the other hand, the non-recovery drip system requires a precise timer in order that the watering cycles can be adjusted for the plants to get a sufficient amount of nutrient solution and there is less wastage of the solution. This also means, then, that less maintenance is required of the non-recovery system, whereas the recovery system can have large shifts in the nutrient strength levels routinely need checking and adjusting.

Aeroponic

Perhaps the most technical of hydroponics systems, the aeroponics systems mainly uses air to function. The roots hang in the air and receive moisture from the nutrient solution. The moistening occurs every few minutes, but because the roots hang in the air (like in the N.F.T. system), they dry out if the moistening cycles are disrupted. In the Aeroponic hydroponics systems, the controlling timer runs the pump for a few seconds every couple of minutes.