Just like every gardener is different, there are also several different ways to use your hydroponics equipment. Take a browse through the options below to find a hydroponics method that is suited to your personal preferences and the needs of your crop.
Solution culture
There are two broad types of hydroponics growth techniques. First, we will look at some of the most popular solution culture methods. In solution culture, the roots contact only the nutrient solution, as opposed to a solid medium.
Static solution culture
One of the easiest methods of hydroponics is the static solution culture technique, which has gardeners place their plants in a tub of nutrient solution. Any container - like a jar or plastic bucket - should work fine. The nutrient solution is often aerated using aquarium equipment, like a pump, tubing, and valves. In order to maintain adequate nutrition, the solution should be changed periodically, and monitored using a conductivity meter. In addition, the container in which the plants are growing should be opaque, with a small hole at the top. This prevents the formation of algae.
Deep water culture
In DWC, the roots dangle into a solution that consists of both nutrients and water. This can be done by using simple materials, like plastic buckets and pots. Using a pump, this solution is saturated with oxygen, which means that your plants could grow faster than any other method.
Continuous-flow solution culture (commonly known as NFT)
As opposed to the previous method, in which the gardener manually changes the solution once every few days, continuous-flow solution techniques allow the nutrient solution to constantly circulate past the roots. Obviously, this makes the entire system much easier to automate. One of the most popular applications of this technique is called the nutrient film technique (NFT), in which a stream of water flows past the roots of the plants. While this technique requires careful setup - like monitoring the slope, flow, and length of your channel - it allows your plants to access the proper nutrition and oxygen, which ultimately means that they grow at a far more efficient rate. In fact, one of the few negatives about NFT is that it is susceptible to power outages.
Aeroponics
One of the more creative hydroponics techniques is aeroponics, which allows gardeners to simply spray a fine mist over the roots of the plants. This mist is filled with water and nutrient solution, and the roots are suspended in the air. Studies have even shown that this method is more efficient at producing plants that are rich in nutrients.
Medium culture
The other main type of hydroponics growth is medium culture, where a medium like clay or coconut husks is used to distribute nutrients to the plants.
Passive sub-irrigation
In this method, gardeners use a porous medium in order to transfer water and nutrients to the roots of the plants. Using capillary action, the plants reach through the medium to suck up the nutrient solution on the other side. Because the medium is porous, oxygen can reach the roots more easily, speeding up the growth of the plants. This method is fairly simple, and requires a minimal amount of monitoring from the gardener.
'Flood and drain' or 'Ebb and flow' sub-irrigation
Using this method, gardeners fill a tray with a growing medium, like clay, and then place this tray in a basin filled with nutrient solution. Periodically, a pump fills the tray with water, which then gradually drains through the porous growth medium. This is an effective way to distribute oxygen and nutrients to your crops.
Run to waste
Similar to sub-irrigation, run to waste systems apply the nutrient solution to a tray of plants in a porous growth medium. However, this solution is generally poured from the top, and then allowed to drain through. This can be done manually, or by using a pump connected to a timer.
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