I&#;m guessing you landed here because you are interested in hydroponics. What is it? And how do they work? Hydroponic systems seem complicated at first glance, however, they much simpler once you understand the basic components. My favourite thing about them is it let&#;s me continue growing fresh food even when there is snow on the ground.
If you want to learn more, please visit our website Hydroponic Mesh Baskets Trays.
There are 6 major types of hydroponic systems that we will discuss in this article, as well as the benefits and downsides to each particular system. The hydroponic systems we will discuss are:
Before we get into discussing the various types of hydroponic systems, let&#;s take a look at hydroponics as a whole.
The goal of hydroponics is to remove as many barriers as possible between a plant and the environment it needs to grow. More simply, that boils down to the interaction between a plants roots, water, and the nutrients required for growth. Hydroponics would be similar to standing and continually watering your plant in soil. However, instead of soil, hydroponic systems use different types of media to support the plant. This includes, but is not limited to hydroton, coconut coir, and perlite.
There is one massive benefit to growing plants using hydroponics- the increase in growth rate. One study examining tomato plants found them to grow roughly 20% faster than their soil counterparts.
Source: includes more comparisons from studying Holland hybrid tomatoes.
The simple reasoning behind this improved growth is the lack of energy spent &#;hunting&#; for nutrients and minerals within the environment. Instead the roots are consistently presented with a uniform nutrient solution.
Some other advantages include less water usage (more sustainable), a lower risk of disease and pests that can harm the plants, and my personal favourite- no weeding! Although I do enjoy digging in the dirt with my hori-hori knife&#;
The overall disadvantage to growing plants hydroponically is the learning curve. Although it is not that hard to successfully grow plants in a hydroponic system, it is definitely more difficult than in soil. Like anything worth doing, it will take some time to gain experience and perfect your system. But that is half the fun! This is because you are essentially creating a mini (well not always mini) artificial environment. You control the water, the nutrients, the lighting, and pretty well everything else the plant needs for healthy growth.
The other downside can be cost. Creating a state-of-the-art hydroponic system can get pricey. However, with some ingenuity you can create your own system at a fair discount.
The 6 different types of hydroponic systems
Deep water culture
This is by far and away the simplest hydroponic system to construct. This system can be scaled up to grow commercially, or scaled down to a single container at home.
In a deep water culture system a reservoir holds the water, which contains a nutrient solution. The plants are suspended in a growing medium within net pots above the water. Their roots extend from the net pots into the nutrient solution below. The entire hydroponic system is aerated using an air pump and air stone at the bottom of the reservoir. This constantly provides fresh oxygen and makes the nutrients available for the plants. Aerating the water actually prevents the plant roots from downing in the nutrient solution. Sounds odd, but it is actually possible.
Wick hydroponic system
This is another one of the extremely simple hydroponic systems. This is similar to deep water culture with the addition of a wick system. Here, a wick is used to transport water and nutrients from the reservoir to the plants. It is sometimes debated whether or not this system requires an air pump to oxygenate the nutrient solution. However, without it the plants are still susceptible to drowning. The air pump also helps keep the nutrients evenly mixed at all times, as the nutrients can settle to the bottom over time in still water.
Ebb and flow hydroponic system
Unlike the previous two hydroponic systems discussed, ebb and flow systems do not supply the plants with the nutrient solution on a constant basis.
Similar to other hydroponic systems, ebb and flow contains a nutrient reservoir that sits below the grow table or grow tray. The nutrient solution is actively pumped from the reservoir flooding the grow table using a submersible pump/fountain pump. The nutrient solution floods the system until it reaches the desired height where it can soak the plant roots. This is typically just below where the preset overflow tube is set.
Once the grow table has flooded (height of overflow tube), it drains back down to the reservoir to be recirculated again. The overflow tube sets the water height for this system, as well as prevents overflowing the grow table. When the pump shuts off (triggered by a timer), the water siphons back down the pump tube via gravity, draining the grow table.
This entire process occurs at specifically timed intervals depending on:
Once again, similar to the other hydroponic systems, the nutrient reservoir is continually aerated using an air pump and air stone.
Drip hydroponic system
This is more commonly seen in commercial operations. They are simple to operate at a large scale, but can become expensive and overkill in small home hydroponic systems. The other reason drip systems are used commercially is because they work extremely well.
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This hydroponic system is rather simple once understood. The nutrient solution is pumped from the reservoir through tubing to the top of the growing media and dripped directly beside the plant. The nutrient solution slowly drains down through the grow table soaking both the roots and the growing media. As the nutrient solution collects at the base of the grow table, it will hit the return or overflow tube and drain back to the reservoir via gravity.
There are actually two types of drip hydroponic systems. The first is a recirculating system (pictured above), where the nutrient solution is returned to the reservoir after passing through the growing media. This is also called a recovery system and is sustainable, as it results in very little water use (except for plant growth). The second is a non-recirculating system. This system is often used by commercial growers on a large scale. You may be thinking how that sounds incredibly wasteful. However, commercial operations understand their plants and the growing needs so they can water at extremely precise intervals. This allows for just enough water to saturate the growing media without waste.
Nutrient Film technique
This is the most common commercially used hydroponic system. This hydroponic system is best suited to small, quick growing plants such as lettuces and other greens.
Once again, this is a fairly simple system (notice the trend&#;). Nutrient solution is pumped from a reservoir to a grow tray above. This time the tray is built at a slight angle so the nutrient solution follows gravity down the length of the tray. This creates the &#;film&#; of nutrient solution at the base of the grow tray for the plant roots. As the film passes the roots, they are able to stay hydrated while pulling up the nutrients required for growth.
Just above the film, the plants in the grow tray are suspended above in growing media and net pots or baskets. However, unlike deep water culture, the plant roots are not completely submerged in nutrient solution.
The excess nutrient solution then flows through the return tube and back into the reservoir. Therefore, this is also considered a recirculating hydroponic system.
While commercial growers use specifically made grow trays/channels, hobby gardeners can get by using rain gutters or PVC piping. If you are looking to build an NFT setup for yourself, the slope should be between 1:30 to 1:40. That means that for every 30-40 inches of run, there should be a 1 inch drop in height. The recommended rate of water flow is between 1/4 to 1/2 gallon per minute.
Aeroponics
The last of our hydroponic systems is aeroponics. This is without a doubt the most technically difficult system.
In an aeroponic system, the nutrient solution is pumped from the reservoir to misting heads above the water line. This creates a thin mist within the reservoir that is able to coat the plant roots hanging from above. The plants are grown similarly to deep water culture. They are planted in a growing media and contained within net pots on the surface or in the lid of the reservoir. The roots are then able to grow below hanging in mid air. The goal behind this type of setup is to allow the roots the maximum amount of oxygen possible. This in theory allows the plants to grow faster than any other setup.
Roots coated with a fine mist grow much faster and appear more bush like. This effectively creates a larger surface area to bind nutrient solution and take up oxygen for the plant.
The determining factor of success is droplet size and timing. If the droplets are too large, they will likely fall without interacting with the plant roots.
While some aeroponic systems mist constantly, others have had success misting on a specific schedule. The difficulty of this lies in the specialized misting nozzles required to build the system, as well as fine tuning the growth environment.
Well there you have it, the six different types of hydroponic systems. Hopefully by this point you have a better understanding of what hydroponics is, and how it works. Each system has strengths and weaknesses, but any of them can result in a great garden with a little practice. No matter which you choose, your plants will grow fast with some proper care. Even if your first attempt gets a little off track, hydroponics offers extreme flexibility, which will help you correct any problems and get back on course.
If you are interested in watching a step-by-step build, stay tuned as we will be releasing a detailed outline of our latest hydroponic build. Currently, our seedlings are growing fast and nearly ready to be transferred into the net pots.
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The lowdown on hydroponic nutrients- what are they and how to spot problems
Net Basket Pots are an essential component for hydroponics and aquaponics systems, designed to provide proper support and an ideal environment for plants to thrive. These pots can accommodate a wide range of plant sizes, from small lettuce and herbs to large tomato plants or other flowering and fruiting vegetables.
Product Type Rim Diameter (mm) Height (mm) Collar / Holesaw size (mm) Base diameter (mm) Volume (ml) Net Basket Pots 45 x 45mm (50pack) 45 45 32 25 36 Net Basket Pots 50 x 50mm (50pack) 50 50 40 33 63 Net Basket Pots 60 x 35mm (50pack) 60 35 43 38 51 Net Basket Pots 60 x 55mm (50pack) 60 55 45 38 87 Net Basket Pots 70 x 70mm (50pack) 70 70 50 41 137 Net Basket Pots 85 x 70mm (50pack) 85 70 60 51 198
Net Basket Pots are ideal for gardeners and growers using hydroponic or aquaponic systems and looking for a reliable method to support their plants. These pots are suitable for various plant sizes, from leafy greens and herbs to larger fruiting plants such as tomatoes.
What is the purpose of a net pot in hydroponic and aquaponic systems?
A net pot is designed to hold growing media and plants in a variety of aquaponic and hydroponic systems, allowing for successful growth of plants such as lettuce, herbs, tomatoes, and other fruiting and flowering vegetables.
Can I use net pots in PVC pipe hydroponic channel systems?
Yes, net pots can be used in PVC pipe hydroponic channel systems, although we do not highly recommend these systems as they are difficult to clean.
What are the key benefits of using plastic net baskets/pots?
Plastic net baskets/pots have several benefits, including their flexible plastic netting, which is resistant to cracking and breakdown. They also have long vertical openings down the sides, making it easier to remove roots, and a large round hole in the bottom, allowing for better tap root growth.
Can net pots be used for larger plants, such as tomatoes?
Yes, net pots are versatile and can be used for larger plants like tomatoes, as well as smaller plants like lettuce and herbs.
How do I determine the appropriate net pot size for my plants?
Most plants can be grown comfortably in a 50mm net pot. However, some hydroponic systems may require larger net pots, with the majority of plants not needing a net pot larger than 75-100mm. In some cases, larger plants such as tomatoes grown in a flat NFT channel may require a net pot as large as 150mm.
Do I need to buy net pots individually or do they come in packs?
Our net pots are sold in packs of 50.
How do I choose the right net pot size for my system?
Refer to the table provided in the product description, which shows the various dimensions of each type of net pot. Compare the dimensions and volume to determine the best pot size for your plant and hydroponic or aquaponic system.
Contact us to discuss your requirements of custom plant seedling trays. Our experienced sales team can help you identify the options that best suit your needs.