A Beginner’s Guide: Choosing the Right Hydroponic Method

A Beginner’s Guide to Different Hydroponic Growing Methods

When it comes to hydroponic gardening, choosing the right growing method depends on various factors such as the specific crop, the external environment, the desired output, and more.

So making sure you take the time to plan and prepare is important so you can ensure your hydroponics systems are maximising your yield and designed for easy management and low ongoing maintenance. Crop growth can be affected by many different variables such as variations in energy use, feeding method, growing medium, delivery mechanisms, and irrigation arrangements. 

Hydroponics methods are usually split into two broad categories- ‘run-to-waste’ or ‘Recirculating’. Run-to-waste is the most popular system and involves giving the nutrient solution to the crop then draining the run-off away. Whereas the Recirculating systems deliver the nutrient solution then recirculate the runoff back into the plants. Each method has its own pros and cons depending on the grower and the crop. 

Here are some of the most common hydroponic methods, it’s always worth discussing which design is best suited for your needs so head down to our store or ring us for more information. 

Different Types of Hydroponic Methods:

Wick

Plants are placed in an absorbent substance, nylon wicks are positioned around it and placed in a nutrient solution. Best for small house plants and herbs.

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Dripper

Nutrient solutions are pumped directly to the base of the plant. It is controlled to drip at a constant rate, which can be changed to less frequently or to more frequently where the excess is then circulated back into the reservoir of solution. This is suitable for any plant due to the ability to tailor the dripper system. 

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NFT (Nutrient Film Technology)

The nutrient solution is pumped from a reservoir into an angled passage where it flows over the roots of each plant, this then allows the excess to be drained back into the reservoir. 

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Aeroponics

Plants are suspended in the air, where mist nozzles placed below spray nutrient solution onto the roots. This can be adapted to suit any plant but larger roots may make it harder for the mists to reach.

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DWC (Deep Water Culture)

The roots of the plants are placed in the nutrient solution, where they are exposed to the air directly with an air stone or diffuser. Best for large plants with big root systems. 

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Ebb & Flow

Plants are placed in a grow bed with a grow medium, it is then flooded with a nutrient solution. The water pump that floods the grow bed has a timer; once the timer goes off the water will be drained and sent back into the pump. When the water drains back into the pump it draws down oxygen through the root system. When oxygen is drawn through the root system it allows for faster growth rates. Better suited for most plants and some root vegetables,

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Run-To-Waste

A run-to-waste system is a non-re-circulating active system that is usually using a dripper system.

This method is commonly used for large-scale commercial hydroponics.

Run-To-Waste works by the nutrient solution running into the growing media from a single reservoir via an irrigation system and drippers, sprayers, or sprinklers. This solution does not return to the plants.

For more information…

For more information on what Hydroponic method would best suit your needs, feel free to pop down to the store, The Greenhouse Effect in Milton Keynes or give us a call on 01908 585 283 .