What is Deep Water Culture?
Deep Water Culture is a hydroponic method that has been used historically and is very popular today.
A plant’s roots are suspended in a highly oxygenated, nutrient-rich solution that provides as much water as they require.
Some benefits of this technique are that it actually requires less water than traditional irrigation as there is less evaporation and there are very few waste products apart from the plant’s roots and a small amount of media.
Use
In a DWC system plants are normally raised in a 3 inch(75mm) rock wool block before being transplanted to the mesh pot, clay pebbles are added to the mesh pot, the block is placed on top and extra clay pebbles are placed around the side for support.
Tip
When the plants are transplanted to the system they will need to be watered gently from the top until the roots have made their way into the nutrient solution.
- Ideal for high yielding plants
- Vigorous growth
- Minimal waste products
- Efficient water use
Pro Tip
Use a nutrient chiller to keep desired water temperature, i.e 18-22°C.
Advantages of DWC
Some benefits of deep water culture systems are:
- Accelerated growth thanks to superior uptake of nutrients and oxygen from the nutrient solution.
- Aerating the roots improves plants’ absorption and increases cell growth rate within the plants.
- Once you set it up, it only requires basic maintenance. There are no nozzles, feeder lines or water pumps to clog.
- Very little moving parts and assembly required.
There are a few disadvantages of the DWC system; however, the positives really outweigh the negatives, and these problems are easily overcome.
However, there are some things you need to be mindful of…
Things to Watch
- Nutrient solutions need to be changed weekly.
- The nutrient temperature needs to be kept consistently between 18-22°C, failure to do this will increase nutrient temperatures and therefore risk root problems. Ie. Pythium and fusarium.
- Due to the acceleration of root production in DWC’s, vegetative time will be considerably shorter than other methods so keep an eye on root growth.
How Deep Water Culture works…
Recommended Deep Water Culture Systems
Alien RDWC Black Series 20 Litre – Recirculating DWC
The RDWC Black Series works using the quiet Jet-Stream Air pumps to increase oxygen delivery to the plant’s roots submerged in the nutrient-rich water. The Jet-Stream pumps have been designed with Deep Water Culture in mind and boast a high pressure to deliver oxygenated water to the root zone.
The pump also features a double dampening system for noise absorption, and the twin air chambers provide a large quantity of air at an intense pressure to the Air Rings while still retaining low noise and wattage.
DWC Systems by Nutriculture – Shared Reserve
Rarely is something so effective so simple to use. Deep Water Culture (DWC) has quickly become popular because there’s no timer, very little media and the root growth is exceptional.
Our DWC systems have some great features that are proving popular with growers, the emptying tube makes it easy to check the solution level and to complete solution changes, the removable mesh basket enables growers to turn the plant for even light exposure and the locators keep the air pump firmly in place.
IWS Oxypot Single – Individual / One plant
One of the simplest introductions to hydroponics available.
Oxypot DWC (Deep Water Culture) systems submerge the roots of the plant in a highly oxygenated nutrient solution, encouraging very rapid growth. Normally, you would put a rockwool block in the 140mm mesh basket and dress around the block with clay pebbles.
Always make sure that the waterline is about inch below the rockwool block. If the water is too high you could start to develop root rot.
Buy yours from us today…
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Product on sale
Alien RDWC Black Series 20 Litre£310.49 – £1,579.49 -
Product on sale
IWS Oxypot DWC Systems£49.49 – £85.49
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