Grow Quality Plants with the Nutrient Film Technique

Monday, October 19th, 2009 at 2:16 pm 
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Nutrient film technique is a hydroponic method that focuses thin streams over solution over plant roots. This kind of system can be difficult to set up but if done properly can create quick and huge cultivation. Nutrient film technique, or NFT, growing methods provide herbs with plenty of nutrients through the water always flowing past the roots and gives them exposure to air. Compared to other hydroponic methods NFT provides flowers with more oxygen and so development is faster.

NFT hydroponic systems direct thin streams of nutrient solution down gullys which contain root system. The thin stream provides all the minerals plants need for development and by keeping the stream shallow the root systems have exposure to air. This method is one of the most efficient for giving plants nutrients and fresh oxygen, several other soilless methods needs one to be chosen more than the other.

One of the crucial design aspects of NFT systems is the flow rate which is largely dictated by the incline of the gullys. For most herbs a small slope which slowly transports solution past the root systems allowing optimum exposure is ideal and inclines of 1:100 are recommended. In reality it can be tricky to install systems so level that a slope of 1:100 is sufficient to prevent pooling of solution in some spots. The answer lots of home gardeners use steeper inclines of approximately 1:30.

The volume of water a system can contain and the length of the watering containers also has a significant influence on crop size and timing. If channels are too long or there are too many plants sharing the same solution nutrients may become depleted and crops at the far end of the gully could suffer. Each nutrient film technique system should be examined to make sure it is not overly saturated. A basic guideline is 1 liter of water for 60 seconds for each crop tank though this amount can be altered according to species being grown and the channel shape for the hydroponic system. Scientists have found that quality begins degrading on channels that exceed 15 meters.

NFT hydroponic growing techniques are one of the most efficient watering systems. They can be difficult to set up and require precise design so that incline and mineral concentrations remain constant. If these problems could be solved plants of exceptional magnitude and quality can be quickly cultivated.

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Ebb and Flow – Flood and Drain Watering Methods

Sunday, October 18th, 2009 at 12:06 pm 
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Ebb and flow is one of the many standard hydroponic designs utilized by growers. It is also called the flood and drain system and is preferred by growers because of its ease of use, reliability and low startup expenses. Ebb and flow designs could be utilized to cultivate a range of varied herbs and be scaled up to work with bigger crop sizes.

The growing system consists of arranging reservoirs in pumps so they make a closed system. A reservoir which holds solution is generally located above a cultivation container holding an inert medium and crops. According to a timing system water is umped from the upper container to soak the flowers and growth material. Any solution which is not absorbed by the roots or held in the material is collected in a container. When the water reaches a predetermined level in the lower reservoir it is pumped back to the upper reservoir and the process repeats.

The ebb and flow design is easy to run due to there being only one reservoir of water has to be maintained. The mineral water provides all the nourishment flowers require for development and the flooding and draining schedule dictates how much air it receives. The systems that growers use to keep a regular watering schedule can be complex depending on the dimensions and complexity of the grow design. For tiny indoor grow rooms simple single pump designs should be enough.

The alternating access to fresh oxygen and nutrients which ebb and flow designs give is what makes flowers grow quickly and create huge harvests. Exposure times depend on the volume of solution in the system, the cultivation material, and the grow tank dimensions. Depending on the watering needs of the plants being grown pumps could be set up to function throughout the day or once a day.

For home growers who would prefer their own hydroponics room ebb and flow systems are often appropriate options. Ebb and flow designs are good for small crop dimensions, are simple to run, have relatively small energy needs, and could make high quality herbs.

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