The Basics In Types Of Hydroponic Systems
Most gardeners and crop growers have at least heard of hydroponics. If you want to learn more about it yourself, you should know that there are at least four categories of hydroponic systems. The different systems are water culture, wick, drip, and also a nutrient film technique. While these are the basic systems, you should know that you will likely see multiple variations a hundred times over.
Water Culture
If you are just getting your feet wet in terms of learning hydroponic systems, try the water culture method first as it is the easiest method. You have a tank or storage area filled with the mineral and nutrient liquid solution in which the plants are floating in on a Styrofoam platform. An air pump aerates the water of this holding tank and the bubbles provide a way to bubble up not only the oxygen needed in the roots but also the nutrient solution as well. While this is the easiest system, especially for teaching, it is not conducive to large scale growth projects.
Wick Method
The wick method of hydroponic systems is fairly easy to operate as well and is known as a passive technique in which to keep your plants watered with the proper nutrients. You have a growing tray with a medium like pea gravel which is situated over a holding tank containing the liquid nutrient solution. There are wicks which go from the holding tank to the growth medium to carry the needed water and nutrient solution in a steady manner.
Drip System
With drip hydroponic systems, you again have your plant growth tray with the medium and plants in it and then suspended over the holding tank with the liquid nutrients. There is a submersible pump in the holding tank running on a timer which kicks on at various intervals to drip a nutrient solution at the base of the plants. Excess nutrient liquid runs off and back into the holding tank for recycling and an air pump is still needed for aeration.
Nutrient Film
Hydroponic systems which use the nutrient film method are very similar to the drip method except that the solution is dripped in the bottom of the plant growth tray instead of at each plant base. The flow is constant with no timer and a submersible pump is needed to keep up the constant flow with a drain for excess liquid to go back into the holding tank.
There are several other hydroponic systems that are in use today like the aeroponic and ebb and flow techniques. Each of the hydroponic methods used have their pros and cons. If you are just starting out yourself or you are trying to teach a child, the water culture or drip method is the best option.
