How a hydroponic system works may seem complicated at first, but once you understand it, you will see how it works is actually very simple. There are hundreds of variations on the basic types of these systems, but all hydroponic methods are variations (or combinations) of these six types of common hydroponic systems.
Plant roots need 3 things, water/moisture, nutrients, and oxygen. What makes these six types of hydroponic systems different is just how they deliver these three things to the roots of plants. So after you get used to how each of the three root requirements (water, nutrition, and oxygen) is delivered in each type of hydroponic system, you will immediately be able to identify what types of hydroponic systems are.
Wick System
Wick system is the simplest type of hydroponic system. This is a passive system, which means there are no moving parts. From its construction, it does not require an air or water pump for use. Nutritional solutions are drawn into the growing media from the reservoir with an axis.
Deep Water Culture
Deep water culture is considered as one of the easiest systems to use. It consists of a reservoir filled with water and nutrients needed. This solution provides a constant supply to plants because their roots are suspended in solution.
While nutrients are mixed in water, air is pumped through an air pump and air stone to push bubbles into the solution. Platforms that hold plants are usually made of styrofoam and float directly on nutrient solutions.
Nutrient Film Technique (NFT)
This system is ideal for commercial use. Just like deep water culture, it consists of reservoir, air pump, air stone, and clean pot. However, other components include making it different. This includes flight tubes, timers, and channels. This is also a recirculation system because the nutrient solution continues to pump through them.
In this system nutrients are given continuously to the tray through a pump at one end and collected at the other end into the reservoir. This system requires a pump to work all the time and no time regulator is needed.
Ebb & Flow
The Ebb and Flow systems are used commercially by several bed factories and plant pot manufacturers. Unlike the above system, you will not expose your plant roots to nutrient solutions at any time. The system requires that you grow your plants on a tray. The tray is filled with growing media and then filled with nutrient solution at the time given that day.
In the Ebb and Flow system, a nutrient solution that is recirculated periodically (several times a day) is pumped onto the table where the container is sitting. Many hobby-sized kits are basically a small Ebb and Flow system.
Drip System
Drip systems are probably the most widely used type of hydroponic system in the world. The operation is simple, with the timer controlling the submersed pump. The timer turns on the pump and the nutrient solution is dropped into the bottom of each plant with a small drip line. The drip system is ideal for use on a large scale. However, they are easy to set up and use. Although large, you have control over feeding and watering schedules. This in turn allows you to have a variety of plants.
Aeroponics
One of the more advanced hydroponic techniques is called aeroponics. Aeroponics use net pots and root systems hang like NFT. The roots hang over the reservoir of nutrient solution, but the root and root ends are not submerged. Instead, nutritional solutions are delivered through pumps and misting systems. This provides the right amount of water and nutrients at a very specific time to ensure maximum absorption.
Because there are many different choices in hydroponic systems, it will be difficult to decide what method is most suitable for your hydroponic garden. Some hydroponic systems work better than others depending on the plants you develop and space you have.
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