HYDROPONICS, FROM PG. 50
into the nutrient film. For that and several other reasons, many prefab systems enclose the grow channel by essentially using large 8-inch PVCtype material that the solutions flows through like a drain pipe. The pipe has holes drilled into it, which fit baskets for your plants and a small amount of grow medium. The benefits of a NFT system is that they are automated and require little maintenance. Once you adjust your pump’s output levels to provide a flow rate that creates the correct depth of nutrient film, the system is nearly self-sufficient. Because these systems generally run off one central reservoir that is easy to drain, reservoir changes, flushing, and making adjustments to what your plants are eating is very easy. Another benefit to NFT systems is that because the solutions are allowed to flow freely through your plants these system provide ample options for nutrient choice as they can handle high levels of suspensions and more viscous mixtures than other systems. NFT systems were originally designed for high production food hydroponics gardening and still excels in that area. Some Cannabis growers feel the limitations of the NFT system when attempting to create large yields from a small number of plants, as many of us do, to accommodate the laws here in Washington. Depending on your set-up, your nutrient solutions and roots may be exposed to your growing environment, putting an even greater emphasis on cleanliness. That is to say if it’s even possible to emphasize cleanliness any more in hydroponics gardening). At any rate, it’s important to ensure that your lights are not heating the solutions you’re feeding your plants with, since it may be getting constantly exposed to the heat of your bulbs.
THE TOP DRIP SYSTEM Top drip can be created in a variety of ways too. Intrinsic to these systems is that nutrient solution is dripped — you guessed it — from the top. This can be accomplished in a variety of ways. Some sort of drip emitter is placed at each plant
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site just above the medium. A simple small water line or a more advanced drip halo ring are examples of drip emitters that are used to receive pumped water from a central reservoir, and then deliver it to the top of the plant. The water is pumped at a very slow rate. This way, the emitter steadily provides a slow drip of solution above the plant which flows down the medium through the root system and is then either drained to waste or recirculated. Because top drip can be effectively added to almost any type of growing site, they are extremely versatile. Coco growers can have drip lines irrigated to each growing site in their garden and deliver precise amounts of nutrients at specific intervals and times throughout the plants’ day and life cycle. Hydro growers looking to grow the monsters (1.5 lb-2.5 lb/plant) enjoy the reliability and simplicity of irrigating larger growing sites while ensuring adequate plant nutrition — even for the largest, most demanding
The benefit of a NFT system is that they are automated and require little maintenance. top drip is very efficient. strains. The gardener has more options when using top drip systems to customize their own touch. One can choose the timing, duration and frequency of the your top drip system by setting the pump to run at the intervals of your choosing, using a simple and cheap multiprogram timer. These are usually available at any big box hardware store for under $20. Some gardeners see the benefit of dialing in their own “formula” for how often plants are fed and for how long. Then they alter and experiment with the formula throughout different times of day and throughout the various stages of the plants’ life cycle. One of the huge advantages of top drip is that it’s one of the easiest and most cost-effective ways to create a drain-to-waste system in hydroponics. Depending on the medium you choose, the amount of
nutrient solution used to feed your plants with this method is extremely efficient and creates very little waste. This gives hydroponics gardeners the opportunity to use perfectly balanced nutrient solution with properly balanced spectrum of N, P, and K at each feeding. Never again will they be left to wonder if the recirculating nutrient solution your plants are eating is deficient or in excess of some element because of what your plants have or have not taken from it. It also provides opportunity to introduce some organic nutrients with little issue. A central reservoir is used in all circumstances, again making nutrient changes and flushes a breeze. Because the drip emitters involve small lines and drip emitters themselves have small holes from which solution is emitted from, they do require regular maintenance to ensure the lines stay clean and clog-free. Without weekly or at least bi-monthly cleaning of the lines, they will often get caked with salts — adding unwanted residual chemicals to your solution — sometimes preventing any solution to pass through the lines at all. This would be a potentially damaging or deadly circumstance for your plants. This characteristic of small lines and holes also tends to lead these systems to using nutrient solutions with lower levels of suspended particles and viscosity with greater success.
COMING NEXT MONTH: ABOVE: NUTRIENT FILM SYSTEM | BELOW: TOP DRIP
Don’t miss the April 4/20 issue when we review the benefits and deficits of Ebb and Flow, as well as recirculating deep water culture systems. Until then, take some time to think about these two systems, ask questions, think critically and be prepared to learn more about two other systems next month. As always, I’m here to answer your questions and welcome your feedback. Happy Gardening!
Got a growing question? thegreengardengroup@gmail.com