What Are Hydroponic Gardens
Hydroponic gardens use nutrient-rich water to bathe the plants’ root bases. With a hydroponic garden, you can grow vegetables, flowers, and herbs indoors or outdoors. No soil is needed and maintenance is kept to a minimum since pest and weed control are less of a problem compared to soil-based gardens. Depending on your needs and available space, you have a choice of several types of DIY hydroponic gardens, ranging from the simple wick and water culture systems, to more ambitious NFT (Nutrient Film Technology) and drip hydroponic systems. If you’re already familiar with water pumps (from garden ponds or aquariums) and tubing, consider that a plus as all but one of these gardens relies on electrically-recirculated water. Depending on your needs and available space, you have a choice of several types of DIY hydroponic gardens, ranging from the simple wick and water culture systems, to more ambitious NFT (Nutrient Film Technology) and drip hydroponic systems. If you’re already familiar with water pumps (from garden ponds or aquariums) and tubing, consider that a plus as all but one of these gardens relies on electrically-recirculated water. For the easiest and lowest cost entry point into hydroponic gardening, the wick system is often the best way to go. Materials are inexpensive and the build is simple. It’s also a great type of hydroponic system for DIYers who are averse to dealing with pumps and electronics. Wick-style hydroponic systems are best for smaller plants like herbs rather than tomatoes or peppers, which require more nutrients than the wicks can often supply. Net pots encase the roots of the plants. But that’s just to prevent the plants from wandering. Otherwise, the plants are in direct contact with the water. Ebb and flow hydroponic systems are usually larger than other systems to allow for a mini flood-plain to be created. The advantage is that larger plants, even root vegetables like carrots, can be grown in this type of system. The nutrient-laden water is moved by an electric pump through tubes to the top surface of the growing medium. The water then slowly drips around the roots, then drains down to the bottom of the container. Drip systems can be either recirculating or non-recirculating. Recirculating systems move unused nutrient-rich water back up to the growing surface. Non-recirculating systems discharge unused water. The plants do not rest in the growing channels. Rather, they are suspended above the channels, with the roots draping down into the water. Do-it-yourself builders of NFT systems often use rain gutters as pre-built channels. The size and shape of the gutters are ideal for many types of plants that are grown with this method. With aeroponic systems, the plants are suspended in baskets or foam containers. The roots drape down from these containers so that they can be misted. Aeroponic systems are best for do-it-yourselfers with previous skills in building hydroponic gardens due to the complexity of the pump, tube, and misting system.
