The Wick system is far and away the simplest type of hydroponic system. This is a passive system, which means there are zero moving parts. This arrangement mainly comprises of one growing tray set on top of the water reservoir. The nutrient solution is absorbed into the growth medium from the reservoir with a wick. This system can use a variety of growing mediums. Perlite, Vermiculite, and Coconut Fiber are among the most popular. The greatest draw back of this system is that plants that are large or use large amounts of water may consume the nutrient solution faster than the wick or wicks can provide it.

Posted: February 12th, 2012 under Hydroponic Systems, Wick Systems.
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The Ebb and Flow system works by temporarily  flooding the grow tray with nourishing solution and then draining the solution back into the reservoir. This is commonly done with a submersed pump that is attached to a timer.

When the timer turns the pump on nourishing solution is pumped into the grow tray. When the timer shuts the pump off the nourishing solution drains back into the reservoir. The Timer  is set to come on several times a day, depending upon the size and type of plants, humidity, temperature and the type of growing medium utilized.

The Ebb and Flow is a flexible arrangement that can be used with an assortment of growing mediums. The full grow tray may be filled with Grow Rocks, gravel or granular Rockwool. Numerous people like to utilize individual pots filled with growing medium, this makes it simpler to move plants around or even move them in or out of the system. The chief disadvantage of this type of arrangement is that with some types of growing medium (Perlite, Growrocks, Gravel, ), there’s a vulnerability to power failures as well as pump and timer failures. The roots may dry out rapidly when the irrigating cycles are disrupted. This problem can be alleviated somewhat by using growing media that holds more water (coconut fiber, Vermiculite, Rockwool or a good soiless blend like Pro-mix).

Posted: November 29th, 2011 under Ebb And Flow System, Hydroponic Systems.
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