Advanced Hydroponics Systems Offer Challenges, Increased Yields

For hydroponics aficionados ready for a challenge, Aeroponics and NFT systems can't be beat. Both hydroponics methods offer superior yields and optimal overall growth. Here's how they work.

In most Aeroponics systems, plants are suspended without the use of a growing medium, and plant roots, usually enclosed in a specialized growing chamber, are sprayed directly with a fine nutrient- and oxygen-rich mist. In addition to the growing chamber and physical plant supports, Aeroponics systems include high-pressure, low-volume pumps and delicate sprayers. With this virtually unlimited access to oxygen, roots have maximum potential to absorb nutrients and plants can grow at a phenomenal rate. Hydroponics systems such as the EZ-Clone employ Aeroponics technology to speed the propagation of cuttings, but, with adequate support, plants can be grown to maturity via Aeroponics.

Aeroponics is not well-suited for beginners because this method requires greater attention to detail than most other active hydroponics methods. Plants are not buffered by growing media so pH levels must be closely monitored. Also, equipment malfunction can cause total crop loss very quickly; delicate sprayer nozzles must be kept free of debris at all times.

Similarly, plants grown with the Nutrient-Film Technique (NFT) are supported over a series of gullies or channels of an air-permeable film of nutrient. A submersible pump is used to direct nutrient solution over the plant roots through to the end of each growing channel. Then the solution drains down into the main reservoir where it is pumped up again to the start of the growing channel.

In most NFT systems, plants are supported in stonewool or rockwool slabs which are continually bathed in the oxygen-rich nutrient solution. Occasionally, however, some indoor growers forgo growing media entirely and plant roots develop directly in the nutrient-washed gullies.

As with Aeroponics, NFT is also not well-suited for beginners. NFT systems are susceptible to clogs, and, because roots are not buffered by an absorbent growing medium, pH shifts and the risk of equipment failure are more problematic for plants grown with NFT.

Finally, it's important to note that every hydroponics system requiring electricity to operate is vulnerable to power surges and outages. Indoor gardeners can avoid losing plants by using surge-protected power strips and checking Aeroponics and NFT systems once or twice daily.