Defining Hydroponic Systems

HYDROPONIC SYSTEMS

DWC – Deep water culture, A hydroponic growing technique often associated with floating rafts or bubble buckets. Plants are suspended over a nutrient solution and roots grow freely into the solution.
BEAVER BOARDS, PRE-EMPT, FERTS.,

Deep Water Culture

 

NFT – Nutrient film technique, A hydroponic growing technique that irrigates plants with a shallow stream of nutrient solution flowing through a growing channel. CBOPS, PRE-EMPT, GRODAN, FERTS.,

NFT System

 

Bato System – Also called a Dutch bucket setup, these buckets are perhaps the most commonly used container for growing plants in an indoor growing system. Bato buckets have seen extensive use throughout Europe and the US, and can be connected easily, allowing hydroponic systems to be scaled to virtually any size needed.

Bato System

 

Vertical towers – Tower systems are usually aeroponic or hydroponic by design. These units stand vertically and are often used in container farms due to their space efficiency.

Vertical Tower System

 

Vertical racking – Rack systems are stackable shelves  outfitted with recirculating hydroponics and LED lighting, often used in warehouse and container farms. This type of grow can be installed and operated by commercial indoor farms, vertical farms, schools and many other educational entities.

Vertical Racking

 

A3CF – The A3 Continuous Flow (A3CF ®) consists of a plastic profile which incorporates 2 separate channels: a supply channel and a plant channel. Fresh water is pumped from the storage tank directly into the supply channel. The textile (Biostrate™) then wicks this water to the plant channel. The plant takes what it needs, and any remaining water (and fertilizer) flows away through the drain channel.

A3 Continuous Flow (A3CF ®)

 

Ebb and Flow – Also called flood and drain, this method does just that. Plants are grown in individual rockwool blocks in tray, the tray is then flooded with nutrient solution until the rockwool cubes and roots are saturated, then the tray is drained to allow air back into the blocks.

Ebb and Flow

 

Drip Systems – Drip irrigation is defined as any watering system that delivers a slow moving supply of water at a gradual rate directly to the soil. Drip irrigation, which is also sometimes referred to as micro-irrigation or trickle irrigation, consists of a network of pipes, tubing valves, and emitters. One of the most common and successful ways of commercially greenhouse growing via drip systems is with rockwool slabs and cubes.

Drip system