Deep Water Culture

Deep Water Culture: Pure Hydro in its simplest, most effective form

Deep Water Culture (DWC) is becoming more and more popular. If you’ve not heard about it, where’ve you been? 
This constant feed technique uses little media, but produces incredible yields.

This blog discusses why it’s the technique that’s got everyone talking and how you can use it for your best ever crop.

What is Deep water culture growing?

In DWC plants are cultivated in deep aerated water. The roots hang directly into oxygenated water in a misting/bubbling chamber benefiting from a constant supply of oxygen and all the nutrients they need.

DWC is a pure form of hydroponics because it’s almost completely media free. Just a small amount of clay pebbles are used in order to support the plant, but almost all the roots are free of media in the misting chamber, which is an air rich environment.

The water is oxygenated by an air pump, which creates bubbles which mist the roots, providing them with the nutrients they need. At the same time they’re wrapped with the air they need for super-charged growth.

Why has DWC Growing become so popular?

Faster plant growth

Most growers are impatient for quicker crops and with growth times up to 25% faster than hand-watering, DWC gets a big tick in that box. It’s not unknown for DWC growers to develop another crop in each calendar year thanks to the speedier growth rates. It’s also why systems like Oxypot and RUSH have developed an ever growing and loyal following. 

Less media

Sick of lifting heavy bags into your grow room? There’s none of this with DWC growing. Each pot uses just a handful of clay pebbles. So if you’re tired of doing your back in lifting media in and out of your grow room, it might be time for you to make a change to DWC growing.

Massive root growth

The root growth in DWC systems is spectacular.
The picture below shows a grower proudly displaying the roots of a plant growing in an IWS R-DWC system. There’s such a mass because of the unlimited supply of oxygen nutrient mist available.

Top tips on growing using a DWC system

Temperature control is vital

The ideal range for growth in Deep Water Culture systems is between 17-20°C.  Anything below this and the plant’s ability to feed slows down. Anything above 21°C and the dissolved oxygen levels become too low and slows down the speed of growth.

Systems like RUSH RDWC, with its constant recirculation of nutrient solution, tend not to fluctuate in temperature too much. Plus, the nutrient solution in these systems is managed from a header tank and cool water can be added easily to adjust the temperature.

Manage your pH correctly

Make sure to keep it in the 6.0-6.3 range in the vegetative stage of growth when using a Deep Water Culture System like an Oxypot or RUSH RDWC.

In the flowering stage you’ll want to maintain a pH of 5.7-5.9.

Maintaining these slightly different pH levels to suit the stage of growth will maximize the availability of the minerals the plant will need at each stage growing stage.

Keep an eye on the colour of your leaves

The colour of your leaves is an easy to spot way if you need to make changes in your DWC system.
Yellow leaves tell you that pH is too high and that the nutrient solution is weak. Top up your system with half strength nutrient solution until your pH is in the appropriate range.

Keep the air coming

Deep Water Culture growing relies on air availability. That’s why you should have air pumps going 24/7, not on timers. Do this and your plants will get the air they need when they need it.

 Change the water level to suit the plant

Plants in the earlier stages of life require their roots to be submerged in nutrient solution until they’ve grown through the pot.

Once the roots are long enough to hang from the pot you can lower the water level so that it’s 10-20mm below the pot. This will allow the roots extra access to oxygen whilst still providing all the nourishment the plant needs.

Air stone position is critical

Trials at Nutriculture Grow Systems HQ have shown that the air stones must be positioned directly underneath the plant to develop the strong healthy root mass that is associated with successful DWC growing.

If the position of the air stone is directly under the plant the bubbles dissipate before they can provide any nutrition to the them.

For ease of use and maximum root growth, all Nutriculture Grow Systems come with an air stone locator, so roots always receive the mist of nutrient they need.

This image shows the difference in growth when the air stone is ‘not in position’

The colour of your roots is important

White roots show that the plant is receiving enough oxygen. Whereas a tell-tale signs of a lack of air availability, are the roots being brown in colour. 

If this is the case check your pH, the temperature of your nutrient solution and that the position of the air stone has not moved from directly underneath the plant.

Before you start in DWC

The ideal method for developing cuttings is with an aeroponic propagator such as the X-Stream Aero.
This bare-rooted technique will develop young plants to the point where they can be easily transplanted to a Deep Water Culture System of your choice.

Now you know more about Deep water Culture growing try it for yourself and see the results.
Whether you are small scale grower (Oxypot Single, XL or 4) or a larger scale grower (IWS DWC and RUSH) there’s a system that will meet your growing needs.