Equip yourself with the best hydroponic systems for growing results. Systems from IWS, to flood and drain, to deep water culture, to NFT, to Auto Pots and other setups.

At some point, you may have asked what is hydroponics? The word comes from the Latin meaning working water and is the term given to plants that are grown without using soil.

In this blog, we give a short description to the types of hydroponic growing systems that Hyjo supplies to growers, each hydro system having its pro’s and con’s and it’s all about finding what works for you. If you want the fastest growing plants, then DWC would be the best option or if you want to grow for the highest yield then the run to waste dripper system is proven to be the most suitable hydro system since it is a favourite of all the systems because it's simple and very effective.

Nutrient film technique (NFT) is where a very shallow stream of water containing all the dissolved nutrients is re-circulated past the plant’s bare roots. The main advantages of NFT over alternative systems is that the roots are exposed to adequate supplies of water, oxygen and nutrients. For its media, spreader mat and rockwool are utilised. Not to mention the reservoir is recommended to be flushed once a week over a 24-hour time frame with pure pH water. Then to remove that pH water from the reservoir and give it a wipe down to remove any salts and excess of old nutrients from the previous feed.

Aeroponic growing systems are where roots are continuously or discontinuously kept in an environment saturated with fine drops of nutrient solution. The system applies the nutrients via a mist or aerosol. One main advantage of aeroponic grow kits is the amount of air that the plant's roots receive. This hydro system needs maintenance at every cycle so it is recommended to carry out inspections to its sprinklers regularly.

Wilma drip systems are pots filled with growing media. A timer is set for a desired feeding and frequency duration where a water pump delivers nutrient solution through drippers into the pots.

Flood and drain plus intelligent watering systems (IWS) is where nutrient solution is pumped from a water tank into each individual pot at scheduled times. Floats ensure the same level of solution rises into each pot and its drainage is excellent.

In aquaponics, nutrient water from an aquaculture system is fed to a hydroponic system where the by-products are broken down by bacteria. The by-product is utilised by plants as nutrients then recirculated back to the aquaculture system.

Deep water culture (DWC) is a hybrid of hydroponics and aquaponics. Its method of plant production uses means of suspending the plant roots in a solution of nutrient-rich, oxygenated water. Some critical elements of DWC systems are water temperature & nutrient strength, air pumps thence aeration, tanks & reservoirs all leading to explosive root growth.

AutoPots are self-watering systems with an emphasis being strongly placed on efficiency and preservation. Considered the most environmentally friendly watering systems in the world, AutoPots reduce the consumption of water and feed by an impressive 40%.

Dripper systems are without doubt one of the most versatile and easy to use systems on the market.  Nutrient enriched water is pumped down the main feed pipe suppling each plant with the amount needed depending on the stage of growth.  The pump in controlled with a feed duration controller, this allows the grower to feed from 1 second up to 15 minutes.  A dialled in run to waste dripper system is proven to increase yield and oxygen absorption and is the most used system for Dutch growers. 

NFT Gully Systems are very similar to NFT Systems but the gully may be cut to the grower’s size of choice.

At some point, you may have asked why use hydroponics? Growing plants with hydroponic kits is good for many reasons, for one you get more out of your space.  Hydro is a must for most commercial growers all over the world.

Hydroponic Pros:

• Can lead to faster growing plants depending on the grower's skill
• Can lead to higher yields
• Easier to grow plants with than in soil
• Good for growers who want a very hands off approach to growing since hydro systems tend to feed plants for the week 
  

Hydroponic Cons:

• Can be expensive for the initial setup
• Feed pipes can get blocked very easy especially with dripper systems
• Timers and pumps can fail which means the plants don’t get fed
• DWC systems can be very noisy due to the air pumps

With hydroponics, the plants are fed a perfectly balanced feed solution. Therefore, it’s easier for the plants to uptake nutrients which means that they can grow faster reducing the cycle time of the plant. Hydro Systems are only one part of the process. A grower should account other elements that work hand in hand with hydroponic growing systems such as propagation, lighting kits, grow tents & sheeting, fan kits, nutrients & boosters, growing media, air & water pumps, reflectors and so much more.

We share your passion for plants, that's how we got our start. It’s about rediscovering your stance with every last speck of fulfilment and this keeps us brimming with optimism for the path ahead.