One major issue with the DWC hydroponics farming is that continuous exposure of roots to the water can lead to a rotten root quickly. For this reason, the importance of aeration in DWC increases. Aeration is the process of providing enough oxygen to the plants so that they survive the extra water in their surroundings. But with techniques like the air bubble method and falling water method, it becomes pretty easy to manage the excess water.

Interesting fact about DWC: Researchers consider DWC as Hydroponics in its purest form. Infact, it is also the easiest and most effective of all the systems.

Setting up DWC farming

Setting up a DWC is easy. You require:

• A 5 Gallon Bucket 
• Air pump 
• Airstone 
• Air tubing 
• Growing medium 
• Hydroponics nutrients 
• Net 
• pH Control Kit
• PPM Meter

Steps to follow

Do you know why do we need to add pH controller to the buckets? If not well regulated, the wrong pH can spoil the whole plant. Therefore, not adding a pH controller is a big no.  The pH should be between 5.5 to 6.0. to support plant growth.

Once you have set up your DWC plants, they’ll start growing rapidly. This system is best for short-term, non-fruiting plants. But what if you want to scale up your plants? 

The traditional way of DWC farming is not the best way to do it. To ensure the growth of plants at a higher rate and to prevent them from rotting, use Recirculating DWC or rDWC.

Recirculating DWC

In DWC, you have to utilize one bucket for every plant you grow. Then you have to manage and calibrate the oxygen, nutrients, and water in each of the buckets. It can be a tedious task to manage consistently. To set you f

ree from all these hassles, rDWC was invented.

rDWC is a system of multiple baskets that can help you manage all the plants simultaneously. The system has a group of buckets that are connected through pipes and a central bucket.

Interesting Fact: In rDWC, each of the buckets can hold 2-3 more plants than in the DWC system. 

The central bucket is used to transfer all the nutrients to every plant present in the system. You can also pump air through the central bucket. This system is efficient as it saves a lot of resources from getting wasted and supplies the nutrients to the plants as per their need. rDWC is a great boon for nature lovers who want to grow more plants with hydroponics farming.

Which plants to grow?

Every system works best on certain types of plants. It has been found that for DWC, the best plants are those which do not have flowers in them. All kinds of grass, herbs, and lettuce can grow fresh and healthy in this system. You can also grow tomatoes and pepper but you might have to be extra careful in case of fruiting plants.

Why choose Deep Water Culture hydroponics farming?

1. There are not too many parts to take care of. This reduces the maintenance cost and time. As the set-up has a pipe and a bucket as major components, you can always fix minor issues by yourself.
2. The growth of plants is exponential and healthier than conventional growth. Due to no competition and direct transfer of nutrients, plants grow better. 
3. As the plants are deep inside the water, and no fertilizer is needed because the nutrients are already dissolved in the water. This is why DWC saves you both money and time.

Conclusion

You can now fearlessly opt for DWC farming and see your plants grow like magic. Once you get the hang of DWC in the conventional method, switching to rDWC is going to help you get better yields. So contact a hydroponics farm set-up expert today to get started on your journey to futuristic farming!

Also Read : What are the different hydroponic system?

The post What Are DWC (Deep water culture) And RDWC In Hydroponics Farming? appeared first on Rise Hydroponics.

1. Aeroponics System

Have you ever witnessed vegetables grown out of thin air? The aeroponic system we are about to discuss is pretty much that. This system nourishes the plants with nutrient-laden mist and nothing else. The roots are held in a soilless medium of growth like coco coir. Nutrient-laden water has to be periodically pumped for plants to grow.

Yes, the method is quite futuristic and hi-tech, but it has been in function for quite some time now. A pipe system sends out a pressurized solution of nutrients to plants. Roots get the solution through the nozzles of the pipe in the form of droplets. This means that the roots will receive the nutrients and the moisture, besides being able to breathe freely.

INTERESTING FACT: With aeroponics, you have to irrigate for short times but quite frequently. A cycle’s frequency depends on the climate and crop type, besides the pressure you will use in the system.

Things you need for Aeroponics

• A reservoir
• Hoses and pipes with sprayers and nozzles
• Time to set the irrigation cycles
• A durable aeroponics chamber

2. Drip Hydroponic System

One of the most active hydroponic system has to be the drip system. This one uses a pump for feeding the plants with water and nutrients regularly. You may have heard about it by the names micro-irrigation system or trickle system. This hydroponic system makes use of tiny emitters to directly sprinkle the nutrient solution onto the plants. In fact it is a boon for the big problem of aeration as it provides constant watering and nutrition with the hoses, pipes, and growing media.

You can easily understand the system working. The method is all about 2 steps, one being fetching the nutrient solution by using hoses and pipes, from a reservoir. You can send the solution to individual plants. The second step involves sprinkling the solution on a growing medium that will further let out slowly.

Are you aware? Drip system was initially used for outdoor cultivation of plants in Israel to improve water efficiency. It was later adapted for hydroponics.

Things you need

• A reservoir for mixing the nutrient solution
• A water pump attached to the hose and pipe system to irrigate every plant
• Hoses and pipes
• Growing media
• An air pump for sure
• A timer, provided you want to irrigate in cycles

3. Nutrient Film Technique

Did you face an aeration problem with any of the hydroponic system you used? The nutrient film technique or NFT will solve that problem. With NFT, you will present a thin solution film at a tank’s fairly deep bottom. As a result, roots will receive water and nutrition while the upper part gets to breathe. If you see the roots mop-pressed, then do not fret because they are meant to look like that.

The most significant technical feature of this system is that the growing tank must not be perfectly horizontal. Make sure it has a slight angle. The slight tilt of the tank will not stagnate the roots with the solution, and neither will the solution flow away too fast.

NFT system dates back to the 60s. Infact it was pioneered by Allen Cooper at the Glasshouse Crops Research institute, England.

Things you need for set up

• A growing tank that needs to be slightly inclined
• A reservoir that will provide a nutrient solution for the garden
• An air pump or air stone to be placed within a reservoir
• Pipes for bringing the water to the growth tank and then back to the reservoir
• A water pump for bringing the nutrient solution to the growth tank

Also Read : What is NFT (Nutrient Film Technique) in hydroponics farming?

4. Ebb and Flow

If you are a home gardener, the ebb and flow system is for you. With this system type, you position the plants in a spacious growing bed. This bed is packed with a growing medium like perlite or rockwool. Once you have carefully planted the plants, you will flood the grow bed with nutrient solution. This system works on the principle of regularly irrigating the roots and for shorter periods.

In the name Ebb and Flow, Ebb indicates retreating water while flow indicates retreating water. Hence the nutrient flow like the tides in sea.

Things you need for Ebb and Flow set up

• A reservoir
• A growth tank
• Reversible water pump
• Air pump to aerate the reservoir’s solution
• Pipes for leading the nutrient solution from and to the tank
• A timer to switch the pump on and off

5. Wick Hydroponic System

The most simplistic hydroponic system has to be the wick system. It requires no aerators, pumps, or electricity. Among the various kinds of hydroponics systems, this is the only passive system that can do without electricity.

Wick system gets its name as to how a candle wick draws wax or oil lamp draws fuels to light itself. In the same way, the wick system uses a capillary mechanism to feed nutrient solution to the roots.

Things you need for set up

• A reservoir
• A grow tank
• More than one wick (ropes or spongy material)
• A medium for growth (coconut coir, any inter material, or expanded clay)

6. Deep Water Culture

The DWC system works almost for all kinds of plants, but it is a blessing for large plants, especially those with big roots. In this system, the plant roots are suspended in a nutrient solution, and you directly provide the air with a diffuser or an air stone. You will have to place the plants in net pots with a medium for growth to secure them. When you make the plants sit in nutrients with unlimited oxygen being supplied, your plants attain crazy growth.

In Deep Water Culture, the roots are submerged in water 24/7.

Things you need for set up

• A grow tank
• Air pump
• Reservoir filled with nutrient solution
• A water pump

Also Read :What are DWC (Deep water culture) and rDWC in Hydroponics farming?

7. Kratky Method

The most rudimentary hydroponic system has to be the Kratky Method. It is quite an outdated method, and only amateurs use it. This method is a simple one that requires you to plant your plants with their aerial parts outside the solution.

Krafty method is best suitable for fast-growing plants like Lettuce, herbs and spinach. It is also suitable for tomatoes and pepper but you will need a larger container

Things you need

• Mesh pot
• A narrow-necked simple vase
• Grid

Hydroponic System : What is the best method for you?

In order to find out which of these systems is best for you, know the features each one of them has. Identify your hydroponics needs and get going. Our carefully curated list of pros and cons will help you determine your ideal method.

The post What are the different hydroponic system? appeared first on Rise Hydroponics.

1. Aeroponics System

Have you ever witnessed vegetables grown out of thin air? The aeroponic system we are about to discuss is pretty much that. This system nourishes the plants with nutrient-laden mist and nothing else. The roots are held in a soilless medium of growth like coco coir. Nutrient-laden water has to be periodically pumped for plants to grow.

Yes, the method is quite futuristic and hi-tech, but it has been in function for quite some time now. A pipe system sends out a pressurized solution of nutrients to plants. Roots get the solution through the nozzles of the pipe in the form of droplets. This means that the roots will receive the nutrients and the moisture, besides being able to breathe freely.

INTERESTING FACT: With aeroponics, you have to irrigate for short times but quite frequently. A cycle’s frequency depends on the climate and crop type, besides the pressure you will use in the system.

Things you need for Aeroponics

• A reservoir
• Hoses and pipes with sprayers and nozzles
• Time to set the irrigation cycles
• A durable aeroponics chamber

2. DRIP Hydroponic System

One of the most active hydroponic systems has to be the drip system. This one uses a pump for feeding the plants with water and nutrients regularly. You may have heard about it by the names micro-irrigation system or trickle system. This system makes use of tiny emitters to directly sprinkle the nutrient solution onto the plants. In fact it is a boon for the big problem of aeration as it provides constant watering and nutrition with the hoses, pipes, and growing media.

You can easily understand the system working. The method is all about 2 steps, one being fetching the nutrient solution by using hoses and pipes, from a reservoir. You can send the solution to individual plants. The second step involves sprinkling the solution on a growing medium that will further let out slowly.

Are you aware? Drip system was initially used for outdoor cultivation of plants in Israel to improve water efficiency. It was later adapted for hydroponics.

Things you need

• A reservoir for mixing the nutrient solution
• A water pump attached to the hose and pipe system to irrigate every plant
• Hoses and pipes
• Growing media
• An air pump for sure
• A timer, provided you want to irrigate in cycles

3. Nutrient Film Technique

Did you face an aeration problem with any of the hydroponic systems you used? The nutrient film technique or NFT will solve that problem. With NFT, you will present a thin solution film at a tank’s fairly deep bottom. As a result, roots will receive water and nutrition while the upper part gets to breathe. If you see the roots mop-pressed, then do not fret because they are meant to look like that.

The most significant technical feature of this system is that the growing tank must not be perfectly horizontal. Make sure it has a slight angle. The slight tilt of the tank will not stagnate the roots with the solution, and neither will the solution flow away too fast.

NFT system dates back to the 60s. Infact it was pioneered by Allen Cooper at the Glasshouse Crops Research institute, England.

Things you need for set up

• A growing tank that needs to be slightly inclined
• A reservoir that will provide a nutrient solution for the garden
• An air pump or air stone to be placed within a reservoir
• Pipes for bringing the water to the growth tank and then back to the reservoir
• A water pump for bringing the nutrient solution to the growth tank

4. Ebb and Flow

If you are a home gardener, the ebb and flow system is for you. With this system type, you position the plants in a spacious growing bed. This bed is packed with a growing medium like perlite or rockwool. Once you have carefully planted the plants, you will flood the grow bed with nutrient solution. This system works on the principle of regularly irrigating the roots and for shorter periods.

In the name Ebb and Flow, Ebb indicates retreating water while flow indicates retreating water. Hence the nutrient flow like the tides in sea.

Things you need for set up

• A reservoir
• A growth tank
• Reversible water pump
• Air pump to aerate the reservoir’s solution
• Pipes for leading the nutrient solution from and to the tank
• A timer to switch the pump on and off

5. Wick Hydroponic System

The most simplistic hydroponic system has to be the wick system. It requires no aerators, pumps, or electricity. Among the various kinds of hydroponic systems, this is the only passive system that can do without electricity.

Wick system gets its name as to how a candle wick draws wax or oil lamp draws fuels to light itself. In the same way, the wick system uses a capillary mechanism to feed nutrient solution to the roots.

Things you need for set up

• A reservoir
• A grow tank
• More than one wick (ropes or spongy material)
• A medium for growth (coconut coir, any inter material, or expanded clay)

6. Deep Water Culture

The DWC system works almost for all kinds of plants, but it is a blessing for large plants, especially those with big roots. In this system, the plant roots are suspended in a nutrient solution, and you directly provide the air with a diffuser or an air stone. You will have to place the plants in net pots with a medium for growth to secure them. When you make the plants sit in nutrients with unlimited oxygen being supplied, your plants attain crazy growth.

In Deep Water Culture, the roots are submerged in water 24/7.

Things you need for set up

• A grow tank
• Air pump
• Reservoir filled with nutrient solution
• A water pump

7. Kratky Method

The most rudimentary hydroponic system has to be the Kratky Method. It is quite an outdated method, and only amateurs use it. This method is a simple one that requires you to plant your plants with their aerial parts outside the solution.

Kratky method is best suitable for fast-growing plants like Lettuce, herbs and spinach. It is also suitable for tomatoes and pepper but you will need a larger container

Things you need

• Mesh pot
• A narrow-necked simple vase
• Grid

What is the best method for you?

In order to find out which of these systems is best for you, know the features each one of them has. Identify your hydroponic needs and get going. Our carefully curated list of pros and cons will help you determine your ideal method.

The post Hydroponic System: how to choose the ideal system for you? appeared first on Rise Hydroponics.