With the rising interest in urban gardening and sustainable farming, hydroponic systems are becoming a preferred method for home gardeners and commercial farmers. 

This soil-free growing method is gaining popularity and is projected to grow at a CAGR of 11.3% from 2022 to 2028.

This innovative technique offers many benefits compared to traditional soil-based farming. Different types of hydroponic systems are available, offering faster plant growth, bigger harvests, better use of water and nutrients, and less labor. 

To make your work easy, we have mentioned below the main types of hydroponic systems and factors to consider when choosing one. This will help you find the perfect fit for your gardening goals.

Factors To Choose While Choosing The Right Hydroponic System

If you’re looking to engage in indoor farming, it is important to discuss relevant factors while choosing the right hydroponic system. Some of the main factors are mentioned below:

Type Of Plant

Most plants, such as greens, herbs, and vegetables, can be grown using a hydroponics system. As a beginner, you should choose herbs and small vegetable plants that require less maintenance. If you want to start large-scale farming, these simple plants can help you understand how the system works.

Space And Size

The available space is vital as it will determine how many hydroponic plants you can house. For example, small hydroponics plants measure about 16 square feet and do not require much space. The measurement does not include the lighting system, coolers, and reservoir.

Price And System Cost

Price is another factor to consider. If you’re a beginner, you should choose a pre-built hydroponics system. If you decide to purchase a DIY system, it is best to be guided by professionals. A DIY system is more expensive than a pre-built one.

Gardening Experience

When choosing a hydroponic system, match it to your experience level. If you’re beginner you should opt for simple systems like Wick or DWC, as they are easy to set up and maintain. But if you have experience, you can handle more complex systems like Ebb and Flow or Drip Systems, which need more attention.

Types Of Hydroponic Systems

Hydroponics systems can either be active or passive. Active means a pump would move the nutrient solutions. Passive usually relies on the anchor of the growing media. There are different types of hydroponics systems, which are mentioned below:

1)- Nutrient Film Technique (NFT)

The NFT System has a simple design but is widely used due to its variety of applications. In the NFT process, there is a larger reservoir where the nutrient solution is put. From there, the solution goes to pumped sloped channels and flows to the roots to provide the right amount of nutrients.

Pros:

• It can save water through the process of recirculating.
• Little to no growing medium is used.

Cons:

• Not suitable for large, heavy plants.
• Susceptible to power outages and pump failure.

2)- Deep Water Culture (DWC)

The first and simplest hydroponic system is Deep Water Culture, which uses a machine that suspends plants in the air. In this system, the plants are grown are submerged more in water. In Deep Water Culture, plats absorb maximum oxygen to take nutrients and water all day.

It is important that the air pump and airstones run 24 hours a day. A DWC method submerges the roots of the plants 24/7.  Here are a few pros and cons of this method:

Pros:

• The system is easy to build and is inexpensive.
•  Recirculating, hence more water saving.

Cons:

• It is not suitable for plants that have long growing periods.
• It is not suitable for larger plants.

3)- Wick Systems

The wick system is one of the basic types of Hydroponic System. It operates by drawing nutrient solution from the reservoir to the plants through capillary movement like a wick into the growing medium. Suitable choices of medium include vermiculite, perlite, and coconut fiber.

It is ideal for smaller plants and non-fruiting ones, like lettuce and herbs. Some pros and cons of the system are as follows:

Pros:

• Very easy to set up.
• Great start for beginners.

Cons:

• Not efficient in nutrient use.
• Not suitable for larger plants.

4)- Ebb And Flow System (Flood And Drain)

This system is also known as flood and drain. In this process, the nutrient solution is put onto the tray to surround the roots of the plants before draining them back. Nutrients are flooded onto the plant root system and then drained periodically, and the process continues. The container is flooded and soaks the plant roots at set intervals.

With this system, a variety of growing mediums can be used, such as travel, grow rocks, etc, depending on the Hydroponic gardener’s choice. Here are a few pros and cons mentioned below:

Pros:

• Good for water-craving plants such as lettuces and spinaches.
• Easy to build.

Cons:

• Requires lots of growing media, so proper knowledge is required.
• Susceptible to pump failure and power outrages.

5)- Drip System

One of the common types of systems for commercial growers is a Drip System. In this system, when the timer is turned on, the solution drips to the base of the plant, and the nutrient solution is sent back to the reservoir.

Since this is a drip system, slow-draining mediums such as rock wool, coconut coir, and peat moss are often used. Some pros and cons of the drip system are as follows.

Pros:

• Increase in crop production
• Less erosion of soil

Cons:

• More suited to larger gardens.
• Ph and nutrient fluctuations.

6)- Aeroponics

Aeroponics is one of the most high-tech types of the six listed above. A timer is used to control the nutrient pump, and nutrient solution is pumped and sprayed onto the room system through a thin film of nutrients. Here are a few pros and cons of the system:

Pros:

• Plenty of oxygen for plants
• Little to none growing plants using medium water.

Cons:

• More expensive than other types.
• More vulnerable to dryness caused by power outages.

Conclusion

Hydroponic farming offers a variety of effective and efficient hydroponics systems to grow plants without soil. Each hydroponic system has its own advantages and challenges, which make them different from each other. 

Different factors must be considered before investing in any hydroponic system. It is important to consult an agricultural professional or experienced environmentalist. They can help you make tailored decisions about selecting the right hydroponic system according to your specific requirements.

You should remember that you guarantee better yields as long as hydroponic plants are paired with appropriate systems.

FAQs