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What is NFT hydroponics?
This is one of the first techniques established to grow plants in soil-less conditions, and, although nowadays there are a lot of other systems, (nutrient film technique), NFT hydroponics is easy and cheap to set up, so is popular with amateur gardeners. The NFT hydroponics system works on the basis of washing the plant roots with nutrients in a constant flow of water. A film of water, no more than 1-3mm of depth, flows over the root system of the plant over a flat surface, ensuring that the water is in constant motion. A submersible pump at one end of the table feeds the water to the table and then recycles back to the reservoir in which the pump is submerged and is pumped back across the plant roots. The roots should go above and beneath the film of water which needs to be maintained at a depth of 1 to 3mm. This will ensure that the plants receive the correct nutrient level in order to grow.
Materials needed to run the NFT Hydroponics system
The appeal of NFT hydroponics is the low cost and simple set up. There are other hydroponics systems, some are very expensive and more suitable for the indoor grower with large greenhouse space, who is professionally growing for a living. For the majority of hydroponics beginners, an indoor NFT hydroponics system is probably set up in the garage or utility room and is producing enough plants for personal use, or a means of trying to grow more exotic flowers that will not grow outside. To run the NFT hydroponics system the most important piece of equipment is the pump; this is also the piece of equipment most likely to fail, so a good maintenance routine is also important. A good, sturdy table is needed, the nutrient, an accessible water supply, some air stones under the plants which oxygenate the root ball, and a timer mechanism to regulate the pump's flow.
Why choose NFT hydroponics systems?
The NFT hydroponics system is simple, easy to learn, costs relatively little to set up and does not require complex machinery. It is also a tried and tested system and has a good rate of productivity. The pump must be checked and cleaned regularly, as, this is the NFT hydroponics weak spot, but if that is done, there should be few problems. The plant roots are constantly submerged in water so can be prone to bacterial disease like pythium. This can be overcome by regularly dumping the contents of the nutrient tank and adding products which have active ingredients that minimise the threat of molds and root rot. If you are growing heavy plants, such as tomatoes, make sure you give them adequate support, strings or netting as they have no depth of root support. Overall, NFT hydroponics is a good introduction for a beginner to learn the system of hydroponics.
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Author Bio Box: Patricia Wainwright
Get all the facts about hydroponic gardening and gardening information at GreenThumbArticles.com!
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