We will take a moment to review a few of the main kinds of hydroponic systems.
There is a large underlying question that hydroponic gardening brings up: do we need soil for growing crops? Hydroponics introduced the world to a type of gardening that doesn’t require soil. Instead, plants are suspended above the ground, either around or inside of water solutions rich in nutrients. Since the hazards and nutrients are no longer a part of the lives of plants, soil is no longer needed, and hydroponic systems are great for helping plants grow more efficiently.
There are a few different types of hydroponic systems, and each kind is suitable for different situations. We will take a moment to review a few of the main kinds of hydroponic systems.
Aeroponics
These hydroponic systems use air suspension in conjunction with misting devices that spray the roots of the plants. Whatever water doesn’t get absorbed into the roots will be caught in a reservoir of water, which will then be recycled for future use. It utilizes water highly efficiently, and what’s great is that any plant can benefit from this type of system.
The difficulty that comes with these hydroponic systems is that they aren’t as easy to set up. They’re more advanced than most other systems and require more energy to function because of the short cycle timers for when plant roots need to be misted.
As long as you can maintain these systems, they are very effective at what they do and can work well for anyone who puts the time into keeping them in good condition.
Wick Hydroponics
The setup for these hydroponic systems is among the easiest of the systems you could use. You don’t need any electricity, misting gadgets, or pumps. Instead, you submerge a wick into a reservoir filled with a water nutrient solution. Then, the wick is brought to the plants, at which point, the nutrients get taken from the wick and then given to your plants.
This system is best for small-scale farms, and you shouldn’t use wick hydroponic systems if whatever you’re growing requires large amounts of water. Nutrient distribution also doesn’t happen evenly, so you’ll need to check in every couple of weeks to make sure you have sufficient nutrient levels.
Drip Systems
If you’re looking for a customizable hydroponic system, consider the drip system option. Drip systems will drip water on the roots of plants. The plants themselves are often installed in a growing medium that is highly absorbent, allowing you to drain excess water and reuse it later, similar to aeroponic systems.
This system is highly flexible, capable of being modified to suit whatever plants and space you have available. Just consider that a lot of maintenance is involved with these systems because of the many reservoirs and pumps you have to monitor.
Baywater Farms Has The Right Produce For You
Baywater Farms is a family-owned and operated farm servicing Baltimore, Washington D.C., Maryland, Delaware beaches, and the Eastern Shore. We are capable of meeting the demands of your produce distributor, restaurant produce supplier, CSA produce supplier, or wholesale produce supplier while maintaining the integrity and character of a small farm. When you work with Baywater Farms, you work with an experienced, ethical, and local farm dedicated to providing the highest-quality heirloom produce.