In this day and age, being environmentally conscious is a need rather than a choice. That extends to growing methods too. Technology has allowed us to be environmentally friendly and get more effective results at the same time. Other than preventing possible soil erosion and offering less water usage, hydroponic systems also increase the growth rate by almost thirty percent.

How to Choose the Best One

With so many options to choose from, it’s definitely important to have one’s priorities straight before browsing through all those hydroponic systems. You have to constantly pay attention to the nutrient and pH levels in hydroponic systems, so it’s integral that you buy a high-quality product. After weighing several different factors, the most important ones have been highlighted in this buying guide.

Time and Attention That You Can Give

Since hydroponic systems remove soil from the equation, the only medium for the plants is water. The plants are in direct and constant contact with the water, so they are more sensitive to its nutrient and pH levels. The health and growth rate of the plants depend on it, so you definitely need to be alert.

There are different types of hydroponic systems and some are more demanding than others. Aeroponic hydroponic systems are the easiest to maintain since they don’t include complex pumping and timing requirements. A drip hydroponic system is easy to set up with very few components but is susceptible to changing pH levels and clogging and, hence, would demand more vigilance. Ebb and flow hydroponic systems require particular attention too since the recycling of the nutrient solution might cause an unstable pH level. Nutrient film technique (NFT) hydroponic systems are easy to maintain since they utilize self-regulating small channels to transport water.

Space

It matters whether you are planning to set up the system in your backyard, front garden or within your house. This depends on the amount of plants you want to grow. It also depends on the system you choose.

Over the years, companies have experimented with the different types, varying their sizes, but the general pattern is somewhat the same. Nutrient film technique hydroponic systems take up the most space since they utilize a channel of water. Ebb and flow systems spread out horizontally, taking up an average amount of space. If you want more compact designs, then aeroponic or deep water culture systems are the perfect choice.

Type of Plants

Every system has its own particular niche of plant type. Generally, a broad range of plants can be grown under every type, but some are more optimal for particular types like fruits or flowers. Plants that need a dry period to maximize their growth rate and productivity should make use of the dripping system, while the NFT system is optimal for growing small plants. It is important for the prospective buyer to know the dominant plant type they wish to grow and to tailor their purchase according to those demands.

Technically Viable

Hydroponic systems function on pumps and timers. The interconnected framework signifies the dependence of the different parts on the employed machinery. If the pumps stop working, all the plants could die within a day since there is no soil to retain the water. The access to water would be immediately cut off in most cases. Thus, one of the top priorities for a hydroponic system is that it belongs to a reliable brand. You should also test out the machinery before buying it and do a complete walkthrough of the system so that you can catch any small technical malfunction.