How do you choose the right hydroponic system?

China A-frame hydroponics system growing channels (NFT) greenhouse for  lettuce salad - China Hydroponics, Substrates
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In order to be a successful hydroponic farmer, you first need to understand how you choose the right system so you prevent the danger of making mistakes and wasting money on the wrong equipment!

But before you can choose you have to take into consideration some key factors.

  • How much space you have available
  • The lighting you have available.
  • How much you can afford
  • How much time you can spare
  • The type of crop
  • Whether you are planning at expanding in the future

It is better to start with a more passive system than an active system, just because its cheaper to run, more affordable to buy and its better suited to farming of smaller plants. Whereas active systems are more expensive, however they are also more efficient due to the fact it uses pumps and it also requires a lot less attention to look after it because it has a timer on it.

On the other hand you have the option of a media based “ebb and flow” system which mostly relies on a growing medium for the plants, which has to be cycled out somewhat frequently so the plants can get fresh nutrients that it needs for a healthy development.

There is also the need of maintaining the system during the event of a blackout, to prevent the pumps from being affected, this is where the use of a media based system because it is able to passively cycle out the nutrients that is not being used.

Contrary to this, a water culture system is simple and relatively cheap to function. The water culture system is ideal for plants such as cucumbers because they love water and thrive with an abundance of it.

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