Ebb & Flow Hydroponic Systems
Hydroponic gardens are increasingly growing in popularity among gardening enthusiasts due to its excellent growth rate and yield result. Add to this the fact that compared to soil gardening, hydroponic gardens offer greater flexibility and ease of handling. There are various hydroponic gardening systems available in the market; Wick System, Nutrient Film Technique, and Ebb & Flow Hydroponic Systems are some examples of hydroponic gardening systems that are used to grow plants.
Hydroponic gardening systems can be classified as active or passive systems and further into recovery or non-recovery systems based on the different characteristics they display. The Ebb & Flow Hydroponic System is a good example of an active recovery system from among the various types of garden systems available. Based on the theory of flood and drain, the system comprises of a timer controlled submersible pump and a reservoir used to hold the liquid nutrient solution while the plants are placed in an upper tray.
In Ebb & Flow Hydroponic Systems, when the pump is turned on, the nutrient solution from the reservoir is transferred into the upper tray where the plants can absorb the liquid nutrients. A separate ‘overflow fitting’ controls the amount of solution that goes into the tray. As soon as the liquid content reaches the set level, the solution is drained back into the reservoir allowing oxygen-rich air to enter the growing medium eg. rockwool and grow rock; this helps the plants to absorb the maximum nutrients possible.
Ebb & Flow Hydroponic Systems are preferred because they are cost-effective and require low maintenance. This makes Ebb & Flow Hydroponic Systems ideal for small-scale and home-based gardening of plants such as herbs, tomatoes, and flowers.
