Many people, maybe you when hearing the word "hydroponics" assume your garden will be suspended into water with no way of growing. While this is one kind of hydroponics, that is not the only method. In fact, for gardening, this is known as Nutrient Film Technique or NFT, but overall, there are many different types of hydroponics gardening, but all of them work very well.

Types of Hydroponics

There are many different types of hydroponics and which type you use is dependent on what is the most beneficial for your gardening.

* Water Culture System is the basic and very simple system. The basis is that Styrofoam floats on the nutrients hold the plants, which is what supplies the oxygen to the roots. This is the kind of hydroponics that is normally used in classrooms as a basic introduction.

* The Wick System is the simplest type of hydroponics and consists of a more passive approach, meaning there are no moving parts. The nutrients that are in a solution are taken in by the plans from a wick in a reservoir.

* The Drip System Recovery / Non-Recovery is used widely around the world. The operation consists of a timer that turns on and off the nutrient pump that drips on the base of all the plants with the excess solution collected in the reservoir and then re-used. The non-recovery system works the same but does not collect the nutrient solution that runs off.

* Nutrient Film Technique (NFT), this is what many people think of when they think of hydroponics, which consists of a constant flow the nutrient solution, which means there is no timer and the solution is continuously pumped over the roots. The main problem with this method is it is reliant on the pump and should that fail, it can be disastrous.

* The newest technology in aeroponics gardening system type, is the most advanced or high-tech option for hydroponics gardening. The basic principle is similar to the NFT system but the roots hang in the air and then are misted with the nutrients, which are timed to happen every few minutes. This means that because the roots are exposed to the air, they can dry out if the misting should malfunction.

Final Thoughts

With these tips, you will be able to create a high quality hydroponic garden, in just a short period of time. There are many methods and techniques of hydroponics gardening and whichever method you choose, you will need to make certain the roots have the nutrients it needs supplied, or they will dry out quickly and the plants will die.

Therefore, even though you may have a pump and a timer, the plants need close monitoring in case of a pump failure or an electrical failure. The hydroponics gardening is popular among some people while others do not see the value, but one thing is certain, the method does work. Remember to always have fun, enjoy the produce, and treat your garden like a living person.