Hydroponic Methods – Nutrient Flow Technique

You can expand your NFT system to cover acres of growing area if so inclined. Basically, the nutrient solution constantly flows through a flat-bottomed tray or a wide, round pipe (PVC plumbing pipes work excellent for this). Larger operations use very wide concrete forms as the growing area. The nutrient solution is allowed to flow over the roots of the plant, delivering the nutrient very efficiently.

Because the roots are sitting in fast flowing water, a large amount of oxygen is delivered to the roots. Most NFT growers also aerate the solution in the reservoir to further the oxygen content. A high oxygen content in the nutrient battles slime mold and harmful bacteria very efficiently. No growing medium is used, so the roots expand at a phenomenal rate.

Amazing foliage growth follows. Some common (legal) crops that are grown using this technique in a commercial setting are tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, zucchini, and even pumpkins. Growing simple lettuce with this technique allows for a crop a week, for example. Large commercial operations using this technique are the most commonplace implementation. This technique is for those who have experience in building and operating complicated grow ops.

Growing half a dozen cannabis plants is pretty much the smallest scale you can pair this technique down to. I’ve grown with this method in the past and the results were great. Just keep your eye on the nutrient solution’s concentration and you can have results like this, too. While the advantage of this system is its phenomenal growth and infinite scalability, the foremost drawback is complication.

To implement this technique, you need a high flow water pump, an aerator, a large nutrient reservoir and a complicated network of piping or trays. The results are spectacular, but many feel the complication and level of work aren’t worth it on a small scale. Another drawback to this method is the cost of setting the thing up – the cost of the pump, aerator, and pipes or trays add up quickly. Highly engineered concrete growing areas are expensive as well. It’s also very unforgiving to mistakes or oversights, which will cause headaches later on. However, with a little planning and careful implementation, the Nutrient Flow Technique can be scaled up to fit any demand.