Building an Ebb and Flow Hydroponic Plant System

A beautiful home is everybody’s dream and few things are prettier than indoor greenery. Nurturing indoor plants isn’t an easy task but techniques exist to make it easier. Maintaining a hydroponic plant system is among the relatively easy ways to keep a healthy, green bed of plants lush with indoor greenery. In this feature, we describe the do’s and don’ts of keeping this system going surely and safely. Read on to learn the steps you must obey.

There’s more than one hydroponic method you can adopt but the most popular is the ebb and flow system. It’s popular because it’s simple and easy to use.

This is how it works. The growing tray is placed higher than the reservoir containing nutrient solution. The growing medium placed in the former are from amongst rockwool, grow rocks, perlite/vermiculite mix or coconut fiber. The medium needs water. It’s periodically flooded with water using a small timer-fitted pump that automatically shuts off when overflowing occurs and an overflow drain keeps the nutrient fill height steady.

Here’s a ready reckoner telling you about the items you need for your ebb and flow system.

Growing Tray

You need a tray that doesn’t allow light to shine through so that roots are protected. Wood or metal are obvious choices but plastic is a better option because it’s lighter and more durable from the maintenance point of view. Check the tray well to ensure it's smooth and therefore, won’t allow pools or puddles to accumulate. When you want water to drain back into the reservoir below, all of it should go.

Plant Pots

Pots should be non-metallic with drainage holes.

Growing Medium

Grow rocks, also called clay pebbles, are best. Because of the flooding cycles being frequent, you don't want your growing medium to keep a lot of water in it. Clay pebbles have this attribute.

Supports

You need something sturdy and firm capable of carrying the weight of the growing tray. A table is good enough or a milk crate. It depends on your choice of indoor garden configuration. But do remember, please, the tray will get heavier as the plants grow. Once the tray has full size plants changing its configuration is very difficult.

Reservoir

Use a plastic or rubber-made tub, even a garbage can. Metal is strictly no-no owing to the rust factor.

Drains

You need two drains: the fill drain and the overflow drain. The latter is important because it helps keep the water level constant in your garden system. The fill pipe is also the drain pipe, which allows the water to go back the same way it came.

Water pump

Use an aquarium pump; usually it’s good enough for your need. If the design you’ve chosen involves a relatively higher distance between the two trays, you’ll need a slightly more powerful pump. Either way, these pumps are easily available.

Timer

A cheap timer works fine for a single time schedule. For large-scale ebb and flow, you need a sophisticated timer.

Related Articles:

• Types of Hydroponic Systems

  Hydroponics is the name given to growing plants without using soil, but by using a nutrient solution containing the minerals and enrichment plants need to sustain healthy growth. Plant roots are placed among a growing medium, which is completely inert to support the plants and to protect their delicate root systems. Hydroponic gardening is a very

• What is included in Hydroponic Gardening Kits

  A great way to get started in hydroponics is to purchase a complete hydroponic kit. Depending on your needs or how much you’re willing to spend, hydroponic kits can cost as much as a few thousand dollars or as little as a few dozen. Some low end kits include little more than what someone could create