| The NFT (Nutrient Film Technique) used to be | | | | solution depth is constantly maintained to create a |
| commonly used among commercial and smaller scale | | | | nutrient film over the plant roots. |
| hobbyist or amateur hydroponic growers. Its use has | | | | When setting up your own NFT system you will need |
| diminished among commercial growers in recent years | | | | a shallow, flat-bottomed tub and a submersion pump |
| mainly because new hydroponic techniques exist | | | | which will keep the water flowing over the plant |
| today that are better suited to large-scale farming. | | | | roots. The plants should be placed close together in |
| Amateur hydroponic growers however still use NFT | | | | order to enable the nutrients to more readily cling to |
| often. It's not that expensive, it's very easy to use, | | | | the roots. The submersion pump will constantly |
| and it can be easily adapted to suit many different | | | | recycle the water back into the system. And |
| plant types. | | | | because the water is being constantly recycled, you |
| The NFT is one kind of solution culture in hydroponics. | | | | will need to closely monitor the nutrient levels in the |
| Solution culture hydroponics involves the growing of | | | | water. |
| plants without growth medium and without soil. Many | | | | The NFT technique does have a few potential |
| hydroponics growers believe that solution cultures are | | | | drawbacks which need to be addressed. For example |
| the only true form of hydroponics. They say that | | | | the nutrients necessary for the plants can cause |
| when growers add solid growth mediums, they are | | | | damage to the submersion pump. If the submersion |
| adding nutrients to the plants in the same way soil | | | | pump fails, or if there is an electrical failure, your |
| does. NFT on the other hand, treats the plants only | | | | plants will not be getting the nutrients they need to |
| with nutrient solutions prepared by the growers and | | | | survive. A relatively short disruption in the pump can |
| delivered to the plants root system via water. | | | | lead to complete failure in your plants. |
| NFT Hydroponics Systems work by generating a | | | | Nevertheless the NFT Hydroponic System remains a |
| constant water flow at the plants' root systems | | | | viable method of hydroponic gardening for small scale |
| which are suspended in a tub. The slow moving | | | | and indoor gardeners. By closely monitoring the pump |
| water solution is spread out across a flat surface at | | | | and nutrient solution, hydroponic gardening can be |
| a depth of approximately 1 to 3 inches. This shallow | | | | made nearly risk free and quite productive! |