Futurama Hydroponics

May 11, 2021

1 hour ago, thelazyfishermanza said:

Morning all

I'm needing your advice. I'm planning to replace my 12v very noisy extraction fan. Noise is my biggest concern. Whats you take on the below fans? Want to get a 20cm model.

Sent from my VOG-L09 using Tapatalk

They all perform on a similar level, but we would definitely recommend the Ram Mixed Flow Inline Fan 100% just because the Hydors are a bit louder. The Metal Inline Fan is stronger but much louder and not necessarily needed depending on tent size.

May 7, 2021

Growing your own cannabis is a fun and rewarding hobby that will also save you a lot of money. For many growers’ space can be an issue. Most of us may not have an extra room or closet in our house to convert into a grow room for our plants but if you have just a bit of space in the corner of a room or garage or maybe a secure balcony, then a grow tent may be a great option.

What Is a Grow Tent?

A grow tent is a portable, reusable structure made from sturdy canvas material. The inside will usually be made of a reflective material to increase the effectiveness of grow lights. The fabric structure is assembled around a sturdy frame to provide a home for your cannabis plants to grow. This frame also serves as a support structure for grow lights, fans, filters and other equipment, allowing you to customise your cultivation environment. There are many grow tent varieties available on the market, offering a range of sizes and features to suit different applications and budgets.

Grow Tent Frame

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The structure of the grow tent is made of supporting poles that are installed under the fabric shell. The poles provide stability and help to reinforce the shape of the exterior of the grow tent. Tent frames can be made of many different types of material. Heavy-duty steel construction is strong and rigid but is more expensive, heavier and may be more inconvenient to set up and break down compared to lighter weight metal and synthetic materials which can still support heavy loads.

As a general rule, thicker poles with applicable fittings will sustain more weight than thinner poles and will provide a more stable frame.

Manufacturers will normally publish a maximum weight rating for their tent frames. Lightweight frames limit the type and amount of hanging equipment a tent can safely support.

In general, you will pay more attention to the maximum weight rating in larger grow tents as the interior size of smaller tents already limits the size of the equipment you can install. In larger tents there is sufficient area to accommodate numerous plants and sophisticated equipment such as lights, ducting, fans, filters and other components which can start to get very heavy and may overtax the maximum weight recommendations of some tents.

Grow Tent Zippers and Seams

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Broken zippers and tears around the seams are the two most common complaints when it comes to grow tents. The door on a grow tent is typically sealed with a long, often multi-part zipper that manoeuvres around curves.

Most grow tents make use of large-gauge, heavy duty plastic zippers, but constant use in opening and closing the doors makes them a prime candidate for mishaps. Torn stitching and broken zippers can happen even in high quality tents but can be avoided with proper care.

You should clean zippers regularly by brushing or wiping them regularly to remove dirt and grit that may become lodged in and around the teeth.

Seam damage or tearing around the zipper can result from pulling to hard or just general wear and tear when a lower quality fabric is used.

Manufacturers will sometimes double stitch their seams for added strength and to avoid zipper seams tearing. If a tent has this feature, it is a good indicator that it is a quality tent.

Grow Tent Ports and Vents

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One of the goals when growing in an enclosed environment is regulatory control. This is where managing access to the outside world becomes important. It can, however, be challenging as a lot of the equipment used will often need to access the environment outside the tent for electrical service, air circulation and other purposes.

A grow tent is designed to accommodate a variety of equipment from any manufacturers. The included access ports, vents and other openings need to be correctly sized and placed to suit as much equipment and as many set up options as possible.

Larger tents normally offer more ports and vents because more equipment is used.

Who Should Use a Grow Tent?

Grow tents are designed to keep things simple for the hobbyist cannabis grower. They are not designed for huge cannabis grow operations, but for anyone looking to grow their own cannabis on a smaller scale.

Benefits of Growing in a Grow Tent

Controlled Environment

A grow tent gives you complete control over the growing environment. A grow tent is specifically designed for growing. In a grow tent you will be able to control the temperature, humidity, light schedule, and light intensity, ensure there is proper air circulation and that new air is always being introduced. This may seem like a lot but it becomes easier to control these elements and use them to grow strong and healthy plants as you gain experience.

Quick and Easy to Set Up

Assembling your grow tent is quick and easy. You do not need any additional tools and can have your grow tent up and running in an afternoon.

Stealth

When properly set up a grow tent can prevent smells and light from escaping. This is an advantage if you want to keep your grow on the down low. It can be tucked away in a big closet, corner of a room or in a garage without drawing too much attention.

Helps Prevent Bugs

A grow tent helps minimise pests and infestations. Although grow tents cannot guarantee that you will not ever struggle with a pest problem, the chances are much less than growing outdoors.

Keeps Buds Clean

In addition to minimising bugs from getting on your plants, grow tents can also help keep dust and debris out. In flowering the trichomes on your buds become surprisingly sticky making it easy for dust and flying debris like animal hair to get stuck to the buds. A grow tent will help keep those buds looking great.

Waterproof and Easy to Clean

A grow tent usually has a waterproof floor that will contain any spills when watering your plants. This is great because you won’t need to worry about water leaking out onto your floors or carpets. Some tents come with a removable floor tray which makes cleaning even more simple. You can just remove the floor tray and wipe it down.

Grow Tents are Adaptable and Versatile

A grow tent is a great way to utilize an area without completely transforming it. You can also easily dismantle the grow tent once you've finished your cycle.

A grow tent is also versatile because you can still try out different growing systems. If you're thinking of moving from a soil grow to a hydroponic grow you can do so with ease.

Some Final Notes

A grow tent is a great option for any grower looking to start their indoor garden. It is the fastest and easiest way to start growing indoors.

Plants have evolved to thrive in an outside environment. When you’re growing indoors, you’re essentially creating a mini version of the plants outside environment. There is no better way to create your mini environment than by starting with a grow tent that is designed for all the factors that will go into creating your indoor environment.

April 29, 2021

On 4/18/2021 at 12:25 PM, ThricomeInstituteStudent said:

And so sorry, It is a Gorilla Autoflower going into 4th week of flower tomorrow.

Hi ThricomeInstituteStudent, it's awesome that you are growing your own!

During flowering, it is normal for the bud to start developing hair (pistils) and for the bud to increase in size. It is definitely good if the buds are fattening up! The most accurate way to check if the plant is ready for harvesting is by checking the trichomes. Here is a guide to help you

February 23, 2021

Grow Lights: What Are the Different Types of Grow Lights?

What are Grow lights, and why are they important?

A grow light is an artificial light source that has a specific light spectrum needed to help support the process of photosynthesis in plants. Photosynthesis is the chemical process in which light energy is converted within a plant to energy a plant can use to grow and produce. Plants use the blue and red light spectrums. Blue light on plants is directly related to chlorophyll production. Plants that receive plenty of blue light will develop, healthy stems and leaves. Red light is responsible for helping plants flower and produce fruit.

Grow Lights are an essential part of any indoor grow. The best type of light will always be the sun but when growing indoors you need a grow light that will provide the best quality and amount of light for your plants. The right amount of light is essential to a plant's survival as a plant needs light in order to photosynthesise for survival and growth.

If you’re new to growing, the variety of different grow lights available can be overwhelming therefore it’s important to know what different types of grow lights there are, so you can choose which is right for you.

Grow lights can be broken down into three main categories:

High Intensity Discharge (HID)
Fluorescent
LED

HID (High Intensity Discharge)

(HID)High Intensity Discharge lamps are a top choice amongst indoor growers because of their reliability and very high light output. These HID grow lights produce a lot of heat, and so they should there be kept fairly far from the plants. This technology consists of a lighting ballast, lamp reflector and HID bulb. Types of HID lights include Metal halide (MH), High Pressure Sodium (HPS), CMH (Ceramic Metal Halide) and Double ended bulbs.

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MH (Metal Halide) HPS (High Pressure Sodium) CMH (Ceramic Metal Halide) Double-ended (DE)

MH (Metal halide)

MH grow lights produce a white light which helps encourage lush, green leafy plant growth. These lights are generally used in the vegetative stage of growth when plants are young and growing just stems and leaves. MH lights can be used throughout the entire grow cycle however this is not advised. Used as the main source of light in your indoor grow will produce shorter more bushy sized plants.

HPS (High Pressure Sodium)

HPS grow lights produce an amber light which promotes the stretching out of the plant and bud formation. These lights are great for the flowering stage. The amber light spectrum triggers hormones in the plants which increases bud formation in the plant. HPS bulbs can be used for the entire grow however plants grown using only HPS light will generally be too skinny and grow too quickly. Something to note with HPS lights is that they create a lot of heat. To control this heat, you would need air-conditioning or an exhaust system.

If you can only choose one light for your grow cycle, it is always recommended going for the HPS bulb as these will do better for your entire grow. Growers often combine these two bulbs in the different stages of growth, using MH for the vegetative stage and then switching to HPS for the flowering stage. Some light fixtures provide a choice of using either MH or HPS lighting, but not at the same time. These lights are known as two-way, switchable or convertible lights and make it super easy to switch form MH bulbs to HPS bulbs in the flowering stage

CMH (Ceramic Metal Halide)

CMH grow lights are like an evolved version of high-pressure discharge lights. These lights use a ceramic core instead of the traditional quartz metal halides use. The ceramic element of these light gives a higher intensity of light that can extremely closely mimic natural sunlight. These types of light contain different types of gas the HPS and MH lights. They also connect much better due to the different thread they come with. This makes these bulbs more secure. The CMH or LEC grow lights hardly create any heat because of the addition of insulation, so your plants don’t burn, they also have more UV-A and UV-B in its spectrum, which is very beneficial if you are growing cannabis.

These grow lights are available in a variety of different light spectrums such as growth, flowering and mixed spectrums.

Double-ended (DE)

Double-ended grow lights are another type of HPS light that connects to each end of a ballast instead of just one ballast port. The DE light maintains about 90% efficiency, while a single-ended light loses efficiency after about 10 000 hours of use. The slim design of the DE light also helps provide more light.

Fluorescent

Fluorescent grow lights are generally the least expensive lights. They also use less energy and operate at a much cooler temperature compared to other grow lights. There are 2 main types of fluorescent grow lights, CFL (Compact fluorescent) and T5 fluorescent tubes.

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CFL (Compact fluorescent) T5 fluorescent

CFL (Compact fluorescent)

CFL grow lights are a good choice for smaller grow areas or novice growers as they do not require a ballast. They simply screw into a socket incorporated on a wing reflector. CFLs produce light in all directions so the purpose of the wing reflector is to capture and reflect the lights rays onto the plant. This ensures that no light is wasted. CFL grow lights use less energy and produce significantly less heat compared to HID lights. The CFL bulbs are divided into half, one side is of the blue light spectrum which will be used for vegetative growth, and the other side is of the red light spectrum which will be used for flowering.

T5 fluorescent

T5 grow lights are similar to LEDs and CFLs in that they produce much less heat which means you can hang them much closer to your plants. This grow light also uses less energy and can simply be plugged directly into the wall, unlike the MH/HPS bulb, which requires a ballast and a reflector. With a lower wattage than high intensity systems, these fluorescent grow lights are perfect for germinating seeds, rooting clones and for the first few weeks of the growth period.

LED

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LED (Light Emitting Diodes) grow lights are part of the newest light technology introduced to the world and have become an increasingly popular choose among indoor growers. LED lights have a low power consumption which means you can save a lot on electricity. They also give off a lot less heat compared to HID lights, this means you can place your lights much closer to the canopy without the fear of burning your leaves. Another great thing about growing with LED’s is that you are able to optimise their spectrum to output more of a certain light spectrum depending on which growth stage your plant is in.

The main disadvantage of these lights has been their high cost however costs have been dropping as they continue to be produced in larger volumes by more manufacturers. These lights are also popular for their long life and efficiency which makes them a great long-term investment.

SHOP OUR GROW LIGHTS HERE

Do you have questions or need expert advice? Email us via info@futurama.co.za or give us a call on 021 851 3284.⁠

November 26, 2020

A big decision when starting to grow your own cannabis is whether to grow in soil or hydroponics. Hydroponic cannabis refers to cannabis that is grown without the use of soil. Instead of the natural nutrients found in soil, growers will apply their own nutrients throughout the grow process. There are many advantages of growing in hydro such as less risk of attracting pests, faster growth and can often produce higher yields.

Hydroponics also comes with risks such as root damage if there is a power failure or if you run out of water. Hydroponics also requires more maintenance as there are many more things that can go wrong than with a soil grow. This is why it is important to start with one of the simpler systems as a beginner such as a Deep Water Culture System.

Despite the extra care involved with hydroponics, it still offers growers far more control over the nutrients that go into the plant and allows the water that is not absorbed by the plants to be recycled back into the system which can save you on water.

If you have chosen to grow your cannabis in a hydroponic system, this guide will help you get started.

Deciding on A Hydroponic System
There are 6 systems below. We recommend you take some time to read about each one.

There are a few factors that should influence your decision; the amount of space you have available, the amount of plants you want to grow, and finally - your budget. It is recommended to start small when learning and expand later as it can get very overwhelming with too many plants.

Deep water culture (DWC) is a great place to start for beginners as it is usually the cheapest option and most simple to use.

Choose A Light Source

Light is one of the most important factors when growing cannabis. You will need a powerful light source to get the most out of your hydroponic cannabis grow. There are many different types of grow lights each with their own advantages and disadvantages.

When choosing a grow light consider the units cost, the intensity of the light, which light spectrum it emits, and how much area coverage you will need.

If you do not have the adequate space available indoors, consider positioning your hydroponic system outside in an area that offers a fair amount of direct sunlight.

What Growing Media?

When growing in hydroponics you will need a soilless growing medium. A growing medium is the substance that will hold the plant stem and roots in place. There are many different types of growing medium available. Each with their own unique benefits and some work better than others in certain hydroponic systems. Here is a list of the most common types of grow medium used by cannabis growers.

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LECA (Lightweight Expanded Clay Aggregate)

These clay pebbles are a popular option when it comes to hydroponics. They are created by heating and expanding clays to from thousands of small bubble shaped balls.

These pH neutral and sterile clay pebbles provide excellent oxygenation for the roots. The roots are not placed under any stress and grow easily, which makes nutrient absorption very efficient.

This clay aggregate is porous enough to give it some good water-holding ability, though not sufficient for systems using a single daily watering. Rather, this medium is better suited for continuous-flow or multiple-watering hydro systems.

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This sterile, porous medium is spun from fibres created by melting various rock types, these fibres are then pressed into various plugs, squares, and slabs for growing plants.

Rockwool has a great capacity to retain water, which allows for good hydration of the upper root system. This protects the plant from dehydration while providing the plant roots with a continuous amount of oxygen.

Rockwool has a generally high pH, so it is recommended to soak this media in pH balanced water before use.

Perlite
Perlite is a volcanic glass that expands when exposed to high temperatures. It is very lightweight and porous which is why it is often mixed with other growing media such as vermiculite, coco coir or soil to provide aeration.

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Coco Coir
Coco coir is essentially the by-product of the coconut industry. It is made from the brown husks around the coconut shell. It is completely organic, highly inert and holds water very well.

Get Your Nutrients
The three most essential minerals for growth are nitrogen (N), phosphate (P) and potassium (K). Just like humans, your cannabis plants will need nutrients to grow strong and healthy.

Some nutrients are made for soil and others are made specifically for hydroponics. When purchasing nutrients, you should always check that they are compatible with the growing medium you have chosen.

Prepare Your System
Once you have chosen your hydroponic system, the growing media you will be using and bought your nutrients, it is time to set your system up.

Before you run your system make sure all your equipment is clean and wipe down all buckets, trays and pipes to prevent any contamination.

Once your system is clean, set it up and make sure everything is working and running smoothly.

Ready, Set, Grow!

You are now ready to plant your germinated seedlings into their new home to grow and flourish.

Maintaining Your System

Remember that every hydroponic system requires frequent maintenance to provide your plants with an optimal growing environment. Here are some factors you need to be aware of.

1. Always monitor pH

You will need to constantly test the pH of the water to ensure an optimal environment. Nutrients are more available to your plants when the environment is slightly more acidic. The pH of your water should therefore be between 5.5 -5.8.

You can use a pH testing kit to take regular readings and change the solution to maintain this range.

2. Water temperature

The ideal temperature of hydroponic cannabis is 20°C. Always try to keep your water to around this temperature. You can monitor this by using a water thermometer. If the water is too cold you can use a water heater to increase the temperature.

3. Provide the correct quantity of nutrients

Just like soil-based plants, hydroponic plants also require nutrients. You will need to purchase nutrients made for hydroponics that contain all the required minerals needed for both vegetation and flowering stages. The product will usually come with instructions on how often to add nutrients into your system as well as how much dilution is required.

4. Keep your system clean

The water in the reservoir should be changed out once the volume of added top-off water equals the total volume of the tank, usually around every two to three weeks. This prevents the over-accumulation of nutrients, bacteria, and fungi. Depending on your system you may change it more or less often to maintain optimal pH and nutrient levels.

5. Choosing a strain for hydroponic growing

Strain selection is very important when it comes to hydroponic growing. Plants grown in these systems are free to take in nutrients extremely fast, which often results in rapid growth.

Therefore, selecting a large sativa variety is not the best choice, especially if your system is in an indoor tent.

Smaller and more compact strains are better suited for indoor hydroponic systems. Starting with a smaller strain is advantageous for a few reasons:

You will be able to cultivate more plants within a smaller space, allowing for more diversity and potentially bigger yields.
If your plant does go through a growth spurt, you will have the space to deal with the sudden height.

Some Final Notes on Growing Cannabis in Hydroponics

Hydroponics can seem very intimidating and complicated to beginners. All the different systems, parts and methods can be overwhelming. The key is to start out simple, choose an appropriate strain and always keep track of your plant’s environment daily for any complications such as pesky pests or plant disease. Check your leaves regularly for any unusual discolouration, keep your reservoir topped-up and well oxygenated and most importantly have fun growing and enjoy the fruits of your labour.

November 19, 2020

What Makes Up A Hydroponic System?
Every hydroponic system is made up of components. Each of these components provides an important function for the system to work correctly and provides your cannabis plants with optimal conditions.

Growing Chamber or Tray
This is simply the part of any hydroponic setup through which plant roots will be growing. The perforated chamber allows the roots of the plant to be submerged in the reservoir containing the nutrient solution dissolved in water so that the roots have proper access to the dissolved minerals.

The growing chamber or tray protects the cannabis plant from external factors such as light, heat and pests. Your plant needs to be protected from the fluctuations in light and temperature as any changes from the optimal environmental conditions can cause stress in plants which ultimately hinders the proper growth and yield. The nutrient solution temperature is also an important factor for keeping the root zone comfortable for your growing plant.

Growing chambers or trays come in various shapes and sizes and will entirely depend on the type of hydroponic system you choose.

Reservoir
This is the base of any hydroponic system and holds the nutrient solution. This nutrient solution is a mixture of water and plant nutrients. Depending on the type of system, the nutrient solution is either pumped up from the reservoir up to the growing tray or chamber in cycles frequently or the roots are emerged down into the reservoir permanently, making the reservoir a growing chamber as well.

The reservoir should always be lightproof. This is because light promotes fungal growth, algae and micro-organisms to start growing. Even low light levels can be harmful to growing plants. You can check to make it is lightproof by holding it just over your head and see if any light comes through. Some growers will either paint the container or cover it with something like plastic sheet insulation if the container is not completely lightproof.

Water Pumps
Almost every hydroponic system requires a submersible pump to pump the nutrient rich solution from the reservoir into the growing tray for the plants roots to absorb.

There are two types of water pumps:

Inline Pumps - An inline pump sits outside of the reservoir. Because of this, they are usually cooled by the air and will be noisier than submersible pumps. These pumps are generally more powerful and used in commercial or larger grows.

Submersible Pumps - A submersible pump sits inside your reservoir with the water acting as noise insulation. While the water cools the pump, it does not mean heat will seep into your mixture. You will need to ensure this does not warm your mixture up too much. These pumps may lack the power of inline pumps but are perfect for home growers.

Air Pumps and Air Stones
Just like humans, plants need oxygen to survive. In a hydroponics system, water is used to grow the plants. If the plants roots are fully submerged in water with no oxygen, they can quickly drown and could die. Therefore, it is so important to provide them with oxygen. There are two ways that you can provide oxygen to your cannabis plants; Air pumps and air stones.

Air diffuses into water whenever the two come into contact. This commonly occurs when water on the surface of the reservoir touches the air in a grow room or when air bubbles rise through a column of water in a reservoir. Many growers use a combination of an air pump and an air stone to add oxygen to their nutrient solution. This is an efficient option for many growers and is one that can increase dissolved oxygen levels inexpensively.

The function of an air pump is simple yet essential. The air pump supplies air and oxygen to the water and then to the roots of your growing plants. An air pump pumps air through food grade plastic tubing to the bottom of the reservoir, where it is attached to an air stone. The air stone then diffuses the air into small bubbles which rise through the water, increasing the dissolved oxygen level as they rise. The rule of thumb is that a system with fully submerged roots needs an air pump.

By using an air pump, you can take advantage of the diffusion of air into water. When placed at the bottom of your reservoir and combining it with a high quality air stone, the bubbles produced will increase the dissolved oxygen levels in your nutrient reservoir as well as the added bonus of keeping your reservoir evenly mixed, preventing the fertilizer from settling to the bottom of the reservoir. The circulating oxygenated water also helps reduce pathogens from developing in the reservoir.

What is Dissolved Oxygen and Why is it Important?
Molecular oxygen, more commonly known to home growers as dissolved oxygen, is the oxygen used by aquatic creatures and the aerobic organisms living in and around a plant's rhizosphere.

When it comes to aquatic life applications, water quality is based on its dissolved oxygen content. The more dissolved oxygen, the better the water quality. This standard should be applied to water used for plants, especially plants growing in hydroponic systems.

Good quality water that has a high content of dissolved oxygen is essential to a successful indoor cannabis grow. If there is not sufficient dissolved oxygen in the nutrient solution the feeder roots will suffocate and die. This makes it difficult for the plant to stay healthy if the nutrient solution is continually depleted of dissolved oxygen.

Factors that Affect Dissolved Oxygen
There are two major factors that affect dissolved oxygen content: temperature and salinity. Salinity is not as critical as temperature because by the time a medium or nutrient solution's salinity level is high enough to affect the content of dissolved oxygen, the chances are good that the plant would have already been showing signs of over-fertilisation or toxic salinity.

Temperature, however, is the most crucial and controllable factor related to dissolved oxygen. Temperature affects the solubility of oxygen in water, as the temperature gets warmer the dissolved oxygen decreases and as the water temperatures get cooler, the potential dissolved oxygen content increases. This means that if the temperatures in your grow room rise, the dissolved oxygen in your hydroponic system can rapidly decrease as a result.

This is why it is so important to control the temperature of your nutrient solution.

Temperature Control for Water
The ideal hydroponic temperature range is somewhere between 18°C and 20°C for optimal plant growth.

The first way to control the temperature of your water is to control the temperature of the grow room itself. Hydroponic systems, reservoirs, and anything else in the grow room will eventually take on the ambient temperature of the room.

Once the water in your hydroponic system gets hot, the dissolved oxygen content will decline low enough that beneficial aerobic organisms will die off and pathogenic anaerobic organisms will find favourable conditions to thrive and harm your plants.

There are a few ways you as an indoor grower can effectively control the ambient temperature such as implementing air conditioners, exhaust and intake fans and air-cooled reflectors for grow lights.

There are also a few ways in which you can control the temperature of your water solution. The two most popular being water chillers and aerating your plant's root zone.

Water Chillers
A Water chiller is essentially an air conditioner for water. They can be used if your hydroponic system is susceptible to heat from the environment or if you are using large submersible pumps that give off heat.

Optimal ambient temperatures for CO2 enrichment are higher than normal ambient temperatures, so water chillers allow growers to maintain cool temperatures in their hydroponic systems while increasing the room temperature to maximize CO2 absorption.
Water chillers also help to battle the unwanted heat created by the large submersible pumps used in some hydroponic systems.

Aeration of a Plant's Root Zone
Aeration is how a grower will replace the dissolved oxygen that is naturally used up during a plant's growth process.
Aerating a nutrient solution is done by vigorous circulation or by an air pump connected to an air stone or diffuser to help replace used dissolved oxygen. As the water bubbles up or circulates, it comes into contact with the surrounding air, which allows it to absorb some of the oxygen from the atmosphere.

Some Final Notes on Hydroponic Components
As you can see, each component that makes up the hydroponic system is important and plays a vital role in creating the perfect environment for your cannabis plant to grow and thrive in. When running your system, always make sure you are providing your plants with enough oxygen and optimal water temperature so that you can avoid any potential problems and maintain the optimal conditions for your plant to reach their full potential.

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November 16, 2020

Hydroponic Systems and How They Work

When growing cannabis there are two options to go for, hydroponic or soil grow. Hydroponics has become a popular way of cultivating cannabis plants. It can appear quite intimidating and complicated but growing cannabis in hydroponics can be very rewarding.

What is Hydroponics?
Hydroponics is a soilless method of cultivating plants using water as the primary medium.

The cannabis plants are planted in soil less growing medium and supplied with nutrient-rich solution, oxygen and water. Plants grown in hydroponic systems grow much healthier and produce higher quality yields.

To grow hydroponically you need a hydroponic system. These systems work by allowing you to create the optimal growing environment by controlling the environmental conditions such as temperature, pH balance and exposure to nutrients and water. A hydroponic system allows you to give the plant exactly what they need for optimal growth. In this customised and controlled environment plants are free to grow strong, healthy, and rapidly.

What Are the Benefits of Growing with Hydroponics?
In hydroponics, plants are grown in a soilless medium and perfectly balanced pH adjusted nutrient solution which is delivered straight to the roots. The plant is able to absorb these nutrients with little effort compared to soil where the roots would need to search for the nutrients. The energy the plant would need to use in this process is better spent on growth and flower production.

Rapid, healthier growth and bigger yields are just some of the many reasons why hydroponics is becoming increasingly popular for growing cannabis. Here are some more benefits to growing cannabis using hydroponics.

1. Control
Probably the most significant advantage of growing in a hydroponic system is that you get much more control over what happens to your plants. You are in control of the growing medium, the nutrients and oxygen getting to your roots. If you are growing indoors then you even have control of the light and temperature.

2. Faster and bigger yields
If the hydroponic system is used correctly, you can achieve larger and faster yields from your plants. This is because hydroponics allows you to deliver the perfect mix and amount of nutrients right to your plant’s roots. A good hydroponic system also gives the roots plenty of oxygen and will use the ideal PH. All these factors add up to the perfect environment for big crops.

3. Pests
By using a hydroponic system, you have greater control of your environment, which means you can usually reduce the risk of insects and other pests.

4. All year long
Using a hydroponic system will allow you to grow all year long. If you are growing indoors, you can keep your system going all year round and if you are growing outdoors, you can just move your setup indoors when it gets very cold and dark during the winter months.

5. Healthy inputs
When growing in hydroponics, you know exactly what is going into your plants. This includes what they are planted into the nutrients they receive as they grow. Hydroponics ensures you are not growing in any unhealthy, contaminated soil.

6. Water efficiency
This may sound contradictory, but hydroponics uses less water than growing plants in soil. When you water your plants in the ground, a lot of water runs off into the soil that doesn't feed your plants roots. When you water your plants in pots a lot of water seeps through the soil and drains out the bottom. But with a hydroponics setup, you're delivering water straight to the plant.

Types of Hydroponic Systems
There are a few different hydroponic systems available. All systems are similar in that they make use of a nutrient rich water solution. However, the setup can vary widely depending on factors such as water exposure and circulation.

Deep water culture (DWC)
Deep water culture is the simplest of all the hydroponic systems and the best place to start with for beginners. This system consists of an air pump which supplies air to the air stone that bubbles the nutrient solution and supplies the oxygen rich solution to the plants roots which are suspended above the solution in net pots. These net pots are usually filled with LECA (Light-Weight Expanded Clay Aggregate), or Rockwool.

Wick system
The wick system is another simple hydroponic system. The wick system utilizes a simple method of transferring mineral rich water from the reservoir to the soilless medium. This can be referred to as a passive system and requires minimal moving parts. The nutrients move up the wick or string from a reservoir and into the plant's root systems through capillary movement.

The ideal growing medium is a mixture of Perlite, Vermiculite and Coco Peat/Coir. For the wick system to be functional, the medium used must be able to retain moisture, therefore using a mixture of Vermiculite and Coco Peat/Coir will show the best results.

Ebb & Flow (Flood and Drain)
The Ebb and Flow or flood drain system works by flooding the grow area with nutrient solution and then draining it back into a reservoir. The reservoir contains a pump connected to a timer. When the timer turns the pump on the nutrient solution is pumped through tubing from the reservoir into the growing tray. When the timer turns the pump off the nutrient solution is then drained back into the reservoir.

A variety of growing mediums can be used in this system. The entire grow bed can be filled with LECA (Light-Weight Expanded Clay Aggregate), or Rockwool. Some growers use individual pots filled with the growing medium, making it easier to move plants around if needed.

Plants in an Ebb and Flow system are vulnerable to interruptions caused by power outages as well as pump or timer failures. This interruption in the flow of nutrient solution will cause the roots to dry out rapidly. Using a soilless medium that is good at retaining water such as Vermiculite or Coco Peat/Coir can somewhat help ensure your plants survive any mechanical complication.

NFT (Nutrient Film Technique)
When thinking of hydroponics most people tend to think of an NFT system. NFT or Nutrient Film Technique is popular among growers due to its simple yet effective design. In an NFT system nutrient rich solution is constantly recirculated. The nutrient solution is pumped from a reservoir into hollow channels, usually a tube, and flows over the roots of the plant allowing it to absorb the nutrients it needs. The solution is then drained back into the reservoir.
Because of this constant flow of nutrient solution, there is no need to use a timer for the submersible pump.

Usually the cannabis plant is supported in a small plastic basket called a net pot, filled with growing medium such as LECA (Light-Weight Expanded Clay Aggregate) or Rockwool to hold the plants in place, with the roots suspended in the nutrient solution.

Plants in an NFT system are very sensitive to interruptions caused by power outages and pump failures. This interruption in the flow of nutrient solution will cause the roots to dry out rapidly.

Drip System
The drip system is one of the most used systems in hydroponics. This system consists of a large tray filled with growing medium, such as clay pebbles. Cannabis plants are placed directly into the medium, and each has its own drip pipe close by. An external water tank with a pump and air stones supplies a constant drip feed of water over each plant. The roots receive timer-controlled nutrients from this submerged pump and excess nutrients that are not absorbed by the cannabis plants, drips down the medium and back into the tank for re-use.

Aeroponic
The Aeroponic system is seen as the most technical type of hydroponic system. This type of system uses air as its main growing medium. The plant is suspended by small baskets filled with LECA (Light-Weight Expanded Clay Aggregate) or Rockwool that compress around the plant's stem and holds it in place.
The plant's roots hang down in the air and are misted every few minutes with a nutrient solution. Just like other types of hydroponic systems, a timer controls the nutrient pump. The timer however needs to be on a shorter cycle, running the pump for a few seconds every few minutes.

Some Final Notes on Growing Cannabis in Hydroponics
Hydroponics can seem scary and complicated, all the different parts, systems and methods make it seem quite complex, but in fact it is much easier than it seems. Growing in a hydroponic setup is very rewarding and your hard work can pay off with rapid growth times and large yield.

While hydroponics gives you all sorts of ways to grow cannabis, it is not automatically the best for every grower. Many growers see amazing results from growing cannabis outdoors in the sun, soil, and fresh air. In the end it is up to you and what you are looking for out of your cannabis growing experience.

Shop our range of Hydroponic Systems below.

NUTRIENT FILM TECH (NFT)

DEEP WATER CULTURE

October 16, 2020

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