Feeding and water Setup and equipment Flowering Vegetative
Hydroponic systems compared
Hydroponic systems supply nutrients through water, with or without a supporting growing medium. Compare how each system delivers water and oxygen, how much monitoring it needs, and what happens if a pump…
On this page
All hydroponic systems need plant support, water, nutrients and light. The difference is how the water gets to the roots.
Main types
| System | How it works | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|
| Drip to waste | A pump feeds each pot, and extra drains away | Clogged drip lines |
| Self-watering bottom-fed pots | A tray under the pot supplies water | Salt building up at the top of the pot |
| Deep water culture | Roots hang in aerated nutrient water | Warm, poorly oxygenated water and pump failure stress roots and can favor disease |
| Ebb and flow | A tray floods and drains on a timer | pH and nutrient drift in the reservoir |
Before you build
- Sketch out how you’ll reach the reservoir once plants are large.
- Keep light off the water. Light grows algae.
- Keep the water cool. Root pathogens such as Pythium (a water mold, not a true fungus) have been found in cannabis grown in hydroponic systems.
- Write down what you change so you can trace problems.
Check reservoir pH, EC, temperature and aeration consistently. Protect electrical connections from splashes and use equipment rated for the job. Don’t share water or tools between sick and healthy systems without a suitable cleaning protocol.
Sources (2)
- University of Minnesota Extension. Small-scale hydroponics. https://extension.umn.edu/how/small-scale-hydroponics [Evidence access: EXTENSION TEXT VERIFIED.]
- Punja, Z. K., Collyer, D., Scott, C., Lung, S., Holmes, J., & Sutton, D. (2019). Pathogens and molds affecting production and quality of Cannabis sativa L. Frontiers in Plant Science, 10, 1120. https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/plant-science/articles/10.3389/fpls.2019.01120/full [Evidence access: FULL TEXT VERIFIED.]