MagicBeaver Steam100 x 17 cm, 8 cm bucket height
includes everything to start your window MagicBeaver ( Pump, connectors, capillary matting )
Hand watering, wick growing, and periodic flooding with nutrients (using a pump and timer)-all methods which have their advantages and disadvantages-were described in that story. But now there's a new way to grow plants in liquid culture that offers some significant improvements upon the traditional procedures: It's the Nutrient Flow (or Film) Technique, or NFT.
American researchers at the Long Island Horticultural Research Laboratory of Cornell University have been working with NFT since 1975 . . . and they claim the technique's versatility is enormous! For example, unlike other forms of hydroponics, NFT can be used with or without a growing medium (the latter method eliminates the otherwise necessary beds of heavy-and hard to sterilizegravel) . . . it can be set up with either horizontal or vertical growing beds . . . it's practical both indoors and out . . . and it's economical to use and basic in design.
Since hydroponically grown plants are solely dependent upon the "feed" that you give them for nourishment, careful attention to nutrient formulas and handling techniques will be vital to your water garden's success. There are three factors to consider: the ingredients, pH, and potency of the nutrient solution.
Organic gardeners have often expressed concern about the use of chemical plant foods in hydroponics. I must admit that I find the explanation given by James B. DeKorne-MOTHER NOS. 29 (page 68), 39 (page 32), and 48 (page 97) -convincing. Jim says that-while organic fertilizers are clearly superior in soil culture, where bacteria in the growing medium can break down the nutrients to their ultimate (and usable) form -in hydroponics we feed the plant, not the "soil" . . . and the nutrients must be in an already broken-down form for the roots to absorb them.
However he or she may feel about the question of natural vs. manufactured fertilizer, though, there are still two other items that demand the novice hydroponic gardener's attention: maintaining the proper pH in the solution, and assuring the potency of the nutrients. It's easy to monitor the acid/alkaline balance (or pH) with nitrazine paper (available from most any drugstore) or by using test kits sold by hydroponics suppliers.
Plants generally do best with a slightly acid nutrient . . . so a pH of 6 to 6.5 (pH 7 is neutral) is desirable. As the roots remove chemicals from the fertilizer, the pH of the liquid tends to drift toward the alkaline . . . which causes some nutrients (especially iron) to precipitate out, and thus become unavailable to the plants. A small quantity of distilled white vinegar-remember that a teaspoon of the acidic liquid per gallon of nutrient will drop the pH by two points!-will restore the proper "sourness" to the solution . . . while you can make the fluid more alkaline (less often a problem) by adding a small amount-monitored by nitrazine paper tests-of lime or bicarbonate of soda.
Most plant food manufacturers have adopted a "baby with the bath water" approach to maintaining nutrient potency. Since the chemical analysis of hydroponic fertilizer is an exacting (and expensive) process, the advice usually offered is to chuck the soup out after a week or two . . . preferably under a favorite fruit tree, where it might do some good! However, Hydroponic Growing Systems-a supplier that specializes in the NFT method-does offer a kit that permits a simple test of chemical strength . . . and that can help you avoid tossing out a jug of nutrient before its time.
ON LOCATION
The Nutrient Flow Technique is enormously versatile, but certain sites are more appropriate to its use than are others. Given the amount of plumbing involved in hydroponics, for instance, living rooms are probably not the ideal place to set up an NFT system. And-unless you're planning to grow houseplants (which can flourish under fluorescent lights)—the dark corner of your basement is out of the question. A greenhouse, of course, is an ideal location for an NFT installation . . . and enormous quantities of vegetables can be raised in even a small, sunny spare room. In addition, don't forget that (given a receiving tank big enough to hold any overflow caused by rainfall) all sorts of crops can be grown outside . . . in the country, suburbs, or inner city! Apartment roofs, narrow urban back yards, small waste places . . . all can be turned into gardens of plenty with NFT!
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