In order to have your own hydroponic system you need several key things: a reservoir to hold nutrient, a pump to circulate the nutrient, a growing tray and pots for the plants to be held in, and some sort of grow media. Indoor systems also require a light source and good ventilation. Hydroponic systems can range in price and sophistication from under a $100 to several thousand. It all depends on the scale at which you intend to grow and the environment you need to produce for your plants. If you are a beginner and you would like to learn more about hydroponics, Check out our Introduction to Hydroponics

Often these types of systems are called flood and drain. The plants are usually grown in pots with their roots supported by a medium of perlite, Rockwool or expanded clay pebbles (Hydroton.) The pots sit in a plastic tray which in turn sits above a reservoir filled with nutrient solution. The growing tray must be higher than the reservoir because the system relies on gravity to do the work.

A pump in the reservoir is connected to the bottom of the tray. When the pump turns on, the tray fills with water. When the water level reaches a pre-determined height, through the use of the overflow fitting, the water falls back into the reservoir. When the pump turns off, the water runs back down through the pump into the reservoir. Poetry... See the Ebb and Flow fittings in action.

Most growers choose to control irrigation with a timer. A typical schedule would involve several short one-hour water cycles per day, but the duration and frequencies of watering cycles varies from one system to another and is dependent on the crop, the plant size and environmental conditions.

Ebb and flow allows for high density planting while providing a well oxygenated root system. The ebb & flow method supplies fresh oxygen to the root system of plants in two ways. First, as the tray is flooded with nutrient solution, carbon dioxide rich air is pushed out from around the root system. When the pump is turned off, the tray is drained and oxygen rich air is drawn down to the roots. This oxygen is then used by the plants until the next cycle begins.

Second, when the nutrient solution drains through the flow, it creates a splash upon impact, adding much additional aeration. Click here to see how splashing water helps to aerate your reservoir. (note that the splashing has been artistically amplified - it doesn't really splash out of the reservoir in that manner.)

It is and Ebb and a Flow. A breathing in and a breathing out, the rhythm aerates your plants in diligent meditative cycles. Listen closely, through the babble of the water, you may hear your plants quietly saying "Om."

Nutrient Film Technique systems are some of the most productive available, and they are often the chosen method of commercial growing. Plant roots are grown in a light-tight and shallow channel. Nutrient solution is continuously circulated, flowing over the roots up to 24 hours per day. The name of this growing method was so coined in order to stress that the depth of the liquid flowing past the roots should be very shallow in order to ensure that sufficient oxygen is supplied.

A wide range of vegetables and ornamental crops may be grown in an NFT system. Depending on channel width, NFT is great for plants as diverse as tomatoes and lettuce.

Aeroponics is an exciting improvement on hydroponics that has been shown to greatly increase yields. The growing environment is similar to a misty rainforest with plenty of oxygen and moisture. In Hawaii, orchids are often seen growing freely in the trees due to the level of humidity in the air. Aeroponics strives to create this environment at the root zone.

The roots of the growing plants are suspended in the air, and they are misted by high pressure sprayers. The sprayers break the nutrient into small particles and saturate the roots. The levels of oxygen in the water are kept high by the constant circulation of the water. Aeroponics is beyond the age we're in now-- it's in the space ages. Aeroponic techniques are being investigated by NASA.

Drip systems are the most widely used hydroponic systems in the world. They are commonly used in commercial facilities for growing long term crops like tomatoes and peppers. Drip systems provide plenty of aeration (more than ebb and flow) because plant roots are never totally submerged, but are never allowed to dry out. There is also the additional aeration that occurs from water falling back into the reservoir. Click here to see how this aeration works. (note that the splashing has been artistically amplified - it doesn't really splash out of the reservoir in that manner.)

Drip systems operate very simply. A pump has tubing connected to it which then branches off to smaller tubes feeding many plants. It works just like a drip irrigation system in your yard. Nutrient solution is dripped onto the base of each plant where it then trickles down through the grow media and into the roots and finally drains into the reservoir where it is reused. Click here to see a how a drip system works up close.

New to hydroponics? Would you like to just get started and start growing? We've built two classic hydroponics systems that just may suit your needs. These systems are both easy to use, affordable and high performance ~ they are a great place to get started exploring hydroponics. All the information necessary to work with these systems can be found by exploring the links found within.

GreenCoast Economy Drip System Package

GreenCoast Economy Ebb and Flow Package

We have created a series of six different package systems on a scale of hobby to professional. Click on the links to see the first two of these systems, for a good idea of what your growing system might entail.

Package System #1
A great ebb and flow system for a beginning or small scale grower. Simple to set up and use, this system is ready to go right out of the box! We include just about everything you need to get started, including the hydroponic system, a pump, light and nutrient monitoring capabilities.

Package System 2 - Drip System or Ebb & Flow
This system is an upgraded version of the original starter set. It allows for more options and upgrades, and it may be ordered as either an ebb and flow OR a drip system. This is an excellent budget system with a few extra tools. It includes nutrient monitoring capabilities as well as a more powerful pump for greater aeration.