Ebb and flow hydroponics information

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Ebb and flow hydroponics is a form of hydroponics that is known for its simplicity, reliability of operation and low initial investment cost. Pots are filled with an inert medium which does not function like soil or contribute nutrition to the plants but which anchors the roots and functions as a temporary reserve of water and solvent mineral nutrients. The hydroponic solution alternately floods the system and is allowed to ebb away.

Under this system, water-tight growing containers are filled with a inert growing medium. A medium can consist of Expanded clay aggregate, rockwool cubes, or other inert materials. This is periodically flooded for a short period with a nutrient solution pumped from a supply tank. The solution then is either pumped or flows by gravity back to the supply tank. This hydroponic growing system can be very effective for any size plants depending on space. The method is inefficient in its use of water and plant nutrient reagents. Root disease occurrence and nutrient element insufficiency can occur without repeated use of the solution without proper oxygenation of the containers that are flooded. Because it is a "closed" system, the re-circulated nutrient solution requires monitoring every time the system flows back the reservoir for pH and PPM. Within the growing period, the nutrient solution may require replacement. The rooting medium may require washing to remove root debris and accumulated precipitates as well as sterilization if it is being reused.^[1]