The NFT (Nutrient Film Technique) used to be commonly used among commercial and smaller scale hobbyist or amateur hydroponic growers. Its use has diminished among commercial growers in recent years mainly because new hydroponic techniques exist today which are better suitable for large-scale farming.

Amateur hydroponic growers however still use NFT often. It’s not that expensive, it’s very user friendly, and it may be easily adapted to suit a variety of plant types.

The NFT is one kind of solution culture in hydroponics. Solution culture hydroponics involves the growing of plants without growth medium and without soil. 世博 NFT  Many hydroponics growers think that solution cultures are the sole true kind of hydroponics. They say that whenever growers add solid growth mediums, they’re adding nutrients to the plants in the same way soil does. NFT on one other hand, treats the plants only with nutrient solutions prepared by the growers and delivered to the plants root system via water.

NFT Hydroponics Systems work by generating a continuing water flow at the plants’ root systems which are suspended in a tub. The slow moving water solution is disseminate across a flat working surface at a level of approximately 1 to 3 inches. This shallow solution depth is continually maintained to make a nutrient film on the plant roots.

When setting up your own NFT system you will need a shallow, flat-bottomed tub and a submersion pump which keeps the water flowing on the plant roots. The plants must certanly be placed close together to be able to enable the nutrients to more readily cling to the roots. The submersion pump will constantly recycle the water back in the system. And since the water will be constantly recycled, you should closely monitor the nutrient levels in the water.

The NFT technique comes with a couple of potential drawbacks which must be addressed. For example the nutrients required for the plants may cause injury to the submersion pump. If the submersion pump fails, or if there is an electrical failure, your plants won’t be having the nutrients they have to survive. A relatively short disruption in the pump can lead to complete failure in your plants.