The NFT (Nutrient Film Technique) was once commonly used among commercial and smaller scale hobbyist or amateur hydroponic growers. Its use has diminished among commercial growers recently primarily because new hydroponic techniques exist today that are better worthy of large-scale farming.
Amateur hydroponic growers however still use NFT often rarity sniffer. It's not that expensive, it's very user friendly, and it could be easily adapted to suit many different plant types.
The NFT is one type of solution culture in hydroponics. Solution culture hydroponics involves the growing of plants without growth medium and without soil. Many hydroponics growers feel that solution cultures are the only true form 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 brought to the plants root system via water.
NFT Hydroponics Systems work by generating a consistent water flow at the plants' root systems which are suspended in a tub. The slow moving water solution is spread out across a flat work surface at a degree of approximately 1 to 3 inches. This shallow solution depth is constantly maintained to produce a nutrient film within the plant roots.
When creating your personal NFT system you will need a shallow, flat-bottomed tub and a submersion pump which keeps the water flowing within the plant roots. The plants ought to 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 because the water is being constantly recycled, you will have to closely monitor the nutrient levels in the water.
The NFT technique comes with a few potential drawbacks which need to be addressed. As an example the nutrients required for the plants may cause harm to the submersion pump. If the submersion pump fails, or when there is an electrical failure, your plants won't be obtaining the nutrients they should survive. A somewhat short disruption in the pump can lead to complete failure in your plants.
Nevertheless the NFT Hydroponic System remains a feasible method of hydroponic gardening for small scale and indoor gardeners rarity sniffer. By closely monitoring the pump and nutrient solution, hydroponic gardening could be made nearly risk free and quite productive!
