The Value of Drip Irrigation in a Hydroponic System

The Value of Drip Irrigation in a Hydroponic System

When you’re considering what hydroponic system might fit your needs as a gardener, drip irrigation systems often come up as a popular choice. Drip irrigation involves a series of tubes leading to each plant in the hydroponic garden, all connected to a pump that sends nutrients up in regular intervals. Drippers control the flow of the solution once it reaches the plants, allowing for efficient water usage that can vary plant by plant. The value of drip irrigation in a hydroponic system is apparent in its low maintenance, high level of control, and potential for automation.

Low-Maintenance Hydroponics

Whether you’re new to hydroponics or a seasoned gardener, a low-maintenance drip irrigation system can make hydroponic gardening easy. The most challenging part is setting the system up for the first time; once you finish putting it together, it practically runs itself. All you need to do is start the timer when it’s feeding time for your crops—even less work if you automate the system to activate by itself.

You’ll need to care for the pH in a water recycling system, check the tubing for damage, and ensure each plant receives enough nutrients, but otherwise, drip irrigation handles most of the work for you. Since you won’t need to focus on watering the plants, you can focus instead on other elements of the hydroponic garden, like the lighting or air circulation.

You Control Everything

All hydroponic systems allow you to control exactly what you feed your plants, but drip irrigation systems allow you to control everything else—from the flow of each dripper to how often you feed each plant. Pressure-compensating drip emitters enable you to change how much water the system releases to the roots. You can also add more drippers to plants for broader coverage and more hoses to the system for any extra additions to the garden.

Not Easy Enough? Automate It!

While setting a timer and forgetting about the garden is easy enough on its own, one of the most appealing aspects to play into the value of drip irrigation in a hydroponic system is the potential for automation. Automating your garden is important if you spend a lot of time away from it, whether you’re at work, school, or around town. Though it may seem complicated at first, it can be as simple as upgrading your timer system.

Every crop has its own preferences for hydration and nutrient levels, but you can make it easy to give each plant what it prefers with a precise drip irrigation system. With a complete set of Microdrip Irrigation System equipment from FloraFlex, you’ll be on your way to a garden full of incredible, blooming plants.