Tag: drip system hydroponics

Drip Systems: 5 Problems You Can Avoid

Drip system maintenance is key to running an efficient hydroponic drip system.  Below are 5 problems to watch for in your drip system.  Avoid these problems and you’ll be keeping your plants from automation gone wrong!

Hydroponic Water Pump Pre Filter
The foam filter inside of this water pump catches small particles before they have a chance to interrupt your drip system.

1.Drip Emitters – Clogged drip emitters are most likely the number one problem in drip systems.  The best way to fix them is cut them off and try a fresh one.

2.Timer On/Off Switch – Have you ever turned the switch on your timer off so your drip system wouldn’t run during a reservoir change?  Always double check to make sure that switch is back to ON when you are done.
3. Timer Malfunction – Timers can shut off for various reasons: water damage, battery or power failure, clock malfunction.
4. Reservoir Levels – Reservoir changes are necessary for productive hydroponic gardens.  Evaporation and usage will drain your reservoir.  When reservoir water evaporates, the nutrients and salts remain in the water.  The extra salts create a higher ppm nutrient solution.  Add plain or low ppm nutrient solution to get the levels back to where you want them.
5. Avoid Over Watering – Don’t run your drip system intervals for too long.  Start with small intervals and increase or decrease frequency depending on your plant’s performance.  It may take them a few days to react to changes so be patient.

Functioning Home Made Drip System
Both drippers are problem free!

Did you know you can buy and read customer reviews for Drip Emitters on Amazon? Check it out here.

Do I need a Nursery or Hydroponics Shop?

A common confusion can arise about the difference between a nursery and hydroponics shop.  A nursery will sell things geared mostly towards outdoor gardening and flowers or trees and shrubs.  These shops usually will carry things like simple trays, drip pans, some pest control, moisture meters, shovels and gardening tools.  Nurseries will also have things like trellis, trimmers, stakes, gloves, soil, and usually low quality fertilizers.  Although some nurseries carry very high quality nutrients for outdoor gardening.

A hydroponic shop carries the most advanced gardening tools available.  A hobby indoor gardener would get most of their supplies at a hydro store.  Hydroponic stores carry the best tools for indoor gardening and hydroponic setups.  Hydroponic stores will have high quality hydroponic nutrients, water pumps, air pumps, carbon filters, inline fans, circulation fans, cloning supplies, Co2 enrichment supplies, grow lights, timers, and full hydroponic systems.  A lot of this stuff is usually on display so you can see how it works before you buy.  Never be shy to ask questions.  The clerks at the shop should be happy to explain the products to you to make sure you get the most efficiency out of your indoor garden.

The possibilities at hydro shops are endless.  If you have no intentions of setting up a hydroponic garden there are still things at the shop you may find interest in that you could not get a nursery.  For instance if you know you are going on vacation for a week or more but don’t want to lose your beautiful hard work  to a drought – your solution may be a hydroponic based solution.  At the store you may want to buy a water pump and tubing to set up a hydroponic drip system for your outdoor garden, indoor garden or even your window garden! The folks at the hydro shop should be able to point you to what you need to set up an automated watering system.  An automated watering system means less time needed by you for the care of your plants.  That allows you to free up time for more plants or less time per day in the garden.  I’ll be posting some articles about hydroponic drip systems in the future.