The Ebb and Flow Method in Gardening
Another method to get a nutrition solution without using dirt and soil is the Ebb and Flow System, also called E&F and Fill and Drain system. The Ebb and Flow method is a hydroponic method in that water is used as a medium to get the nutrient solution to the roots.The Ebb and Flow method is used to maximize the amount of nutrients for the plants, and getting large amounts of oxygen rich air into the roots. This method is very healthy for plants since it mimics what a plant might do in nature. In nature plants do not have a constant supply of water unless they are aqueous. Certain plants have adapted and evolved to get nutrients in bursts, not on a constant basis.The main idea is that the plants are resting in a tray above a small reservoir of water, phen375 which can be the size of a fish tank. The reservoir holds the nutrient solution in it is connected to the upper tray by a water pump. At a specified time a pump pumps water and the nutrient solution to the upper tray containing the plants for a set amount of time, usually 20 to 30 minutes. This is called flooding the plants with the nutrients. After the 20 to 30 minutes is completed the extra water is recycled by slowly dripping back into the reservoir below so that no nutrient solution is wasted.When the plants are flooded during the flood cycle with the water and nutrients the roots take in just the nutrients that they need. During this cycle, air that is oxygen poor is forced out of the root system by the nutrient solution that is entering the roots.