Growing with NFT

NFT systems from nutriculture come in all shapes and sizes. This demo used the smallest version the gt205i. Whichever size NFT you use the approach is always the same the trays and tanks are just bigger and handle more plants and nutrient.

The following demo was carried out by nutriculture, manufacturers of the excellent GT range of complete NFT systems:

  Assemble your NFT kit and lay it out in your grow room.
  Your GT205+ comes supplied with spreader mat. Spreader mat does exactly what it says on the tin, it helps to spread the nutrient solution across the whole of the channel. Cut the spreader into two lengths to cover the tray. It’s not a problem if the two pieces overlap or if the ends of the spreader mat hang into the tank. 
  The GT205+ uses a Micro Jet Oxy Pump. We recommend having the valve fully open to help draw even more oxygen to your plant roots. Fit the delivery tube to the top of the pump as shown.
  The pump fixes into the base of the tank and the suckers on its base secure it in place. The delivery tube then fits through the small hole in the tray to deliver the nutrient solution direct to where the plants roots will grow.
  Fill your tank with a suitable nutrient solution and run the pump to test and wet out the spreader mat ready for your plants.

For this first feed use a week dose of nutrient with an EC of about 1. Set the PH to about 5.5. A bit of Rhizotonic, Voodoo Juice or a similar root stimulant would be great to use as well.
  The system is now set up and ready for our plants. Take your corriboard top plate and cut out holes for your plants as shown.
  The small grey box is not part of the system and just a water proof box used to house the plugs in the demonstration centre because of its misting system.
  The key to successfully growing a plant using an NFT system is to make sure your propagation block is extremely well rooted, leaving your plants to propagate that little bit longer ensures they are well rooted and with plenty of white roots showing on the outside of the block. This will give your plant plenty of access to oxygen and gives them the best possible start.
  Our system is ready! Watch this space as the photo on the left will soon be filled with large tomato plants!

To begin with set the timer to on for only 15 minutes per hour. This lets the plants have a period of adjustment so they can establish in the system.
  Week 1

Its been a week since we transplanted our tomato plants and we have already seen some growth in our plants!

We’ve created a flap in the top plate so we can show you week by week the amazing root growth in an NFT system.

Soon you will see the roots spreading out across the channel and this will eventually be filled with a thick root mat. Look at the wider view of what is happening with the roots. see that the roots have already reached the edge of the channel, that is fast growth!

The roots reaching out into the channel are primary roots which are larger in diameter. The roots of a plant have a mechanism called 'active uptake' which ensures the plant only takes up as much as it needs, this is why NFT is such a successful way of growing!

 
 
 

 

When using a Nutriculture Gro-Tank we recommended you perform a solution change at regular intervals. We recommend you change your solution once a week, A solution change helps to re-establish the balance of your nutrients in the system.

Once your tank is empty fill once more to the maximum level indicator again and dose your plant according to your nutrient instructions. You could now start using higher strength nutrient as the plants have become established in the system. Check the feeding schedule of the nutrients you are using for suggested levels.

So long as the plants look like they have adjusted to the system. ie. they all look green, healthy and are increasing in size you could turn your timer to on permanently so the plants are constantly fed.

If the plants are struggling to get going maybe because its a little cold or too hot give them a little longer to adjust before increasing the feed strength and timings.
Week 2

   Week 3

   Week 4
         
Week 5

   Week 6

   Week 7
         
Week 8

  

Hopefully this demonstration has given you an idea of the exciting results you can achieve when using NFT systems.

Just continue refilling your reservoir once a week until harvest and consider flushing with ph5.5 plain water or a flushing product 7-10 days before that date.

In closing always remember to do the following when growing in NFT:

  • Make sure your cubes are bursting with roots before you put them into your NFT system

  • Allow a period of adjustment where you keep the feed week and only turn the pump on 15mins an hour when you first introduce plants to the system.

  • Change the nutrients once a week and reset the PH at 5.5 each time.

 

Last Updated: July 08, 2008