{"id":3633,"date":"2020-03-03T01:20:46","date_gmt":"2020-03-03T01:20:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.herbexaminer.com\/?p=3633"},"modified":"2021-08-04T00:52:29","modified_gmt":"2021-08-04T00:52:29","slug":"bubbleponics","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.herbexaminer.com\/hydroponics\/bubbleponics\/","title":{"rendered":"Bubbleponics 101: Hydroponic Growing With Bubbles!"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Hydroponics is an ever-expanding approach to gardening that embodies dozens of different soil-less cultivation techniques. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In today’s article, we’re going to cover one of those techniques that just doesn’t get enough love: Bubbleponics.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Table of Contents:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

  1. What is Bubbleponics?<\/a><\/li>
  2. Bubbleponics VS Deep Water Culture<\/a><\/li>
  3. How Does Bubbleponics Work?<\/a><\/li>
  4. Best Plants to Grow With Bubbleponics<\/a><\/li>
  5. The Best Pre-Built Bubbleponic System<\/a><\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n
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    What is Bubbleponics? <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    Bubbleponics is a hybrid, top-fed hydroponic technique <\/a>that utilizes aspects of both deep water culture (DWC) and drip hydroponic systems.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    More specifically, Bubbleponic systems continuously feed plant roots with a nutrient-rich solution. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    In my view, Bubbleponics is one of the best hydroponic systems for beginners. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Here’s why:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    1. Bubbleponic systems are great at oxygenating plant roots<\/strong>: Many hydroponic techniques are bad at providing ample nutrient solution to plant roots while also providing sufficient oxygen. Bubbleponics’ drip irrigation system solves this common hydroponic dilemma. <\/span><\/li>
    2. Bubbleponic systems are (usually) small and efficient: <\/strong>As a beginner, you want a compact system that doesn’t take up too much space, that re-uses nutrient solution, and that doesn’t require constant maintenance. <\/li>
    3. D.I.Y Bubbleponic systems are relatively easy to create: <\/strong>You can choose to buy a pre-made system if you wish but there are some great DIY designs. <\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n

      Bubbleponics VS Deep Water Culture (DWC)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
      \"Bubbleponics<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

      Remember, Bubbleponics is a sub-technique of DWC, the only real difference is that Bubbleponic systems use an air pump and drip irrigation feeding tubes<\/strong> to dispense nutrient solution to plant roots.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      \"bubbleponics<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

      Most normal Deep Water Culture systems do not use feeding tubes and instead simply utilize an air pump to create a constant flow of nutrient solution to plant roots. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

      \"floating<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

      You can view Bubbleponics as an innovative alternative to most other DWC systems. Distributing nutrient solution through feeding tubes directly to plant roots is a much more effective feeding method.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      In some sense, Bubbleponics is the first hydroponic technique that utilizes commercial irrigation techniques.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Note: <\/strong>I’m not saying that normal DWC techniques are ineffective but a properly constructed Bubbleponics unit is certainly the peak of DWC\/Drip hydroponics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      How Does <\/strong>Bubbleponics Work? <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
      \"bubbleponics<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

      1.) Bubbleponic systems immerse plant roots in a reservoir filled with a soluble nutrient solution. This reservoir is usually a 5 – 10-gallon bucket or a custom-built storage bin. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

      \"bubbleponics<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

      2.) Plant roots sit within net pots and are anchored in place by some sort of growing media, usually air stones, which are made from expanded clay. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

      \"bubbleponics<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

      Air stones are lightweight and highly porous, providing plant roots with plenty of oxygen and structural support. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

      3.) Air tubes deliver plant roots a continuous intake of nutrient solution and should be threaded inside of the net cups.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      \"Bubbleponics<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

      4.) The tubes should be connected to an air pump that powers the nutrient solution delivery. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

      \"air<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

      Equipment Needed:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

      1. Reservoir (gallon bucket or storage bin).<\/li>
      2. Net pots – The size is up to you. We use 10″.<\/li>
      3. High powered air pump.<\/li>
      4. Air tubing.<\/li>
      5. Air Stones or some sort of porous growing media. <\/li>
      6. Water level indicator.<\/li>
      7. Your choice of nutrient solution.<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n