The dripper feed system or drip irrigation system makes it easy to treat each plant individually with regards to the amount of nutrient solution each receives.

The nutrient solution is pumped up from the holding tank along pipes to drippers, These hang over the plants or are inserted into plant pots or blocks of rockwool as in the animation opposite.

The dripper itself is fitted to limit the flow from the pipe to the plant to just a mere drip. The plant will take what it needs and any excess solution is allowed to drain back into the holding tank ready for re-use.

Like the NFT system it is not necessary to run the pump throughout the night.

I have tried this system out myself during the 2002 season and although it work

ed succesfully I am now using the tank and pump for a plain NFT setup. Partly because I didn’t see any increase in production over growing with the NFT Method and Partly because of the extra work necessary in setting the system up and keeping it working (ie. the drippers kept getting blocked for me)

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