Systems for growing plants in aquaponics can be set up in a variety of ways. They all need water that is rich in nutrients, which gives plants the food they need to grow.
For an NFT aquaponics system, lettuces, bok choy, broccoli, cauliflower, and particular herbs work well. This is due to the fact that these plants are light in weight, have short roots, and thrive in nitrogen-rich nutrition.
A rail-type system called NFT, or nutrient film technique, is designed for aquaponic and hydroponic systems.
The roots of the plants are in contact with the water, and they are grown in rails that allow a film or small amount of nutrient-rich water to pass through them.
Although aquaponic NFT systems are often employed in bigger commercial systems, both homeowners and enthusiasts can embrace them.
Although NFT systems provide the fundamental conditions for plant growth, not all plants thrive there.
In this post, we go over the types of plants that thrive and why.
Table of Contents
Build a successful system with this affordable equipment from Amazon, that I’ve tried & tested on my setup.
Search below on Amazon or your prefered vendor
| optimum water pump | Optimal Air Pump | Optimal Air Stones |
| cup plant nets | Bio-Filtration Medium | Kit to Test Water |
Plants that can be Grown in a NFT Aquaponics System and Why
Both hydroponically and aquaponically cultivating plants using NFT systems is increasingly contemporary.
NFT systems have the great benefit of taking up less room. Equally spaced plants in net cups are happy to grow along a rail made of PVC pipes or guttering.
The holes bored on the rails are filled with the net cups. The gap is just the right size for the cups to fit snugly inside it without shifting and dropping into the rail.
Since the entire plant may be easily taken off the train, net-cups make harvesting simple. This feature also makes it simple to keep an eye on the root systems to make sure the water supply is of the highest caliber.
Water with nutrients is permitted to enter at the rail’s beginning and flows to the rail’s finish, passing through all of the plant roots along the way.
See our comprehensive guide on aquaponics to learn all you need to manage a system successfully.
The NFC real system can grow plants that typically have three qualities.
- Lightweight
- hurried harvest season
- Short Root techniques.
Plants that are lightweight include broccoli, cauliflower, spinach, and lettuce. These plants are self-sufficient and do not grow very large. They may be grown close to one another and are hence ideal for NFT systems.
The NFT system works best with plants that have a quick harvest time, such as lettuce, bok choy, and other leafy greens, because they can sustain themselves.
These plants can be grown in close proximity to one another thanks to their short root systems. They do not overcrowd and drown out nearby plants or the rails where they are kept because of their root systems.
Other types of plants that can grow in an NFT system.
Cucumbers
Cucumbers, which I have addressed in this article, are another plant that is ideally suited for this approach. Despite being a vine plant, it doesn’t crowd the infrastructure and the vines can be trained to grow toward the neighboring support system.
Tomatoes
Tomatoes can also be grown in energy systems, despite not being a green leafy plant; the only difference is support.
The tomato plant needs to be sustained, so a string system and support clips are used. As the tomato plant grows, the string is streamed on and clipped to.
This is necessary since the roots cannot support the plant’s Salk as if it were planted in the soil because they are not clinging to something solid.
Tomatoes, though, despite the fact that I’ve tried and succeeded previously. They really shouldn’t be cultivated in the same system as other plant varieties. Additionally, there are unique nutrient formulations made for tomatoes.
One significant distinction between aquaponics and hydroponics is this.
The essential components for all plants to grow—nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium—are provided by the nutrient-rich water in an aquaponic or hydroponic system.
This makes it possible to grow any sort of plant in such systems since the NFB systems are ideally suited for short, spondyleaf plants. However, other plants can also be grown in the same system with some minor modifications.
Major Components of a NFT System
Major elements of an NFT system include
- Rails (PVC pipes or guttering type of material)
- net mugs
- nourishing water
- Return and supply lines
- – Keep your nutrient between 18°C & 20°C. … -Keep your nutrient between 18°C & 20°C….
- Lightweight
- limited harvest period
- Systematic short roots.
- Spinach, lettuce, broccoli, and cauliflower are examples of light plants. These plants can survive on their own and don’t get very big. They can therefore be grown close together and are most appropriate for NFT systems.
- The NFT system works best with plants that require little time to harvest, including lettuce, bok choy, and other leafy greens. This is because these plants are self-sufficient.
- These plants can be grown close together because of their short root systems. Their root systems are not too dense and do not drown out nearby plants or the rails where they are growing.
- Cucumbers, which I have previously discussed in this post, are another plant that does well in this arrangement. Even though it is a vine plant, the system is not overloaded, and the vines can be directed to the close-by support system.
- The only difference between growing tomatoes in energy systems and growing green leafy plants is support.
- The tomato plants must be sustained utilizing a string system and support clips. As the tomato plants grow, the string is streamed on and clipped to with support clips.
- This is necessary since the roots are unable to cling to a solid surface to support the plant’s stem as if it had been buried in the ground.
- Tomatoes, though, despite the fact that I’ve attempted it previously and been successful. In the same system, they actually shouldn’t be cultivated alongside other plant varieties. Additionally, there are specialized nutrient blends made especially for tomatoes.
Types of NFT Systems
This is a significant distinction between hydroponics and aquaponics.
Nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium are the essential building blocks for all plants to develop in an aquaponic or hydroponic system’s nutrient-rich water.