My name is Wes. I live in one of the eleven states that allows medpot patients to use and grow our own. I started using medpot when I needed it to offset the effects of cancer chemo.
I set up a small grow room next to my basement home office. I researched hydro systems and came to the conclusion that the ebb and flow (or flood and drain) system is by far the best. I found one with six large buckets and a deep reservoir. Its important to have a deep reservoir as opposed to a shallow one, since the number of times you need to flood your roots depends on the size.
I considered drip irrigation and NFT. The first one gets clogged up too often, while the latter prohibits aeration to the rootballs of your plants. Theyre constantly submerged in a film of nutrients and water.
Also with the NFT system you can be sure that your pump is going to fail sooner or later. Unless you have a backup system, this could be disastrous. Especially if youve gone away for a long weekend.
As far as Im concerned, the ebb and flow is the Rolls Royce of hydro systems. The bigger the reservoir, the less maintenance it will require and the more pH stability you have.
The more important question iswhat do you put in your reservoir? This makes the difference between an ordinary harvest and a totally awesome, mind blowing one. I use
Advanced Nutrients Medical products exclusively, because Ive tried their competitors, and found them to be inferior.
My present fertilizer of choice is
EPN Sensi Pro, which is the easiest and most powerful plant feeding system ever devised by a horticulturalist. All you need is a pair of scissors to slit open the foil pouch each week, empty into your mixing bucket, add whatever else you need to add (
B-52 for vitamins and hormones,
Big Bud to maximize your bud size, etc.) and wait for the mixture to settle.
No need to measure and pour liquids any more. I used to pour the liquid fert all over my jeans. It was a mess. Also, synthetics are better in a hydro grow, they dont clog up your pumps as often.
Once your pH stabilizes, you can pour the mixture into your reservoir, sit back, and enjoy the fruits of your labor.