Irrigation systems compared: The foundation for maximum yield

Choosing the right irrigation system is one of the most important decisions in the grow tent. It not only affects daily workload but also directly impacts nutrient uptake and soil life. Whether classic mineral or organic on Living Soil – each system has its merits. Here is an analysis of the most common methods for modern cultivation.

1. Manual irrigation: Handwork with feeling

For many, the watering can remains the starting point. You can keep an eye on each plant individually and develop a feel for the weight of the pots.

• Advantages: No technical sources of error, cost-effective, individual control per plant.

• Disadvantages: Extremely time-consuming, irregular moisture cycles can cause stress.

• Suitability: Ideal for Living Soil . Because organic systems have a buffer, they tolerate small fluctuations in watering better than hydroponic systems.

2. Automatic drip irrigation: Precision and time savings

A system consisting of a reservoir, pump and capillaries that delivers water drop by drop to the base of the plant.

• The Living Soil Factor: Contrary to popular belief, drip irrigation is ideally suited for Living Soil. Microorganisms require constant moisture to function optimally. Automation ensures the substrate never dries out completely, maximizing biological activity (microbes and mycorrhizae).

• Mineral utilization: Here, the system allows, for example, "high frequency fertigation" – i.e., many small feedings spread throughout the day, which leads to massive growth in media such as coconut.

• Important: To avoid blockages, only clear water should usually flow through the pipes in Living Soil.

Example: Spider Farmer Drip Irrigation Set

3. Capillary systems (wick principle)

Systems that draw water into the pot from below using gravity or wicks.

• Advantages: No electricity required, quiet and absolutely suitable for holidays.

• Disadvantages: With purely mineral fertilization, salts can accumulate on the surface because the cleansing effect from above is lacking.

• Suitability: Works well for both worlds, but requires close monitoring of the substrate condition.

Example: Spider Farmer Gravity Irrigation System

4. Deep Water Culture (DWC): The ultimate discipline

The roots hang directly in a highly aerated nutrient solution. There is no solid medium other than a net pot filled with expanded clay.

• Advantages: Maximum oxygen supply leads to explosive growth.

• Challenge: There is no buffer. Errors in pH or EC values ​​have immediate consequences.

• Suitability: Purely mineral fertilization . This is the specialty for growers seeking complete control. Tools like the EC calculator and the Nuts calculator are essential here to keep the system stable.

Example: Spider Farmer DWC System

Conclusion: Data beats gut feeling

Whether it's automated Living Soil or high-tech DWC: knowing your values ​​leads to better harvests. eacygrow 's goal is to provide the technological foundation for perfecting mineral fertilization and eliminating waste. Precise calculations make cultivation smarter, more efficient, and data-driven.

Blog mob