5 Problems to Avoid with Hydroponic Drip Systems

Using a drip system to support hydroponic plants? Some issues might come up. We've talked to growers about how to implement these kinds of designs, and many of them have the same concerns. With a little care, these systems can be great for effective harvests. It just takes a little bit of vigilance to address some of the most frequent problems that occur with drip systems.

Clogging

Far and away the biggest problem that growers have mentioned to us is clogging. You have the drip lines, and anything big that gets in there can stick in the line and effectively stop water from getting through. If you think you're going to use big pieces of bone meal or other organic materials, think again.

To effectively deal with clogging, growers often recommend putting small mesh filters at strategic parts of the line. It's also important to look at your nutrient materials and make sure they are fine and not coarse, so that they keep running through the line without any problems.

Algae and Buildup

It's often been said that a rolling stone gathers no moss. By contrast, a drip system can have points where water moves very slowly. That moisture, when it is stagnant, can cause different kinds of buildup that can be problematic. You want to keep an eye on the situation to prevent excessive solids in your drip system.

Kinks in the Line

Many drip systems also have to route lines in all kinds of different directions. Over time, kinks can develop in a line and effectively cut off water flow. This just requires some periodic observation and evaluation of how the system is doing. Don't let it get to the point where plants suffer because they aren’t getting what they need.

Bacterial Invasions

Drip systems are not immune from things like pythium which can really devastate plants. Look out for different kinds of bacterial blight and add solutions to water that will prevent excessive growth of potentially harmful bacteria.

Light Problems

There's also the possibility that drip systems will lead to light problems. Are you trying to use natural light for hydroponics, or gone with artificial grow lights? Either way, you have to make sure plants get the right luminous intensity and that plants are close enough to lights to benefit from what the light source provides.

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