Everything You Need To Know About Hydroponic Trays
An obvious component of a hydroponic system that is often overlooked is the grow tray. If you want to have a successful hydroponic system, ensure that you include all the crucial components it requires to be complete.
Since a hydroponic system removes soil from the equation, you need a medium to support your plants as they grow. The medium should be well aerated, stable, and conducive to offer the plants room to grow and thrive.
What is a Hydroponic Tray?
A hydroponic tray is also commonly referred to as a grow tray. It is a container made to hold one or more plants in a hydroponic growing system. The hydroponic tray you choose will depend on your adopted hydroponic system. These hydroponic trays have leach valves to enable water to drain from the growing medium when necessary.
The valves will also depend on the hydroponic system you are using. There are particular hydroponic trays designed to hold the growing media, while others can hold the pots containing plants and the medium in the tray. The hydroponic tray is used for indoor farming. Since hydroponic plants are grown indoors, the grow tray is vital to offer a growing platform for the hydroponic plants.
Depending on your hydroponic system, you can get the hydroponic trays in different sizes, shapes, and types. Generally, the hydroponic trays can be rectangular, long, and shallow, with room to accommodate the roost structures and your growing plants. You can have different grow trays when using either for flood or drain hydroponics.
What are the Benefits of Hydroponic Trays?
Even though other elements in the hydroponic system often overshadow the hydroponic tray. First, you must understand the importance of the hydroponic trays in your hydroponic system. Hydroponic trays have the following benefits:
- Supporting your plants and containing the growing medium.
- Smaller hydroponic trays are used to start your plant seedlings or clones.
- There are also used to grow small hydroponic plants like herbs.
- Larger hydroponic trays allow you to grow a broader range of plants.
- They offer a platform for your plant to sit above the water source.
- The hydroponic trays also help control water flow in your plants.
- Hydroponic trays let the growing medium drain appropriately, and any overflow goes straight back into the water basin.
How Do You Make a Hydroponic Tray?
Hydroponic trays are adaptable and versatile. For example, suppose you are a hydroponic grower or considering being one. In that case, you should choose a hydroponic tray that is large enough to accommodate your reservoir size and also small enough to fit your growing area comfortably.
If you want to have the best hydroponic trays, make them durable plastic, designed with a diagonal grid for directing water towards the drainage area. When making your hydroponic tray consider whether it is a flood tray or drain tray. You can make your hydroponic tray by determining the number of plants you want to grow in your system and then taking the correct measurement.
Once you get the hydroponic grow tray, you can drill the required holes or buy the pre-drilled one. Some hydroponic trays are made without holes, so as hydroponic gardeners, just grab your drill and get to work.
Types of Hydroponics System Which Use Hydroponic Trays
You are now aware of having hydroponic trays in your system. Now here are some of the hydroponic systems that utilize the hydroponic trays;
Ebbs and Flow (Flood and Drain)
In this system, the grow tray is often called the flood tray. The hydroponic flood trays are periodically flooded with a nutrient solution before draining back into the water tank. The grow tray in ebb and flow is positioned with the plant in the growing medium.
Drip System
In this system, the plant’s root gets suspended within the growing media of the hydroponic trays. Nutrient solutions are then pumped from the water tank to the hydroponic tray and then dripped onto the plant’s base.
Types of Hydroponics System Which Use Hydroponic Trays
As a hydroponic gardener, the best choice you will make is to select the best hydroponic tray. An excellent hydroponic tray should be solid and durable. Besides, it should have the capacity to withstand heavy plants without warping or breaking.
Bootstrap Farmer 1020 Tray
The tray is durable since it is made with quality plastics and can withstand the weight of multiple plants. It also comes with holes that will offer excellent drainage for your plants.
Thunder Acres Blue 1020 Growing Tray
USDREAM Seed Sprouting Tray
Your choice of the hydroponic tray will depend on factors like the type of plants, durability and hydroponic system size, etc. Therefore, your choice should entirely depend on your hydroponic system type and immediate needs.
Final Thoughts
A grow tray is as vital as any other component of your hydroponic system. Purchasing a quality hydroponic tray is worth your investment. Before buying a hydroponic tray, consider the cost, durability, and compatibility.
You must ensure that it is a perfect fit for your hydroponic system. With a tremendous hydroponic tray, you can be assured that your plants are well supported. A great hydroponic tray will not keep you fearing that it might break and destroy your plant.
Make sure that you understand the hydroponic system type you are using to decide on the hydroponic tray that suits it. You can enjoy your hydroponic system’s plant’s best harvest if you have the best hydroponic tray and other components.
Happy planting!
