There are many hydroponic techniques on the market, NFT, Flood and Drain, Drip irrigation, Aeroponics, Passive, and all the above, recirculating or run to waste. Confused? You should be. Esoteric Hydroponics sells them all but for sanityâs sake we have illustrated by far the most practical, easy to use, most popular systems on the market. These are, nutrient film technique and flood and drain AKA Ebb And Flow systems. The NFT system suits smaller budget, gives good performance, and is easy to use, however has a couple of drawbacks:

1. Lack of aeration to the root ball resulting in restricted results.
2. Lack of support for you heavy yielding plants resulting in you having to string or support you plants by whatever means you can think of.
3. If pump failure strikes and you are away for the day with your lights on, itâs kick the bucket time for your beloved plants.

Apart from these drawbacks which can be overcome, NFT can not be mocked as its creation sparked the whole hydroponic revolution. However hydroponics has evolved a bit since NFT. For example, the Flood and Drain Pod system has taken the draw backs all the other hydroponic systems available on todayâs market and has over come them all in one fell swoop. Outrageous aeration to the root ball; superb support for your heavy yielders; at least three days grace if pump failure strikes, even if lights are constantly on; built in over flow so no spills; modular, can be rebuilt to fit the most awkward spaces; hidden reservoir, so no waste of valuable grow room space; a large capacity reservoir for reduced visits. As well as stupendous performance. It is becoming the definitive indoor hydro system and yes even the largest 24 podder will fit through a loft hatch. All your concerns dealt with in one comprehensive technique the Pod System, invented, designed and manufactured by Esoteric Hydroponics.

Please read some reviews of Esoteric Hydroponic's Hydro Pod System from the horticultural press:

These systems incorporate brand new evolutions in hydro farming innovation. Simply put, these are deep pod ebb and flood. Each pod has a large 12-15 litres of root space allowing for a longer dry period between floods optimising air to the rootzone. Due to the depth of the pod (9-10 inches) and quality of the pump, the system takes 3-4 mins to flood and 3-4 mins to drain, resulting in a rapid flood and rapid drain. The water, due to its large volume coupled with its tall cylindrical pods, acts as a big piston pushing all the old air out then sucking new air in with approximately three times the pull compared to existing shallow depth flood and drains that are generally available, thereby getting considerably more air to the rootzone. The system incorporates a couple of safety features, one being a shallow reservoir built into each pod so if power cut strikes or the pump fails, your plants won't die. The Hydro Pod also has an overflow safety feature so if your pump gets stuck in the on position, then the whole system acts as a very deep trough nft; no water spillage all over the floor to mop up. With the depth of grow pods the system incorporates excellent support for your bigger plants. Again due to the size of root space you can grow up to 3 plants in each pod. The Hydro Pod systems come built to measure, the systems can be built into any shape of room optimising the space available, the smallest being a four pod, then an eight pod, then sixteen pod system, to whatever size or shape you wish. Each pod can be removed separately without disturbing the existing pods within the system, allowing you to start and finish plants at separate times or enabling the removal of diseased or unwanted plants without disturbing the other plants in the system. You can even turn the pods individually creating even more growth. We believe no such system has had as much thought and time put into its evolution which is still on going. Plans to develop a ebb and flow aero pod along the same principles are in the pipe line. If you're into HID light cultivation, the sixteen pod system can fit snugly into one and a half metres squared; that's 16-48 plants under one 600w light.

- "New Products: Hydro Pod Ebb And Floods" from FutureGrow magazine.

Our range of aclaimed hydro pod systems are also available in kits which include everything for growing typical garden plants: just add water, electricity and your plants. Hydro pod systems are on demonstration at the Estoeric Hydroponics shop.

Esoteric Hydroponics has newly developed a re-vamp of the existing HydroPod system. In addition to the benefits of the HydroPod system, the DetachaPod system has removable pods. This system employs a unique pod within a pod technique. Benefits are: individual pods can be spun and swapped with ease. Pods can be efficiently exchanged with pods in other growing areas, allowing a constant stream of produce. Unwanted or diseased plants can be easily extracted without disturbing the remaining plants. Allows simple and clean maintainance between crops.

HydroPod^(TM) To DetachaPod^(TM) Upgrade Kits

Existing pod users can now upgrade to the DetachaPod^(TM) system with a kit listed below. Alternatively, upgrade as your budget allows.

Turbo Chargers

As part of our ongoing product innovation, we have developed turbo chargers to increase aeration to the rootball. The Esoteric Hydroponics HydroPod System already has a superior flood and drain cycle. With this optional upgrade, you can increase accelerated plant growth when your budget permits.

From FutureGrow magazine, issue seven:

An additional innovation by Esoteric Hydroponics is another bolt on facility for their very popular pod system. Now you can use the benefits of the pod system for propagation too. The benefits are self evident; better aeration for your cuttings / seedlings, automatic watering for your young plants, high pronounced dome so you can propagate as big a plant as you like which can be a big draw back on conventional propagators. You can root the cuttings in the same system that you are going to grow them in, reducing stress, transplantation shock and time. All that has to be said is its another winner.

- "New Products" from FutureGrow magazine.

HydroPod Propagation Pods convert individual pods of your hydropod system into a propagator. Propagating in situ removes the need to move plants from a propagator. This reduces stress on the plant and therefore reduces lost growing time and greatly reduces the risk of losing plants after propagation. Propagation pods have a 25cm (10 inch) diameter and are 20cm (8 inch) high. Pods are supplied in packs of four or ten. Also see our heated and unheated propagators.

Nutrient Film Technique - NFT

These hydroponic systems are used world wide for fruit, veg and herb production. By far the most popular form of hydroponics, tried and tested for over 20 years with spectacular results. The kit consists of grow table, tank/reservoir, nutrients, pump, pH adjuster kit, spreader mat, reflective top sheet and full instructions. In short, the root zone of the plant is fed constantly and directly by nutrient film and recycled by the pump submerged in the reservoir. When properly applied and maintained, this speeds up plant growth two fold and can quadruple or more the yield compared to soil. Very low maintenance required. Designed and manufactured in England. Approximate plant numbers given per tank.

Flood & Drain - Ebb & Flow

Again used world wide for fruit, veg, and herb production. A popular system for the bigger plant grower due to depth of grow table. However this hydroponic system will grow any plant happily. The kit consists of grow table, tank/reservoir, nutrients, pump, pH adjuster kit, spreader mat, timer, clay pebbles, reflective top sheet and full instructions. In short, the grow table filled with clay pebbles is flooded with nutrient solution and drained on regular cycles. Some say the yield and rate of growth can't be beaten. When applied and maintained properly this speeds up plant growth two fold and can quadruple or more the yield compared to soil. Very low maintenance required. Designed and manufactured in England.

Drip Irrigation System

Used world wide for flower, and herb production. A popular system for your more delicate plant species, however this could be used to grow any plant quite happily. Kit consists of grow table, tank/reservoir, nutrients, pump, pH adjuster kit, spreader mat, rockwool, dripper kit, reflective top sheet and full instructions. In short the grow table holds rockwool cubes or slabs which in turn are fed directly by one dripper per plant per cube, resulting in each individual plant being fed directly by nutrients which are in turn recycled by the submerged pump in the reservoir. When applied and maintained properly, this speeds up plant growth two fold and can quadruple or more the yield compared to soil. Slightly more maintenance needed for blocked drippers. Designed and manufactured in England.

Aeroponics

USA designed and manufactured and mainly used in the States. Used for fruit, veg, and herb production. Aeroponics is a novel and sound principle in that the root zone of the plant is grown in a cylindrical chamber where the roots of the plant hang from baskets within the empty chamber. The roots are then constantly misted with nutrient solution by an individual nozzle directed at the root zone thus improving air intake dramatically. Kit consists of grow chambers, baskets, clay pebbles, tank/reservoir, nutrients, pump, and full instructions. When applied and maintained properly can speed up plant growth three fold and easily quadruple or more the yield compared to soil.

AeroFlo 16 planter complete outer reservoir pot. The pump pusses air through the reservoir pot, pumping nutrients constantly to the top of the grow pot which is dripped via a circular delivery pipe through the kit: £425

Automatic Hydroponic Pots

USA designed and built, mainly used in Holland and the States. Used for fruit, veg, herb, and flower production, preferred by the larger plant grower, however will successfully grow any plant species. The kit consists of reservoir pot, inner pot, exterior air pump, clay pebbles, delivery tubes and full instructions. Again a novel and sound principle, the plant sits in the inner pot filled with clay pebbles which in turn sits in the clay pebbles thus resulting in excellent aeration to the root zone of the plant. When applied and maintained properly can speed up plant growth three fold and easily quadruple or more the yield compared to soil. A HydroGarden DataSheet is available.

Manual Hydroponics Pots

Basically, these are good sturdy empty pots with extra deep saucers ideal for passive hydroculture. Usually filled with a mix of vermiculite, perlite, compost, top soil and styrofoam, wicks can be hung from the pot into the saucer reservoir and fed manually with nutrients. Very messy, but gets good results. High maintenance needed and lots of waste when growing cycle is over.