This is a very simple but very effective technique. It is basically a hybridisation of all the above techniques put together. The principles as the description of the title is simple, however very effective. These systems normally use clay pebbles as the substrate, as this medium provides very good drainage and good retention of water, which over a period of time will dry out. A flood and drain system typically works by using a timer and submersible pump. The timer controls the flood and submersible pump. The timer controls the flood and drain cycle of the system . Most flood and drain systems work via a bottom flood, which over a period of pre set time floods two thirds to three-quarters of the growing medium. Then, once the flood cycle reaches the desired height, the pump stops and gravity then pulls the water back to the tank. Then, depending on the size and depth of the system, some time later the cycle is repeated.

Conventional flood and drain systems are normally quite shallow i.e. approx 5-10cm deep. However, due to recent developments, we now have on the market deep flood and drain systems. The pod system ™ are approximately 50cm deep. Original shallow flood and drain systems obviously take less time to flood however needs to be flooded more often over a 24-hour period. The reason is that the medium takes shorter and longer periods of time to dry before another flood is initiated, i.e. the shallow flood and drain medium will dry out quicker resulting in more floods per 24 hour period.

The great benefit in a deep flood and drain system over its shallow counter parts is that the greater the volume of water used to flood and drain a system, the greater push and pull of air over the root zone will be, i.e. the water acts like a piston in a cylinder of an engine. Each time the system floods, the old air in and around the roots is pushed out from the medium then when the flood completes and the drain cycle occurs, the water then sucks down as it returns to the tank, pulling fresh air in to the root ball maximising aeration around the roots. And because it needs a longer period of time to dry out before another flood is initiated, this drying out process also creates very good aeration to the roots. Then the whole process is repeated. Aeration to the root ball is possibly the biggest factor for healthy, happy, heavy yielding plants and this system gives you it by the bucket load.

Again another big advantage of the deep flood and drain system over its shallow counter parts is that because the system uses a greater volume of water to operate it, it also needs a greater size tank to maintain it. Now, the bigger the tank, the more buffered and stable the pH and CF of the system will be, resulting in less maintenance. Also, the greater the size of the tank the less times you have to visit it to top it up again resulting in less maintenance and more freedom.

Before any more praise is said about these systems, please read what horticultural press said upon their release: