With your hydroponic system in place, now you must supply it with nutrient solution. The four widely used methods are manual, flood and drain, wick and automatic pump. Gardeners are all too familiar with the manual watering system. You simply determine when and how much water your plants receive. With this method, though, be sure to apply the same amount of nutrient solution on a regular basis.
Nutrient solution fills the growing tray to a predetermined level from a separate holding tank.
With this method, you have the option of recycling the solution. Wick watering simply enhances a naturally occurring plant process. Plant roots act like straws when water and nutrient solutions are present, taking up water and minerals as needed. Wicking material is fibrous, has the same drawing power as plant roots and is usually incorporated into the growing media so that it extends below the root system into the nutrient solution. This allows the plant to get to nutrients and water as it needs them.