Those who are new to growing Hydroponics, may find that using organics is the path of least resistance, allowing them to keep things as simple as possible.
Below is everything you need to know about growing Cannabis using Hydroponics, Drippers, Deep Water Culture, Aeroponics, and Aquaponics, outlining the differences of each.
Contents
Hydroponics
To keep it as basic as possible, hydroponics means to grow a root zone within a soilless medium. By doing so, this allows the grower to apply the exact nutrition to their Cannabis plants promoting an instant uptake. Unlike growing Cannabis using soil and water, hydroponics promotes a much faster root system, bigger plants, and ultimately yields that can be 300-400% greater than organics.
Now you may have popped into the local grow store and had a good glance at the various plastic molded hydroponic systems they sell. It is difficult to understand how each system functions and what the benefits of them are. Hydroponic systems can range from top drip, bottom feeding, using misting nozzles and even submerging roots directly into water.
- An inert soilless medium is used within the different systems
- Nutrient solution is fed directly to the plant’s roots
- Water pumps and air pumps are required
- Chemical nutrients must be used and fed to a strict pH and EC
Different Hydroponics Mediums
In the same way that soil can be customized to the growers needs, cannabis hydroponics is universal in that sense also. There are various inert substrates that can be used and below is a better explanation of each and how they are used.
Coco: The husks of a coconut hair that have been treated and made ready for growing. Coco has minimal nutrient value and is known for its soft and airy appearance.
When mixed with perlite, hydroton or rockwool, it holds plenty of oxygen and moisture. Used in dripper systems that drain to waste, coco is an excellent growing medium and a great start point for entry-level cannabis hydroponics.
Rockwool: Made from molten mineral rock that is processed and spun to create a fine wool. This is the same fiber used inside a loft to insulate and will often have a yellow color and come in various sizes ranging from 4-6 inch cubes. Used in NFT table and dripper systems, rockwool is easy to work with and very popular in commercial-scale farming.
Hydroton: These are the light brown clay balls you see commonly used in landscaping. Used in dripper systems and DWC, hydroton is totally inert and has no nutritional value whatsoever and one of the best things is that it is impossible to over water your roots when using 100% hydroton with a dripper system for example.
Perlite: Not a substrate that is used by itself, however when mixed with coco or soil for that matter, it will dramatically improve the aeration quality of the medium. A mix of 50% coco and 50% perlite are a popular choice amongst hydro growers. This small white dry material will increase air pockets as well as drainage.
Dripper Systems
A dripper system is the entry level set up for anything making the move to cannabis hydroponics (you can also try out a wick system). The drippers are connected to a main pump that sits in the reservoir with the nutrient solution. A timer will feed the Cannabis plants for 15-minute intervals.
- Commercially used to grow vegetables and fruits in rockwool cubes
- A great entry level system that can use a variety of substrate and feeding times
Deep Water Culture
D.W.C is much more complicated than dripper systems and requires submerging the root ball of the Cannabis plants in oxygenated water. The set up is very simple in terms of a bucket, air stone, and net pot, however the skill level and experience required is much more demanding than other systems.
- A water pump and air stone are required to be left on 24 hours a day.
- DWC uses more nutrients than any other system.
Aeroponics
Unlike traditional hydroponic systems where roots are submerged directly into a nutrient solution (such as Deep Water Culture) or anchored in inert media like rockwool or coco coir, aeroponics suspends the root system in an open-air chamber.
Plants are typically supported in net pots using minimal medium (like a small hydroton layer or a cloned rockwool cube). A timed pump sprays the hanging roots with a nutrient mist, exposing them to maximum oxygen in between sprays. This high-oxygen environment promotes rapid root growth and the development of a dense, highly branched (“fish-bone”) root system.
Aeroponics vs. Hydroponics: Key Differences
- Minimal Substrate: Requires almost no growing medium, reducing waste and cleanup time.
- Maximum Oxygen Exposure: Free-hanging roots have excellent access to oxygen between misting cycles, which can promote faster growth than many conventional hydroponic or soil systems when properly managed.
- Precision Feeding: Nutrients are delivered directly to the roots through timed misting cycles, allowing precise control over irrigation frequency and nutrient delivery.
Low-Pressure vs. High-Pressure Aeroponics
The performance of an aeroponic system depends heavily on nozzle size and system pressure, which dictate mist particle size:
- Low-Pressure Aeroponics (LPA): Uses standard spray nozzles (90°, 180°, or 360°) that deliver larger water droplets. These components are readily available at hardware stores, making LPA an accessible, entry-level option. Spray timing depends on the system design and should be adjusted to keep roots consistently moist without becoming waterlogged.
- High-Pressure Aeroponics (HPA): Uses high-pressure pumps and specialized misting nozzles to produce very fine droplets, typically around 20–50 microns, maximizing root surface coverage while maintaining excellent oxygen availability. This fine mist increases root surface coverage and can improve water and nutrient uptake, though nozzles require regular maintenance to prevent clogging.
Essential Equipment Checklist
To build or run a cannabis aeroponics system, you will need:
- Rooting Chamber & Net Pots: To suspend plants while giving roots room to hang freely.
- Reservoir Tank: Holds the main nutrient solution.
- Submersible/High-Pressure Pump: Powers the delivery system.
- Spray Nozzles or Misting Heads: Distributes the nutrient mist evenly across the root chamber.
- Segment Timer: Controls spray intervals down to minutes or seconds.
- Digital pH & EC Meters: Essential for monitoring nutrient strength and acidity daily.
5 Pro Tips for Growing Cannabis in Aeroponics
- Keep Vegetative Times Short: Plants grow exponentially faster in aeroponics than in soil or passive hydro. Keep veg times brief and use plant training (such as LST or topping) to control height before flowering.
- Provide Ample Spacing: Provide enough spacing for your training method and cultivar. Because aeroponic plants often grow vigorously, avoid overcrowding the canopy to maintain good airflow and light penetration.
- Monitor E.C. Daily: Check reservoir EC daily and adjust nutrient strength or top off with fresh water as needed to compensate for water and nutrient uptake.
- Maintain Sweet-Spot pH: Aeroponic roots absorb nutrients rapidly, making them sensitive to pH drift. Maintain the reservoir between 5.5 and 6.2, allowing slight natural drift to improve overall nutrient availability.
- Optimize Reservoir Temperature (16–22°C): Keep reservoir temperatures between 16–22°C (60–72°F). Use a heater or chiller if needed to maintain stability, and ensure the nutrient solution remains well circulated.
Aquaponics
This style is a level up from the other systems covered above, as a certain type of fish fed a special diet is used.
There is a far greater level of maintenance that comes with aquaponics and it is essential to the water nutrient rich and both fish and Cannabis plants happy.
- Aquaponics is an advanced level of farming and very popular across the world
- The fish are fed a specific diet that optimizes all the nutrients Cannabis plants need
See our in depth article on aquaponics for more detailed information
