Hydro WorksHydro Works

Learning Centre

Free, practical guides on hydroponics and organic growing, written for South African conditions.

New to the terms? Read the grower's glossary

System Setup · 03 Sept 2026

Setting Up the Hydro Works Wall-Mounted NFT System

Your system arrives fabricated and ready to mount — channels pre-drilled, fittings fitted, channel fall already set. This guide covers the wall it needs, mounting it, first commissioning, and the numbers to run it by.

Read the guide →

System Setup · 03 Sept 2026

NFT Hydroponics Explained: How the Nutrient Film Technique Works

Before you build anything, understand the principle. NFT grows plants in a continuously recirculating film of nutrient solution just millimetres deep — here is why that thin film matters, and where NFT beats every other method.

Read the guide →

System Setup · 03 Sept 2026

Planning Your NFT System: Space, Water, Power and Crop Choice

Most NFT problems are designed in before the first channel is mounted. Work through siting, reservoir and pump sizing, light, and crop selection now — every one of these is expensive to change later.

Read the guide →

System Setup · 03 Sept 2026

Assembling a Vertical NFT System: Channels, Slope and Plumbing

A step-by-step build order for a stacked NFT system — mounting uprights, setting slope on each tier, plumbing the feed riser and cascade returns, and pressure-testing before a single plant goes near it.

Read the guide →

System Setup · 03 Sept 2026

Planting Out: From Seed to Channel

Propagation to transplant — choosing a plug medium, germinating, knowing exactly when a seedling is ready, and settling it into a net pot so the roots find the film instead of drying out above it.

Read the guide →

System Setup · 03 Sept 2026

Weekly Maintenance and Troubleshooting for NFT Systems

The routine that keeps an NFT system healthy — daily checks, weekly top-ups, full reservoir changes — plus a symptom-by-symptom diagnostic guide for pH drift, EC creep, algae, root rot and pump failure.

Read the guide →

Hydroponics Basics · 16 Feb 2026

Introduction to Hydroponics: Growing Without Limits

Discover the exciting world of soil-free growing! Whether you're a complete beginner or looking to expand your knowledge, hydroponics opens up a universe of possibilities. It's simpler than you think, and yes—you absolutely can do this!

Read the guide →