When plants are grown in soil or coco, the crucial factor for customers is that their system is working with them and not against them. In this blog, we will run through some of the advantages of EasyFeed® and what makes it the best gravity-fed soil system for you.
The fabric pots allow root pruning of the roots. But what does this mean exactly?
Air pruning is a term used to describe the reaction of roots to growing into air- they literally stop growing at the tip as they seek out more soil. Air-pruning increases the branching of roots in plants, creating a denser root system and increasing the amount of water and nutrients your plants can uptake. This can lead to greater yields and fruits.
The EasyFeed system is battery-operated and requires no electricity to power it
Other gravity-fed systems consistently keep the roots wet 24/7, but the EasyFeed system releases water in the system trays through the action of a battery-powered water timer. The timer prevents water from automatically being released into the system trays. Instead, the plant roots are allowed to dry out periodically and this enables the plants' roots to absorb oxygen. The periodic drying out of the roots encourages root branching, improves nutrient uptake by plants, and increases plant yield.
The EasyFeed gravity-fed system uses 16mm pipe to prevent clogging
Common issues we hear from our growers using other gravity-fed systems is that clogging of the pipework is quite common. EasyFeed's 5/8" / 16mm pipe and large diameter valve inlet eliminate clogging and keep the nutrient flow consistent.
The EasyFeed float valve is fixed
Another common issue with other gravity-fed systems is the float valve detaching from the tray, floating to the surface and causing the grow room to be flooded. The EasyFeed valve is secured to the side of the tray, which makes this issue impossible.
Is it possible to wash the EasyFeed fabric pots?
It is possible to wash your pots used in the EasyFeed system. To prevent debris entering your washing machine, it is advisable to rinse the pots off prior to washing, using a garden hose or something similar. Wash the fabric pots at 90 °F / 30 °C and then treat the pots using a sterilising solution to ensure that the pots are 100% sterile.
Is it possible to overwater your plants in the EasyFeed system?
We recommend a watering schedule of once every day for established plants in soil or coco, but this may need to change depending on your climate and plant size. If the water timer is left open and the trays are full of water, this can lead to root problems such as root rot as the roots are consistently submerged.
Overview
The EasyFeed system is a very reliable, simple and cost-effective way to automatically water multiple plants.