absolutely the efficiency can be greatly increased with a good timer, but the object was to keep it as cheap and simple as possible. so full time drip was the simplst way i could think to do it at all, using adjustable drippers like the ones shown above by dear hippie, just turned waay down low to 2-3 drops a minute, it is good for smaller seedlings/clones started in rockwool cubes, and when they get big they let you know when they want more flow.
maybe nft is better, and simpler, the problem for me was how to get nutrient solution to the smaller roots of smaller clones with the stuff i had or could get cheap/easy. so i already had some expanded clay pellets and the water pump from the aquarium so thats how i put them together. not having a timer means its more important to oxygenate the nutrient solution, like the dwc, bubble buckets, and those kind. note: dwc= dutch water closet
well-oxygenated nutrient solution is very important to the plants' health, but however it can be delivered doesnt seem to matter all that much, as long as the environment is right, the plants will take up nutrients and water and air and convert them into root stem and leaf as fast as they can, but absolutely cannot be forced beyond nature to go any faster.
so, im not saying everybody ought to do as i have done, im trying to put out the idea that
anybody can do as i have done. people have the idea that hydroponics is so difficult and requires a labcoat and a clipboard and and theres dangerous chemicals and its expensive... nothing could be further from the truth. you can easily make your own good nft gallery just by making a long flat box out of anything and line it with plastic; you can use fence boards or cardboard, plastic sheet or plastic garbage bags. with a bucket, a pump, some hose and a measuring spoon you really can grow big healthy plants, and big healthy buds.
oops, sorry for the big long rambly post. the short answer is, you can use a drip system without a timer, but you have to be able to adjust the drip rate to very slow for smaller plants and faster for bigger plants, and your nutrient solution must be very well oxygenated.
drip drip drip
