SPREADER MAT 100FT

Description

Spreader Mat 100ft is a professional-grade NFT (Nutrient Film Technique) channel liner designed to absorb and evenly distribute the thin film of nutrient solution that flows through NFT growing channels, ensuring consistent contact between the flowing nutrients and plant roots across the full length of each channel. Without an effective spreader mat, nutrient solution channelling can occur — where the liquid follows a single groove or path through the channel rather than spreading as a uniform film, leaving portions of the root mass in dry contact with an unmoistened channel base.

The Role of Spreader Matting in NFT Systems

NFT hydroponic growing relies on a precisely controlled, thin film of nutrient solution flowing continuously across the channel base. This film must be evenly distributed so that every root surface in the channel receives consistent nutrient and oxygen exposure. The channel surface alone rarely achieves this — it is too smooth for reliable spreading, and the surface tension of water means nutrient solution will bead and channel along the lowest point rather than spreading. Spreader mat solves this by providing a fibrous, capillary-active surface that draws the nutrient film laterally across its full width. The mat’s fibrous structure also provides a physical substrate to which root hairs can attach, improving root-to-nutrient contact and creating a healthier root mat structure within the channel. We have supplied NFT growing systems and consumables including spreader matting at The Horticulture Company since 2017. Consistent, properly spread NFT film is one of the most important factors in system performance.

Sizing, Installation, and Replacement

This spreader mat is supplied in a 100-foot roll, providing material for multiple channel installations or a full system installation from a single purchase. Cut to the required channel length and width, lay flat in the channel base, and allow the nutrient flow to establish before introducing plants. Replace the mat between growing cycles to maintain hygiene and prevent the build-up of old root material and algae that can create resistance and harbour pathogens in subsequent grows. The mat is compatible with all standard NFT channel profiles and can be trimmed to fit any channel width.