The NFT grow system is one of the oldest and is the commonly thought of hydroponic growing system. The NFT (Nutrient Film Technique) System is a hydroponic system great for growing leafy greens and keeping them at ideal nutrient and climate levels. This level of control can help reduce production time and increase the quality of the crops. What Plants can be Grown in NFT Channels. NFT channels are primarily used to grow leafy green plants with a short growth period. Bibb and leaf type lettuce is an ideal plant for such a system but you can grow other leafy green plants such as spinach, broccoli Raab, and certain herbs.