What are Aeroponic Systems?

 

These systems can be a bit trickier to put together. They are quite high tech and therefore tend to be more expensive. In aeroponic systems, the roots of plants are enclosed in a space known as an aeroponic chamber. Plants usually stick out of holes that have flexible rubber collars—these are simple to use. Plants are suspended in the air, and below the plants there are mist nozzles that spray the nutrient solution on the plants’ roots. It can look quite futuristic. These systems can often look like cubes or towers with the mist released at the top, and as the droplets cascade down, the roots of the plants get moisture and nutrients, but at the same time they can breathe well because they are surrounded by air.

 

This vertical structure means they take up less space, so you can have quite a number of towers in your house. You can also easily move an aeroponic tower to a different location. Aeroponics is an extremely clean and sterile way of growing. Usually, no growing medium is used in aeroponic systems, so roots can spread out as much as they want, and that can be cost saving too. In aeroponic systems, plants grow really fast because they get so much oxygen, so it can be quite satisfying to see the rewards of caring for them and getting a good yield fast.

 

The reservoir that holds the nutrient solution also contains an oxygenating air pump. The mist nozzles are connected to a water pump, and pressure causes the solution to be sprayed. If the plants have excess nutrients after being sprayed, these fall back into the reservoir below them. You can grow most types of plants this way, but you’ll need a deeper reservoir for larger plants. Aeroponic systems use less water than other types of hydroponic systems. They can cost more to build, however. They also need a bit more maintenance than other systems. Sometimes you will find that the nozzles that spray the nutrient solution become clogged and will need cleaning.

 

Some growers who use this type of hydroponic system use a non-stop fine mist, while others will mist on a cycle. If it is on a cycle, there are only a few minutes between each cycle. They are much shorter than in ebb and flow systems, for example.

 

The types of plants that do well in aeroponic systems include lettuce, leafy greens, tomatoes, peppers, eggplants/aubergine, ginger, strawberries, watermelons, edible flowers, and herbs. Root vegetables, such as carrots and beets, don’t do well in these systems, and fruit trees are too large and heavy for aeroponic systems. Plants can outgrow aeroponic systems and will need to be transplanted elsewhere, so you may need to have alternative places if this occurs.

 

Aeroponic systems tend to be more expensive to set up than other hydroponic systems because you’ll need reservoirs, timers, pumps, misting nozzles, and more. You can make DIY aeroponic systems, which will be discussed later in this article. If you have an aeroponic system, you need to ensure that you frequently check timers and pumps so that your plants are misted properly otherwise the roots will dry out and your plants will die. If you lose electricity, you’ll need to manually mist the plants with the nutrient solution to keep them moist. And finally the root chambers will need cleaning to prevent diseases.

 

There are two pressure systems used in aeroponics: low-pressure system (LPA) and high-pressure system (HPA). In a low-pressure system, the roots of plants are constantly misted, while in a high-pressure system, the irrigation cycles are very short, usually for 5 seconds every 5 minutes. When you are looking to purchase a pump for aeroponics, you’ll need to consider not just the pump’s capacity (how many gallons of water it can move per hour) but its pressure power too—this is measured in pounds per square inch (PSI).

 

If you’re interested in an aeroponic system and it’s your first time doing this, you could buy a kit to get things set up easily. If you want to build an aeroponic system yourself, look no further!

 

 

Building an Aeroponic System

 

It is possible to build a basic aeroponic system at home using a bucket, a sprinkler head, a pump, a timer, and pots to hold the plants in the air. You can do this with a single-bucket system or a multi-bucket system. If you are new to hydroponics and this is initially more of a hobby, then a single-bucket system should be sufficient. If your focus is more small-scale farming, then you may need to set up a multi-bucket system.

 

To build a single-bucket aeroponic system, you will need:

 

Instructions

 

If you want to build a multi-bucket system, you will need:

 

• Three 5-gallon (19L) buckets
  
  
• Three ¾-inch (1.9 cm) grommets
  
  
• 5 feet (1.5 m) of ¾-inch (1.9 cm) plastic hose
  
  
• One ¾-inch (1.9 cm) T-connector
  
  
• Two ¾-inch (1.9 cm) connectors for tubing
  
  
• Net pots
  
  
• A water pump, ideally 264 gallons per hour (1000 litres per hour)
  
  
• 5 feet (1.5 m) of ¾-inch (1.9 cm) plastic tubing
  
  
• ¾-inch (1.9 cm) end cap for tube
  
  
• ¼-inch (6 mm) connectors
  
  
• 4 feet (1.2 m) of ¼-inch (6 mm) spaghetti tubing
  
  
• 1 gallon per hour (3.8 litres per hour) pressure compensating dripper
  
  
• Air pump
  
  
• 12 feet (3.6 m) of air tubing
  
  
• Air stone
  
  
• Hydroton
  
  
• Rockwool cubes that are 6 by 6 inches (15x15 cm)
  
  
• Nutrient solution
  
  
• pH meter
  
  
• pH control kit to adjust the pH level of your nutrient solution

 

Instructions