Back 2 Basics Part Seks! The Final Chapter?
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Aeroponics refers to a plethora of various methods where growing plants have their roots suspended in the air, and their essential nutrients and hydration is supplied via miniscule water droplets that permeate the closed atmosphere. This is usually achieved by suspending the plants above a mist chamber into which the plants’ roots are allowed to enter. Inside the chamber, a reserve of ionic fertilizer nutrient mixture is atomized using re-circulating pumps with attached misting nozzles, or spinning water agitators, or more recently ultrasonic buzzing devices. There are a myriad of different designs possible that will function properly according to circumstances.
Please check out the simplified schematic that depicts a “cloning” chamber that was built using a cheap poly. utility tub and lid, inside which was placed a “fish-pump” with an attached misting nozzle used to fill the chamber with nutrient-rich water droplets. Small holes were cut in the lid of the chamber and a layer of appropriate poly. film with slits cut into it was placed on top to allow cuttings to be inserted into the top of the chamber. This unit was tested and was shown to be able to produce remarkably healthy “clones” much more quickly than with traditional techniques in soil or soil-less mixes.
The main benefits of using the aeroponics method include the ability to reduce or eliminate the need to use media or substrates to support the plants’ roots (as with NFT), the markedly improved growth rate due to oxygen availability to the plants’ roots, and the increased reduction in transplant shock achievable.
The drawbacks of the system include complications due to water droplet size and air:water ratio variability where plant dry weight production can be reduced if droplets are too big or too small, and the need for having watering schedules optimized. In the latter case, many units can use the always-on technique, or they can experiment to achieve the best rates of on and off times according to their situation (plant size, number, growth stage, etc.).
Refer to our previous article "Electronic Ultrasonic Aeroponic Fogaponic Nutrient Delivery" for more info. and links.
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