Aeroponics Made Easy
Aeroponics is a great way to grow plants. This method is accomplished by spraying a nutrient solution to the roots of the plants. There is no use of a medium for this method.
The plants are put into holes on top of a chamber that stands them up with the roots suspended in the reservoir.
The nutrient solution is pumped through the tubing up to a sprayer or
mister that spays a fine mist (5-50 micrometers micro-droplets) onto
the roots.
Aeroponics is considered a superior method of growing because of the
extra oxygen provided to the root zone.
The end result is faster growth and greater yields.
This method is considered to be advanced because even though it is
simple, there is plenty that can go wrong if you are not vigilant.
And there’s the rub. All that really separates advanced methods from
the rest is vigilance.
As with any method you use, things can go wrong very fast if you are
not paying attention to your plants.
What can go wrong?
If you have an aerogarden set-up that is working properly and you
turn your back for 1 hour, it is very possible that you will have
an entirely different situation when you return.
What makes aeroponics or hydroponics difficult is “moving/extra parts”.
The more parts you have to keep track of, the more difficult it becomes
to grow.
Advanced methods tend to have many moving or extra parts such as
misters, or sprayers that usually have a tendency to get lost,
fall off, get broken or whatever.
Many times these sprayers can fall off or get clogged up inside the
chamber so that you are not aware of the mishap until your precious
plant is wilted or dried up from the lack of water.
This is more likely to happen when using organic nutrients with
sprayers or misters.
So just remember that vigilance is the difference between a great
harvest and a poor one.
If you can reach harvest time with out any mishaps, then you will
be very satisfied with what you have accomplished.
Aeroponics does what hydroponics does but “better”. You will have
a superior, bigger and better tasting end product.
With that being said, let’s learn how to set-up an aerogarden properly
and avoid common mistakes that beginners usually make.
Method #1 Buy a brand new aerogarden
Because of the level of difficulty involved with aeroponics, I will usually recommend that novices buy a brand new set-up if you are truly interested in using this type of system.
A professionally built system is easier to set-up and you will need some time to gain experience before you go out and try to build your own system.
Method #2 Make your own aerogarden
I usually only recommend aeroponics for advanced gardeners. This method will be difficult for those without at least 1-2yrs worth of experience.
A smaller version of this set-up can be used to clone plants as well.
Make sure to use a dark colored chamber to protect the roots from the light.
Supplies
drill air tubing/stones
1/2″drill bit air pump
2″ drill bit water pump
1/2″ tubing or PVC sprayers/misters
timer (optional) 2-15gal Tub with top
Step by Step
Step 1)
Drill 2″ holes along the top of the chamber. Place the holes about
2-6″ apart. The amount of holes will be determined by the size of
the chamber and the amount of plants you wish to grow.
Step 2)
Drill another 1/2″ hole on the corner of the top. This small hole will
be for the tubing of the air pump*and the plug-in cord from the water pump.
Step 3)
Use the PVC to make a grill shaped square or rectangular configuration.
Drill small holes about 1-2″ apart along the top of the PVC to insert
the sprayers or misters.
Step 4)
Use a PVC T-connector to connect the water pump to the PVC pipes.
Make sure to set the T-connector in the center so that it can work
as a brace and hold up the configuration.
Step 5)
Fill the reservoir about 1/2 full of nutrient solution. Make sure the
water level lies about 1-2″ underneath the sprayers.
Step 6)
Plug-in the air and water pumps. Make sure the air pump is making the
water bubble and make sure there is a steady flow of water through the
sprayers causing a fine mist or spray.
Step 7)
–Optional– Some suggest that you use a timer and set the sprayers to
30 sec. or 1 minute intervals. I don’t think this is necessary. Setting
the water to continuously spray would be a better option.
Keys to success
The key to making this work will be the location of the sprayers or
misters. Make sure they are close enough to spray the nutrient
solution directly onto the roots.
If the roots are very small then you made need to hand water the plants
until the roots grow enough for the sprayers to reach them.
Some have tried putting the sprayers directly under the plant. This is
great if you are using this method to clone and the plants have little
or no roots.
But if they are already mature plants with a full root system then this
can be problematic if the roots grow onto the sprayers and cover them up.
Another option would be to put the sprayers along the inside wall of the reservoir.
But what I and others have found that works best is to place the tubing
along the top of the reservoir and hanging the misters upside down next
to each plant hole.
This usually works well without roots growing over the sprayers and
getting in the way.
Aeroponics is a great way to grow plants. Just remember that attention
to detail is the key to a great harvest.
If you can master the aerogarden, you will be able to harvest superior
fruits and vegetables for many years to come.
*Many would consider the air pump to be unnecessary. Although the air
pump doesn’t directly spray water onto the roots, I suggest using it
because it can be used as a safety backup to help to keep the humidity
up in the chamber to buy you a little extra time in case the sprayers
stop working.
How to pages:
Return from Aeroponics to the Homepage
Clones
A worthwhile skill for any gardener.
Drip System
Yet another option for growing great fruits and vegetables.
Ebb & Flow
This is very easy to do and it provides outstanding results.
H2O
Preparing water can be a complicated process.
Hand Water
This method is easier than you might think.
Nutrient Film Technique
A great way to growing high quality fruits and vegetables.
Water Culture
A relatively new hydroponic method which is growing in popularity.
Wick System
A passive hydroponic method for growing fruits and vegetables.
