Aeroponics Systems
Aeroponics is one of the best ways to grow plants in a soil-free environment. In an Aeroponic system the plants are suspended above a reservoir within a tightly sealed chamber. Plants are inserted into the system through holes in the lid and supported with collars. The system runs with a constantly running pump, which disperses a fine micro-fog of nutrient rich solution from spray heads. The solution is sprayed omni-directional, covering exposed roots in an oxygen-rich, nutrient solution, as they dangle into the rooting chamber.
You can grow just about any plant using Aeroponics. Vegetables do especially well grown in Aeroponic systems, the plants grow faster, yield more, and are generally healthier than those grown in soil.
Click to read more about our In-House Aeroponic propagation using a Jade plant.
Benefits of Aeroponics
Environmentally friendly and cheaper to run
Aeroponics uses considerably less energy and water than traditional systems, making them more environmentally friendly and cheaper to run. On average, Aeroponic plants use less water and fewer nutrients, because the nutrient absorption rate is higher. Plants usually respond to Aeroponic systems by growing even more roots.
Mobility
Aeroponic systems make moving individual or collections of plants simple, you can even move whole nurseries around without too much effort.
For multiple plants, you can place modular Aeroponic systems on pallets to make moving really simple. For individual plants, all that is required is moving the plants from one collar to another.
An abundance of oxygen
The space between the lids planting hole and the nutrient solution means there is plenty of room to expose roots to sufficient oxygen. Oxygen promotes quick, disease-free growth. Most growing systems hide your plant’s roots in a medium. Depending on the medium, some can compact down with fewer air spaces. This can result in your plant struggling to access the oxygen it requires. With aeroponics, because your plants are suspended freely and constantly sprayed with oxygen-rich nutrient solution, they get all the oxygen they need without drying out and have constant access to nutrients. This mix can see your plants grow with explosive results.
Faster Growth
Aeroponic methods grow plants faster than any other conventional means. Because the roots are exposed to oxygen 24/7, the plant tends to grow faster. It is also easier to administer all sorts of nutrients as you know that they are going straight into the plant via the root system.
Aeroponic systems generally need less maintenance
No dusty media means less mess and no chance of pipes or misters getting blocked. Cleaning your system between uses is much easier to. All you need to maintain is the root chamber (the container housing the roots). This will need regular disinfecting, as will the reservoir and irrigation channels. With air acting as a medium to grow plants, Aeroponic growing requires
considerably less maintenance.
Requires little space
You don’t need much space to start an Aeroponics garden. Depending on the system, plants can be stacked vertically, one on top of the other. Aeroponics is basically a modular system, which is perfect for maxing out limited space.
Top tips for using Aeroponic systems
Research before trying Aeroponics
Aeroponics is recognised as an advanced style of hydroponic growing. It isn’t considered an ideal set-up for novices. You need a certain level of competency to run an Aeroponic system with repeatable results. Knowledge of nutrients and amounts required by your plant is essential, because you don’t have any soil to absorb excess nutrient if you overfeed.
Regarding aeroponic growing, the general advice is to ensure you are comfortable and have had success using other growing systems first. If you’re really keen to get stuck in straight away, it is a good idea to invest your time in some serious research. Arming yourself with knowledge should give you the confidence that you’ve learnt at least some of the required knowledge. There are a few avenues to success, one is learning slowly, the other is diving in and learning as you go. We all learn from mistakes, don’t be afraid to make them, just don’t make them twice.
Don’t confuse Aeroponics with Hydroponics
Both use water but that’s where the similarities end. Aeroponics is different to hydroponics in the sense that with Aeroponics the roots have no contact with any media, whereas in hydroponics, they do. A media such as clay pebbles is used in hydroponics and the plants roots are kept submerged in the water whereas in Aeroponics the plants roots are suspended and continuously misted with fine jets of water at regular intervals.
Be prepared for a higher initial cost
Aeroponic systems can cost more as comparable grow systems due to the technology. However, not all systems cost the earth. If you use your Aeroponic used correctly they will more than earn their worth in terms of results, convenience, financial and environmental efficiency.
Regular checking and a guaranteed power supply are essential
If your power fails on a more conventional grow system, your plants may suffer in the short term, but they will usually survive as the medium stores water and protects the roots. With Aeroponic systems, your plants are totally exposed. If any of your high-pressure pumps, sprinklers or timers fail, then your plants have not got long until they are damaged beyond repair. The roots will suffer from lack of water and have zero protection from a medium. Drying out of roots at the slightest interruption is even more severe than with the N.F.T system. For this reason regular checks are essential, and you need to take extra care to have a reliable power supply for your system, maybe even a backup plan in reserve.
Keep the Aeroponic root chamber clean
In general, Aeroponic systems require less maintenance, however, there is one, critical area that needs your full attention: the root chamber. The constant semi-moist environment of the root chamber is the perfect place to encourage bacterial growth, the chamber must be disinfected between grows with something like Hydrogen Peroxide and run for at least 24 hours at the recommended dilution ratio. If you don’t do this, you run the risk of disease striking and spreading in the root zone.
Aeroponics propagators
Use an Aeroponic propagator to start young plants and cuttings
An Aeroponic propagator is a great bit of kit to start your young plants and cuttings off. Whether you intend to use an Aeroponic system throughout your grow or not. They create the perfect conditions for cultivating young plants and cuttings reliably and quickly. It also introduces you to the art and process of Aeroponics.
The propagator mists cuttings from underneath to maintain ideal moisture and oxygen levels at the root. Cuttings are suspended in mesh pots or by foam collars and are constantly misted with water, preventing root rot and drying out and also providing unrestricted access to oxygen. Humidity levels are controlled and maintained by the large vents in the lid. Propagation is easier as the mist is constant and so there is no need to monitor water levels daily.
Aeroponic propagation offers your cuttings the best start, ensuring that a higher percentage of your cuttings root, and that your plants grow faster and stronger. Not only this but when they are ready your cuttings can be carefully transplanted into your system of choice.
Aeroponics is one of the newer growing systems on the market and can be a super effective way to grow your plants without the hassle of pots and soil. Some would say that it is the growing system of the future.
Our Chelmsford shop manager, Cameron (Cam) brought in a much-loved family Jade plant (aka Money Tree). He wanted to use it to propagate some new plants. We’d never tried propagating Jade plants before, so he set about configuring one of our 40-site X-Stream Aeroponic propagators.
