{"id":3553,"date":"2020-02-24T15:12:50","date_gmt":"2020-02-24T15:12:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.herbexaminer.com\/?p=3553"},"modified":"2020-08-30T22:54:12","modified_gmt":"2020-08-30T22:54:12","slug":"how-does-aeroponics-work","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.herbexaminer.com\/hydroponics\/how-does-aeroponics-work\/","title":{"rendered":"Aeroponics 101: A Detailed Guide to Hydroponic Growing With Mist"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
In today’s article, we’ll be taking a look at Aeroponics<\/strong>: <\/p>\n\n\n\n A fairly complicated form of active hydroponics in which plant roots, held by a growing medium, are suspended in air above a nutrient solution reservoir and are misted at optimal time intervals for quick growth. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Aeroponic Advantages: <\/strong> 1.) Smaller nutrient water droplets means faster absorption by plant roots and faster plant growth overall. 2.) Less water and energy usage than traditional gardening and most other hydroponic techniques. 3.) Inexpensive. 4.) Little to no maintenance required overtime<\/p>\n\n\n\n Table of Contents:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n The majority of hydroponic techniques<\/a> function by supplying a steady stream of nutrient solution to plant roots.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Aeroponic systems, on the other hand, suspend plant roots above a growing reservoir (or tank) where they are then sprayed or misted with nutrient solution at specific time intervals. This requires a certain level of automation and is why aeroponics is considered to be the most technologically advanced form of hydroponics. <\/p>\n\n\n\n You see, there are three basic hydroponic techniques:<\/p>\n\n\n\n 1.) Liquid Culture Hydroponics<\/strong>: A technique that implements an automated water pump and a reservoir tank to continuously provide plant roots liquid nutrient solution.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Notice how the nutrient solution is re-used and continuously pumped to the plant roots. This system requires upkeep, mainly monitoring the pH levels of the nutrient solution and sometimes re-supplying the system with fresh nutrient solution. <\/p>\n\n\n\n 2.) Solid Media Culture Hydroponics: <\/strong>A technique that uses a solid medium (like gravel or rock wool) to hold plant roots in place and provide ample air and nutrient solution.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Keep in mind<\/strong>: The majority of hydroponic techniques use a solution tank and a pump.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But because Aeroponic systems operate by misting plant roots, they don’t require a large solution tank or an additional pump. In fact, they don’t require much space at all and are ideal for small vegetables, herbs, and spices. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The picture above is from my older Aerogarden Bounty model – a classic automated aeroponic system. You can see the large built-in pump placed in the middle which is used for providing ample air and nutrient solution to plant roots. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Even older AeroGarden models – specifically the original 7 pod AeroGarden – used an aeroponic automated sprayer that targeted each individual plant pod. <\/p>\n\n\n\n It seems that AeroGarden found this technique to be too wasteful or energy inefficient and instead went with a single pump and a single sprayer. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Plant roots are suspended from these planting pods and placed into the unit:<\/p>\n\n\n\n With aeroponics, the most important factor for plant growth and root development is the size of the average water droplet being delivered to plant roots. <\/p>\n\n\n\n If the average droplet is too large, then not enough oxygen is being provided to plant roots. If the average droplet is too fine, then plant roots won’t be provided the optimal amount of nutrients and may begin to wilt over time. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Most functional aeroponic units dispense water droplets that are between 30 – 90 microns. <\/p>\n\n\n\n For the purpose of this article, we’re going to specifically focus on two different types of aeroponic systems: <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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\n\n\n\nHow Do Aeroponic Systems Work?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Different Types of Aeroponic Systems<\/h2>\n\n\n\n