- What is Fogponics?<\/a><\/li>
- How Does Fogponics Work?<\/a><\/li>
- Best Plants for Fogponics<\/a><\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nWhat is Fogponics?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
In short, fogponics is a sub-technique of aeroponics<\/strong> that uses fog – or very fine water droplets – to grow plants, herbs, and veggies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This is important:<\/strong> Within hydroponics, there are three core growing techniques:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- Liquid Culture Hydroponics:<\/strong> A technique that uses a nutrient solution culture with no solid medium.<\/li>
- Solid-Media Culture Hydroponics: <\/strong>A technique that uses solid media like heavy pots and bags. <\/li>
- Aeroponics: <\/strong>A technique that uses misters, foggers, and sprayers to supply suspended plant roots with nutrient solution. <\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n
![\"hydroponic](\"https:\/\/www.herbexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/Copy-of-Copy-of-Copy-of-Copy-of-1-min.jpg\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nEach technique has dozens of iterations and sub-techniques. For example, liquid culture hydroponics includes the very popular Nutrient Film Technique (NFT hydroponics), solid-media culture includes the beginner-friendly Deep Water Culture technique (DWC hydroponics), and aeroponics, once again, includes fogponics. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
As you can guess from the name, fogponic systems utilize an ultrasonic fogger (nebulizer) <\/strong>to provide plant roots with a consistent supply of very fine liquid nutrient solution droplets. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The majority of other aeroponic sub-techniques use misters and sprayers – as opposed to foggers – to provide plant roots with nutrient solution. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
We covered how Aerogarden’s automated hydroponic kits utilize an aeroponic sprayer in this comprehensive article<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Aeroponic systems as a whole are one of the best hydroponic techniques, they:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- Give increased air exposure to plant roots.<\/li>
- Deliver a direct supply of fine nutrient solution to plant roots.<\/li>
- Give plant roots absolute access to the carbon dioxide in the air which is required for photosynthesis.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nFogponics Benefits<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
So then, you may be asking, why use a fogger? Why not just use a mister like most other aeroponic systems? <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Here’s the key idea:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
For optimal root growth in an aeroponic unit, the size of the average water droplet matters most<\/strong>: If the average water droplet is too big, then not enough oxygen will be provided to plant roots. If the average water droplet is too small, then plant roots will not receive the necessary nutrients to grow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The sweet spot for water droplets dispensed from an aeroponic mister or sprayer is between 30 – 100 microns.<\/strong> Water droplets below 30 microns say 5 – 25 microns, need to be dispensed at an extremely high density. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
So then, this is where a fogponic system can thrive: using a sprayer to consistently provide solution droplets that are between 5 – 25 microns is impractical, but an ultrasonic nebulizer (fogger) is perfect for the job. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Also, advocates for fogponics often point out that providing water and nutrients at the smaller particulate size results in faster absorption by plant roots and faster plant growth overall.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Recap: <\/strong>Fogponics can provide plant roots with a consistent nutrient\/water mist that is between 5 – 25 microns per droplet in size. This results in faster plant growth overall. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
How Does Fogponics Work?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"fogponics](\"https:\/\/www.herbexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/918ab4dea9bb22b48676c244f7a2436f7b5f9167-1024x768.jpg\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nFogponic systems are constructed similarly to most other aeroponic systems, the main difference is, of course, the nebulizer. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
![\"fogponics](\"https:\/\/www.herbexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/820835ad8c1ebc65d5660fb6c8337766e6a9e6ab-1024x768.jpg\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nA normal storage box can be used as the support structure of the unit. Cutting small, 8 cm, holes at the top of the lid is perfect for fitting netted cups filled with some sort of growing media – like coconut coir, or coco pellets – to hold plant roots. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
![\"fogponics](\"https:\/\/www.herbexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/2c78f1d61632b7dae37a1f61a3c26ddd38c41241-1024x768.jpg\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nInside the box, you should place a basic mist maker\/fogger<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
One of my favorite fogponics instructional videos is by Hydroponics Explained: <\/p>\n\n\n\n
- Solid-Media Culture Hydroponics: <\/strong>A technique that uses solid media like heavy pots and bags. <\/li>
- How Does Fogponics Work?<\/a><\/li>