Aeroponics is a relatively new way of growing plants that is getting increasingly popular with many people because of the speed, cost, and novelty. Aeroponics only came about during the 1940s, and since then, many researchers have added to the theory and application of this method. It seems to me, one of the best ways to grow plants in a soil-free environment, with the exception of hydroponics. If you have little space for a garden in the form of land, or if your soil isn’t particularly arable, why not try aeroponics?
Compared to hydroponics, aeroponics offers even more control over the root system, because you don’t even need to immerse the roots in any liquid. This makes your aeroponic nursery “mobile.” Aeroponics uses a small internal microjet spray that sprays the roots with fine, high pressure mist containing nutrient rich solutions. Because the roots are exposed to more oxygen, the plant tends to grow faster. It is also easier to administer all sorts of nutrients to the plant, via the root system.
In a typical aeroponic system, plants are usually suspended on top of a reservoir, within a tightly sealed container. A pump and sprinkler system creates vapors out of a nutrient rich solution, and sprays the result in the reservoir, engulfing the dangling plant roots. Plants are inserted into the platform top holes and supported with collars. Aeroponics is often confused with hydroponics, since the two methods are similar and interchangeable, but In aeroponics the roots have no contact with any media, whereas in hydroponics, they do.
Some people think that aeroponically grown plants would be more frail than plants grown in the soil, but this is entirely false, as they are in fact even more well fed than most of their soil counterparts! Aeroponics can also be combined perfectly with hydroponics, to produce strong, healthy plants, as in hydro-aeroponics. The secret of aeroponics lies in the increased oxygen available to the roots due to the lack of root zone media.
Commercial aeroponics only took off during the 1980s, but has been growing ever since, because the need is clear – People are always looking for better and more convenient ways to grow plants with a minimum of fuss.
A guy named R. Stoner is generally credited with promoting commercial aeroponics worldwide by developing user friendly aeroponic systems, so much so that US space agency NASA has adopted many of his ideas, and are now one of the strongest proponents of aeroponics. Today, aeroponic systems are more “plug-and-play” than ever before, for the average Joe gardener, although still by no means brain dead easy to setup and maintain.
Some of the key benefits of aeroponics:
Key disadvantages of aeroponics
- Dependence on the system – A typical aeroponics system is made up of high pressure pumps, sprinklers and timers. If any of these break down, your plants can be damaged or killed easily.
- Technical knowledge required – You need a certain level of competency in running an aeroponic system. Knowledge of nutrients amounts required by your plant is essential, because you don’t have any soil to absorb excess/wrong nutrients supplied.
- Regular cleaning of the root chamber – The root chamber must not be contaminated, or else diseases may strike the roots. So you need to disinfect the root chamber every so often. Hydrogen peroxide is often used as disinfectant.
- High cost – Most aeroponic systems are not exactly cheap. Aeroponic systems may cost many hundreds of dollars each. The most affordable one I noticed, is still the one by AeroGrow, a unique form of commercial “aeroponics.” Edit – Some folks point out that AeroGrow is not aeroponics – I think it is still a great system for small premises.
In conclusion, aeroponics is still a good way to learn how to master plant growth and learn about their needs, within a controlled environment. For urban dwellers who live in apartments, sometimes aeroponics is the only practical way to garden. For budding farm ventures in high value crops, the cost of setting up an aeroponic nursery may turn out to be cheaper than acquiring a large plot of land to farm on. And on arid lands, aeroponics circumvents this problem, and provides the best means of growing plants effectively . (Quote) . So I guess we shall find out soon enough what benifits Aeroponics will have and that,s the risk /reward factor we all take when buying SUGR . Lets not forget we have our Master Grower to look after that yup . JMO. Cheers .