Aero-Hydroponics - A New Way of Growing
Aero-hydroponics is a method of growing in which oxygen is
infused into nutrient solution. This method uses Rockwool, net pot, vine clips,
and other devices to support plants while their roots grow in the air under a
constant mist of nutrient solution. This allows the roots of the plants to
absorb nutrients faster and easily. This facilitates rapid growth and great
crop yields. Aero-hydroponics can be used for plants and vegetables including
strawberries, melon, cucumbers, and many others. Aero-hydroponics is more
complicated and harder to understand than other hydroponics methods. However,
aero-hydroponics is a new better way of growing fresh healthy crops. The
equipment required for aero-hydroponics is more complicated than other methods,
but there is an advantage to the aero-hydroponic method.
The aero-hydroponics system is the most advanced hydroponic
method available. Using an aero-hydroponics system will give many hydroponics
gardeners the chance to enhance their gardens further. Plants grow better in an
aero-hydroponics system. Dissolved oxygen at the root boundary zone enables
aero-hydroponically plants to grow better than others. In aero-hydroponics, the
nutrient solution is sprayed through the air in order to infuse the nutrient
with dissolved oxygen. Once the system is set up, it will run indefinitely
without any additional investments in disposable components such as growing
media and non-recirculating nutrients.
Aero-hydroponic systems can be built using various
materials, and are able to be configured in numerous designs. An example of
some aero-hydroponics is a stand-alone module that supports four plants in ten
liters of nutrient solution. In this system an electric motor is mounted on the
top of the unit and it spins a nutrient sprayer, which lifts nutrient solution
and sprays it unto the aerial roots. The rotation of the sprayer causes the
nutrient within the unit to stir, moving it constantly over the submerged
roots. Some commercial aero-hydroponic system consists of canals or growing
chambers with plant sites on top. In this system a pump provides pressure to
drive a system of sprayers to supply the aerial roots, while submerged roots
hang into the nutrient in the canal.
Both of these systems share fundamentals of the
aero-hydroponics method. In both systems the plants are supported above the
flowing nutrient, and the roots hang down through an air gap in which the
nutrient is sprayed, then into the moving nutrient solution below the air gap.
The nutrient being sprayed through the air gap is intended to infuse the oxygen
into the nutrient solution wherein the feeder roots are constantly submerged.
The submerged roots in the oxygen rich nutrient provide most of the nutrition
and oxygen for the plant.
There are several aero-hydroponics systems that can be
installed in consumer residential homes. The AeroFlo system is a system that
consists of a reservoir place below the growing chambers, which support the
plants. In this system the nutrient is changed every two weeks and the pH level
is adjusted to 5.5 to 6.5 and nutrient conductivity is maintained at 800 to
1200 ppm. In this system since there is no growing medium, pH remains stable
and only requires adjustment when mixing fresh nutrient. The costs of
constructing and installing the aero-hydroponics system, and complications of
obtaining licensing, have deterred many farmers from using the method. However, many growers have been willing to
invest in aero-hydroponics systems, because they've become aware of the
capabilities and value of the system. Aero-hydroponics can give several
benefits to dedicated growers. The method is improving the face of hydroponics,
and if accepted by commercial growers it will only expand further.
The aero-hydroponics method can be used to enhance
commercial farming, producing greater crops at even faster rates than other
hydroponic methods. Aero-hydroponics is a new way of growing your old favorite
fruits and vegetables.
