There are many ways of cultivating vibrant, healthy plants indoors. One method that has gained attention of late is aeroponics. Surprisingly, this type of gardening requires neither a huge amount of space nor potting soil to yield impressive results. Aeroponic growing, however, does require specific supplies to create a suitable environment for seedlings and plants.
What is involved in aeroponics?
While everyone is familiar with cultivating plants in soil, this gardening approach exposes the plants’ root system to heavily misted air. The mist is not plain tap water, mind you, but rather a nutrient-rich solution. The roots absorb the nutrients readily in an aeroponics system-based environment and conduct them upward throughout the plant structure.
Although the root system is not submerged in either water or a growing solution, this method of plant cultivation is actually considered a variation of hydroponics gardening.
As you may expect, specific equipment is required to simultaneously contain and circulate this mist in a controlled environment. For this reason, an aeroponic system is often fully or partially closed. Such a design, some feel, also provides a barrier against pest infestation or the introduction of disease.
The low down on aeroponics systems
Equipment and complete systems for aeroponics growing are usually available from most locations that sell hydroponics supplies. While there are some similarities between components used for hydroponics gardening and air-based cultivation, they are not exactly alike. For this reason hydroponics supplies cannot be interchanged with aeroponics equipment.
A typical system includes some basic components. First an aeroponics system will include some sort of growing chamber. As mentioned, this chamber can be partially or completely enclosed so that it can control environmental conditions.
A pump mechanism is often included as well. Like hydroponics systems, these gardening environments require a fresh supply of nutrients. The pumping mechanism maintains the correct level of humidity in the growing area and ensures the airflow is active enough to prevent stagnant conditions.
A timing mechanism is also common in aeroponics gardening systems. While hydroponics systems maintain constant fluid levels by default, air based growing requires continuous misting in order to provide a stable growing environment. The timer insures that misting occurs at regular intervals so that growing conditions remain consistent.
Overall benefits
In addition to the convenience of having readily available produce from your indoor gardening efforts, this method of cultivation can provide a healthier crop than possible otherwise. Some feel there is less chance of disease and pest infestation in these gardens. Consequently, the use of pesticides is not necessary. This is particularly good news for gardeners preferring an organic crop.
