Aeroponics

Crystal and Cat

What is an aeroponics system?

• Aeroponics is a hydroponic system in which plant roots are suspended in air and misted with a nutrient water.

• Maximize oxygen available at the root zone, thus helping to maximize plant growth.

Advantages

• Germinating, rooting cuttings, and growing times are cut in half

• Grow your plants from seeds or cuttings• Grow your plants to full term or transplant in

soil• Plants are stronger, larger, and of the highest

quality and flavor• Re-circulates the nutrients until the plants

use it up• Research has proven that Aeroponics is

better than Hydroponics

Advantages

• Initial investment is a little high but the savings to operate go on forever:– no more growing medium to buy and discard in the land

fills– less and less nutrients to buy– less energy cost because our system does not run

continuously– cleaning and water changes are done in fifteen minutes or

less by putting– a bucket below the chamber and opening the and rinse– with about a half gallon of fresh water, let this drain, close

drain valve and – refill with fresh water and nutrients

Disadvantages

• The system is vulnerable to a power outage. Exposed roots will rapidly dry out and kill the plant.

• Mister spray heads may also have a tendency to clog and not produce mist when needed.

• Once a plant grows it will require some complex support mechanism because there is no growth medium to counterbalance and anchor the plant.

Materials Needed

• Estimated Costs for a 3'x3'x8‘ Aeroponics Structure

• Item Quantity Estimated Cost• Blueboard 3 - $25.00• PVC material – $75.00• Mist nozzles 8 - $10.00• Pump 1- $100.00• 50-gallon tank 1- $50.00• Prog. timer 1- $100.00• Misc. – $40.00

Cost

• Aeroponics systems range from $200 to $14000.

Works cited• http://www.futuregrowing.com/Commercial_link_aeroponics.htm• http://www.haywood.edu/UserFiles/file/pdf/wAeroponics%20bro.pdf• http://aeroponic.org/Tek-Light%205%20angle.jpg• http://www.futuregrowing.com/Pictures/Cad%20pics/aframe3.gif• http://www.dbcourt.co.uk/hydroponics/Images/Aeroponics.jpg• http://www.hydroponics-at-home.com/aeroponics.html