What is an Aeroponics System?
Aeroponics is the process whereby plants are grown in an airy or misty environment without making use of soil or any other aggregate medium. It is also known as Geoponics.
The word is derived from aero-, and ponos, which are Greek words meaning air’ and work’. In aeroponics, the water is used to transmit nutrients. Thus it is considered even as a type of hydroponics farming.
Aeroponics system doesn’t require any use of soil and their roots are suspended in the air so that they can absorb oxygen and nutrients without getting waterlogged.
Growing with Aeroponics doesn’t require any growing media or air pump. The method uses less water and nutrients as compared to other types of hydroponics methods making it one of the most efficient low labour types of farming methods.
How Does an Aeroponic System Work
The roots of a plant need a combination of nutrient solution and oxygen for growth, an aeroponic system supplies both. The plant roots are suspended in a humid chamber and get misted or doused with water for a few minutes every 10-15 minutes.
The spraying and crashing of the water introduces oxygen into the nutrient solution which the plant absorbs through the roots. Any water not absorbed is collected back into a reservoir where the pump can recycle it through the chamber over and over again.
Here’s a video of an aeroponic bucket system I built for use in my grow tent.
Plants You Can Grow in an Aeroponic System
Here is the list of the plants you can grow by yourself with the Aeroponics System of farming method.
- Eggplant
- Lettuce
- Watermelon
- Broccoli
- Beets
- Onions
- Cucumber
- Cauliflower
- Cabbage
- Grapes
- Peas
- Peppers
- Potato
- Radish
- Basil
- Ginger
- Rosemary
- Sage
- Oregano
- Mustard
- Ginger
- Mint
We hope that with help from this list you can understand how good and underrated the technique of Aeroponic farming method is.
Advantages of an Aeroponic System.
- Crops can be harvested without the use of soil.
- Reduced labour costs.
- Reduce the risk of plant disease due to pest infestation.
- Uses less water and nutrients.
- Roots are provided better exposure to oxygen.
- Faster growing time.
- Offers much more control.
How to Setup a Homemade Aeroponic System.
There are two types of Aeroponics System we are to discuss here, one is the single bucket aeroponics system and another one is the multi bucket aeroponics system. Single bucket is for new and hobby farmers. The Multi Bucket system is for the small scale farmer.
Some of the tools mentioned can be bought at the nearest gardening or hardware stores. You can also opt for online shopping as Amazon provides you with everything you need. We are going to set up a homemade aeroponics system.
Single-Bucket System Aeroponics
- 1 big plastic planter, or a pot without holes.
- 1 small and round flower pot which doesn’t touch the planter’s ground.
- 1 garden hose of 3 to 7 feet long.
- 1 “T” hose.
- 1 water pump for the aquarium.
- 1 bag full of Clay Pebbles.
- 1 outlet timer for timing the pump.
The time you’ll need for making this is about 30 minutes for a single plant and will cost you about $70.
- The garden hose needs to be cut into two pieces. One piece is for the filter, and one for the “circle” dripper. You will need to drill the small holes in the bottom of the pot, and one large hole for the hose.
- Put the garden hose used for the pump into the large hole. The second piece of the garden hose will be used to connect both ends to the “T” fitting. Use any type of rubber tube in a place of the hose.
- Drill cca. 30 smaller holes into the “circle” hose. It should let water to drip down.
No need to drill the holes too big, as the water will need to dispense all around the circle. Drill one hole in the bottom planter, so the pump cord can come out if you desire. - Now, you need to connect one end of the hose to the pump outlet and fill the bottom planter with water. Set the pump inside. After dropping into the flower pot and feeding the hose up and through, connect it to the “circle” water dripper. The pump should be at the bottom of the large planter. It needs to have water in the bottom.
- Fill the flower pot with the Clay Pebbles you have. Then place your seedling down in the hydro balls.
When you finish everything, you can turn the pump on. See the water dripping from the hose.
Let the water drip, and watch your plants grow. Plug the pump for the aquarium into an outlet time. Set as you think is needed.
Note: daily check the level of water inside the bottom planter, and refill if needed.
Multi-Bucket System
Tools:
- 3 x Five-gallon buckets.
- 3 x Grommets 3/4″.
- 5 Feet of plastic hose 3/4″.
- 1 x ″T” connector 3/4″.
- 2 x 3/4 ” connectors for tubing.
- 2 x Net Pots.
- Clay pellets 10# bag.
- 2, Rockwool cubes. 6″x6″.
- 5 feet of 3/4″ flexible plastic tubing.
- 1, end cap 3/4″ for tube.
- 1 x 1/4″ connectors.
- 4 feet 1/4″ spaghetti tubing.
- 1 x pack of 1 gph-pressure compensating drippers
- 1, Bottle PH up.
- 1, Bottle PH down.
- Air pump.
- 12 Feet, air tubing.
- 1pk, air stones.
Preparing the material
In 2 of the buckets, drill a three-quarter” hole, two inches from the base and In the final bucket, drill a 3/4″ hole, one inch from the base (ideally, this would be your reservoir bucket). Proceed to insert rubber-grommets inside each of the three buckets.
Phase one
Take the five-foot piece of three-quarter” plastic hose and cut it in half. Insert a three-quarter” connector to 1 end of each piece of the hose. Connect both pieces of hose with the “T” connector. Insert “T” connector into grommet of reservoir bucket. Now that you have grommets and connectors on your hose and buckets, connect the other two buckets to the main reservoir. Your main reservoir will now be centralized in your system.
Phase two
Fill a separate 5-gallon bucket with water and test pH levels using a pH tester kit. You may need to use your pH up or pH down to adjust your levels accordingly.
Once pH levels are optimal, you can dump your water into the buckets. The water level should equalize quickly. With the 5′ length of plastic-tubing, attach one end to the submersible water-pump, and then attach the end-cap to the remaining end.
With the one-quarter” hole puncher tool, make a hole on each side of the tubing about halfway down the length and insert 1/4″ connectors. Cut the 4′ spaghetti tubing in half, fit each piece to one of the 1/4″ connectors. To the open end of spaghetti, tubing attaches a pressure compensating dripper.
Phase three
Insert the substrate baskets into the 2 outer buckets and then fill about halfway with the clay pellets. Submerge your Rockwool cube into basket center and fill the basket up to the top of the cube with more pellets.
Phase Four
Cut the 12′ of air-tubing into equal dimensions. The total number of required lengths will vary depending on the available number of air outlets on your pump.
Attach each piece of tube to the pump, and to the open ends of your tubes attach air stones.
Put ends of air tubes with air stones into the reservoir-bucket. DO NOT PUT PUMP INTO BUCKET. Place next to the reservoir and plugin. watch the bubbles and have an iced tea.
Phase Five
Put the submersible water-pump inside the reservoir-bucket. Be sure to position your tubing between the 2 planter buckets and then stake the spaghetti hoses as well as drippers into the Rockwool. Ensure that before turning on your water pump, make sure it is completely submerged in water.
If you need to add more water, make sure you adjust the pH before adding it to your reservoir. Now plug in your water pump and watch your garden grow.
