AEROPONIC SUPERSONIC GRO-OP 1 OF 3

AEROPONIC SUPERSONIC GRO-OP PART 1 OF 3

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Aeroponics is the process of growing plants in an air/mist environment without the use of soil or an aggregate media.

The word aeroponic is derived from the Latin meanings of 'aero' (air) and 'ponic' (culture). Aeroponic growth refers to growth achieved in an air culture. Such conditions occur in nature. For example, in tropical climates orchids develop and grow freely in trees (Rains, 1941).
Laboratory research on air culture growing utilizing vapors began in the mid-1940's. Today aeroponics is used in agriculture around the globe.

Aeroponic culture differs from both hydroponics and in-vitro (plant tissue culture) growing.

Hydroponics (water culture) uses lots of water and essential minerals to sustain plant growth. Hydroponic growing requires the roots to be submerged in water or water soaked aggregate, with air bubbled into the mix. In-vitro (meaning "under glass") tissue culture utilizes an agar media to supply the necessary essentials to sustain plant cell growth. Aeroponics offers something to plants that hydroponics, to a degree, can't supply enough of – and that is air (Oxygen).

Oxygen in the air is what makes all plants live. Plants must have it and have lots of it, or they become silted and die. For example, a waterlogged plant dies because it suffocates; although its leaves may be blowing in a gentle breeze, its roots are starving for oxygen.Aeroponics is all about air --and lots of it-- especially when air is combined with micro-droplets of water. Add a few trace minerals and macro-nutrients to the water, and almost any plant can grow to maturity in air.

Aeroponic systems are favored over other methods of hydroponics because the increased aeration of nutrient solution delivers more oxygen to plant roots, stimulating growth and preventing pathogen formation.