How to grow clean vegetables using aeroponics that every home can apply

Unlike soil or hydroponics, growing clean vegetables using aeroponics does not use soil or water. Plants are grown in an air environment, fully supplied with water and nutrients. Misting helps plants grow healthily and produce the desired product.

1. Basic components of an aeroponic system

The support is drilled with holes on the surface to hold the roots firmly at the bottom.

• Nutrient supply system: nutrient tank, pump, pipe and mist nozzle
• Lighting system
• Sensor system: measure temperature, humidity, pH, light
• Water level monitoring system
• 2. Mechanism of action

• Because they are fixed in space, the roots have the conditions to absorb maximum nutrients. Along with misting, the roots are always cool, metabolize and grow better.

• Nutrient solution in air and water will be sprayed continuously to the roots of plants at different levels. The dosage depends on the temperature and humidity parameters on the sensor and the needs of the plants. Excess water and nutrients will be filtered; a significant amount of water and nutrients will be saved.

  The lighting system has the function of adjusting the appropriate brightness based on the sensor parameters.

  The tank water level monitoring system will notify the grower of the water level status in the tank.

• 3. Implementation process

• - Aeroponic tube system:The cylinder consists of many holes, each hole will be attached with a basket and a 40x40x50mm foam to keep moisture and fix the plant. The foam is white PE foam, slit 50% of the block (or punched with 0.5cm holes). The plant will be placed in the groove (or sown directly into the hole).

• The entire solution after passing through the baskets will be collected in the collection pipe and flow back to the original tank. Then the solution will continue to be pumped up to supply the system again. The pumping time and the interval between each pumping will depend on the evaporation rate on the foam.

• - Seed incubation:Seeds are sown inside the foam, the number of seeds depends on the plant variety (lettuce: 2-3 seeds, various types of cabbage: 2-3 seeds, water spinach: 5-6 seeds, ...). Mist twice a day, morning and afternoon, until the seeds germinate.

  - Taking care of seedlings:After 2 - 3 days of sowing (for varieties of cabbage, lettuce, water spinach, ...) the seeds germinate, still spray mist twice a day, morning and afternoon. In the nursery tray, add hydroponic solution about 1/3 of the height of the foam, with a concentration of 750-1,000 ppm for the plants to grow and adapt.

• Observe regularly to add water when water gradually evaporates; in hot weather, high evaporation rate, spray water on seedlings to avoid dehydration (avoid watering when it is too hot and watering water needs to be cool to avoid leaf burn).

• - Up the cultivation rack:When the seedlings are 8-10 days old (cabbage 7-8 days, lettuce 10-12 days, water spinach 6-7 days,...) put them on the aeroponics rack. Pay attention to put them on the rack in the morning or cool afternoon, avoid the hot noon that will make the plants lose strength. Because the plants are just put on the rack, you need to spray mist to cool them down in the hot noon, to avoid dehydration.

  If planting one type of plant on each pillar, the trellis should be arranged in order from small to large, from top to bottom so that the plants grow more evenly. If planting multiple types of plants on a pillar, prioritize in the following order: Light-loving => Medium => Shade-loving; Short height => Medium => Tall.

• - GStage 0-30 days after planting:Regular observation and care is required because this is the stage when pests begin to attack. When detected, the affected parts must be destroyed.

  Prune weak, poorly growing plants to concentrate living space for healthy plants. Leave an appropriate number of plants in each basket depending on the variety (1-2 mustard plants, 2 lettuce plants, 5 water spinach plants).

• - Stage 30 - 35 days after planting:At this stage the plant has grown to almost its maximum size, so the concentration of the solution should be reduced to reduce the amount of fertilizer left on the product. About 5-7 days before harvest, you can add water only without adding fertilizer to the hydroponic solution.

• 4.The effectiveness of growing clean vegetables using aeroponics

• Growing with this method only absorbs 5% of fertilizer and 2% of water. That means saving 95% of fertilizer and 98% of water consumption; vegetable yield will increase many times.

• With virtual growth time (24 hours in a lighted environment), vegetables grow 1.5 times faster than normal, saving time and labor.

• By spraying air in the form of mist, vegetables will avoid disease-carrying bacteria and when diseased plants are detected, they can be removed immediately and the water in the pump tank changed.

  This method is suitable for families with limited space but want to have a clean vegetable garden at home. One hole can grow many vegetables at the same time; the yield is much higher than the "one hole one root" method of soil cultivation.