Aeroponic growing of plants such as microgreens and other vegetables goes by the name aeroponic. In the same way that growing vegetables in soil requires good drainage, aeroponics is the method of growing plants at an accelerated pace in a confined space. The plants are grown in a special aeroponic growing tower called a growth chamber. The plants are provided with abundant light through a series of growing chambers and they do not experience the effects of soil erosion, so they tend to mature earlier.
Aeroponic growing of plants has a number of advantages. Plants grown in this manner can provide fresh vegetables or fruits without having to harvest regularly, thus improving the food supply for consumers. With micro greens and other vegetables, you can expect better pest control as no pests or insects will survive in the growing environment, there are no soilborne diseases and no weeds are needed to be removed. Aeroponic vegetables also consume less water, making them a greener solution. They are therefore environmentally friendly as well as being healthy for consumption.
There are two types of growing medium used in aeroponic microgreens and these are the growing medium and the bedding. The growing medium is a glass tube containing a liquid medium and aeroponic seeds are placed in the middle of the tube, sealed with a plastic sheet. As the microgreen starts growing, it will absorb the nutrient level from the growing medium through its air pockets and leave the nutrient-free surface to transfer to the bedding. The bedding, which contains loosely packed plant roots is what connects the growing medium to the growing trays below.
Microgreens are available in different sizes ranging from a single microgram to several centimeters in height. Depending on the type of vegetable you are growing, you should get a growing medium that matches the appropriate size. Larger growing mediums tend to produce more leaves in each growing cycle.
The nutrient suspension solution used for microgreens can either be a fertilizer solution or a culture medium. The culture medium is available from most garden centers and is used in conjunction with the fertilizer solution. The growing medium contains all the necessary nutrients needed for the microgreen to grow, including carbon dioxide, nitrates, phosphates and calcium. The solution used is generally a solution of potable water mixed with a handful of perlite or vermiculite powder. Potable water is always the best choice when growing any kind of plant and this is especially true for growing microgreens.
A number of aeroponic systems are available to suit almost any kind of growing medium. They are easy to assemble, require only minimal maintenance and are highly efficient. Microgreens produced by aeroponic systems contain everything necessary for successful growing and yield. These include fertile growing medium, a nutrient solution and aeroponic growing lights.
A simple solution for starting off your microgreen project is to use a growing medium that contains a high concentration of nitrates. This will ensure that the roots of the plants are well supplied with the right amount of nutrients. Another solution for a starting microgreen garden is to use a nutrient solution containing potassium and magnesium. Both of these elements are extremely useful for ensuring the growth of the microgreens.
Aeroponic growing media is available in different concentrations. High levels of potassium and magnesium are recommended for microgreens because they are very efficient in providing a well-balanced environment for the plant to thrive in. Other elements such as calcium may also be added to the growing medium, depending on the species of the microgreen you are growing. There are different ways of aeroponic growing, but all of them are effective methods. The important thing is that you are consistent with your water and nutrient mixes and your plants should thrive.