Indoor Gardening–Aeroponics

Aeroponic Produce

Operating retail stores, especially in a niche space like indoor gardening, comes with a unique and ever-expanding set of challenges. The most significant of which, I’ve found to be raising awareness within the community that such a shop even exists and that there’s a whole world of products, tools, and resources developed specifically for indoor growing. For that reason, our team has put a tremendous amount of thought into the curb appeal of each location, strategically placing the most interesting and eyecatching plants, products and systems front-and-center as window dressing. Without a doubt, the most asked-about of these items is the Tower Garden® by Juice Plus+, an aeroponic, vertical garden with integrated LED grow lights. Many other brands offer equally stylish and similarly functional products, but Tower Garden® happens to be one of my favorites.

Looks aside, aeroponics is actually an extremely efficient method for growing food indoors. In fact, it’s been used by NASA aboard spaceships and space stations since the 1990s due to the minimal need for bulky, heavy resources such as soil and water. It’s also a method of growing that doesn’t have be break the bank. A do-it-yourselfer can build a simple system out of a plastic tote for under $100. So, what is it that allows aeroponics to not only be aesthetically pleasing, but also practical for home growers and astronauts alike? The answer is in the definition.

Aeroponics is a subset of hydroponics (growing plants without soil) where plant roots hang suspended in the air without the need for a grow medium. A water-fertilizer solution is sprayed, misted or dripped along the roots to provide required nutrition. By eliminating soil or other grow medium from the equation, bulky pots and containers also become unnecessary, freeing up design options unavailable through other growing methodologies.

Regardless of whether you use a pre-fab product such as the Tower Garden® or develop your own, the majority of aeroponic systems operate under the same principals and with a few key components.

The first, a reservoir or tank, must be present to hold and mix your nutrient-water solution. Although I hate to a assume anything, I’m fairly confident anyone reading this article is presently on earth and the rules of gravity apply. Therefore, your reservoir should be placed below the plant roots to catch and recycle any unused nutrient solution.

Each plant is held in place above the reservoir in either a net pot or some type of collar, providing support, allowing the roots to expand below. In the Tower Garden®, a cylindrical column extends above the reservoir with numerous openings, each big enough to hold a small net pot, distributed throughout. A

submersible water pump is then placed in the reservoir, fully submerged in nutrient solution. This pump can be connected to a timer or be set to run continuously. Pipe or flexible tubing runs from the pump to one or more nozzles, controlling the distribution of water in a spray or mist. Many systems will have these nozzles pointed directly at the plant roots. Others, such as the Tower Garden® utilize a single nozzle at the very top of the tower. From there, gravity pulls the water through a system of platforms within the column, ensuring its even distribution across plant roots. Excess solution that isn’t used immediately by the plants drips down into the reservoir where it is pumped back up through the system.

Without the hassle of grow media, the entire system can be easily taken apart for cleaning to prevent build up of algae, bacteria or fungi. With the constant exposure to oxygen in the air, root rot becomes a thing of the past. And with a little imagination, systems can be designed to fit just about anywhere.

Lighting needs are no different than they would be for the same plants grown in soil or hydroponics. Aeroponic systems can also be placed on a patio, deck, greenhouse or garden during the outdoor growing season to soak up the sun’s natural rays. The Tower Garden®, for instance, has options for builtin lighting and heavy-duty castors, allowing it to be easily rolled outdoors on nice days.

There are, of course, limitations on what can be grown aeroponically. While root vegetables are certainly out of the question, aeroponics isn’t just reserved for herbs and leafy greens. Even heavy produce such as cauliflower, cabbage, broccoli, squash, tomatoes, peppers, etc., can be grown with the proper support. A trellis, pole or shelf can easily relieve the weight of these fruiting plants as their roots continue to thrive below.

So whether you’re interested in a flashy showpiece for your living room window, an efficient way to produce your own produce, or a little bit of both, I’d highly encourage gardeners of any experience level to give aeroponics a try.

Aeroponics is a subset of hydroponics where plant roots hang suspended in the air without the need for a grow medium. A water-fertilizer solution is sprayed, misted or dripped along the roots to provide required nutrition.

JASON MISPAGEL Indoor Gardener

Jason Mispagel is the co-owner and operator of Year-Round Garden, a grower’s supply center serving both home and commercial customers since 2016. To contact Jason, call 816-216-6917 or jason@year-roundgarden.com.