ADVANCED AEROPONICS
getting started . When there are beneficial fungal spores and bacteria present , they compete with the bad bacteria for the same food . They can easily take a strong hold and prevent the bad biology from ever growing . Whether you ’ re using a sterilization method or inoculating with good biology , the bad biology must be kept at bay one way or another . If it is not , it is only a matter of time until the system is contaminated and plants begin to suffer . This is why it is extra critical to maintain correct water temperatures and prevent the kind of environment bad biology can thrive in .
Cloning
To have consecutive successful runs in an aeroponic cloner , you need to thoroughly clean the cloning system in between each run . The cleaning process is often overlooked and a likely cause of most problems . Over time , neoprene inserts begin to accumulate unwanted pathogens and should be replaced . Another thing to pay close attention to is water temperature . As mentioned previously , bad things grow in water above 64 ° F . Internal pumps often overheat the water , so use a timer
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To have consecutive successful runs in an aeroponic cloner , you need to thoroughly clean the cloning system in between each run .”
to allow the pump to cool . Be sure the area surrounding the stems where the roots will eventually grow is kept relatively humid . Another easy way to cool down your submersible-pump system is to add frozen water bottles , which act as ice cubes to cool the water . There are also more technical options , such as external high-pressure aeroponic pumps and misting nozzles , which allow for further control of the fine water droplets as they are delivered to the fragile cuttings . During aeroponic cloning , the stems must be kept wet to allow for proper root development . As roots develop , you should be increasing your spray times . After roots are 3-4-in . long and have begun to branch out , dialing back spray times will allow for increased root development , as well as prevent problems arising from root rot , which is usually brought on by overwatering .
Growing Until Harvest
Growing plants for extended periods of time in an aeroponic system is often challenging . Just as plants can grow more rapidly , things can also take a turn for the worse more quickly when compared to other methods of growing . In other words , plants perform better when things are going right but are far less forgiving when things go wrong . For this reason , many aeroponic gardeners use the sea of green ( SOG ) method , which means they prefer growing small , uniform plants that make up what looks like a sea of green . Growing shorter plants allows for faster crop turnover , further accentuating the benefit of increased growth rates achieved by aeroponics . Whether you ’ re growing small or large plants , aeroponically grown plants must be pampered and remain happy throughout the entire process to maximize yield and quality . Many expert aeroponic growers will reduce their spray times to mimic nature and seasonal changes . For example , in the early stages of growth , growers are mimicking the springtime , as plants want more water . As vegetative growth occurs more rapidly , the plants will
154 Maximum Yield USA | June 2016