Aeroponics

Aeroponics is the process of growing plants in an air or mist environment without the use of soil or an aggregate medium (known as geoponics). The basic principle of aeroponic growing is to grow plants suspended in a closed or semi-closed environment by spraying the plant's dangling roots and lower stem with an atomized, nutrient-rich water solution. The leaves and crown, often called the "canopy", extend above. [1]

Project description

This project's main goal is to develop an open source aeroponic system for home grown edible plants, that one can easily build without too much technical knowledge and with readily available materials and tools.

Having and using such a system will provide immediate control of and access to fresh food of superior quality and of known origin.

Candidate species for cultivation

• Greens: Lettuce, Spinach
• Herbs: Mint, Parsley, Oregano, Basil
• Bulbs: Potato, Garlic, Onion
• Fruits: Strawberry
• Peppers
• Tomatoes
• Cabbage

Materials and devices

Germination

• Germination materials
• Seeds and/or grafts

Root chamber

• Opaque plastic storage box. Cost: 15€?
• Blue foam panels for box cover and plant support of size: 100x200x5cm. Cost: 15€?

Spray or mist production

Air-Dynaponics

• Air compressor, one of:
  • Cheap 12V electric car compressor. Cost: 10€
  • Mini airbrush air compressor. Cost: 30-50€
  • Fridge or air condition compressor. Cost: 0€ (find scrapped)
  • Normal air compressor with tank. Cost: 50-90€
• Flexible irrigation tubes 6mm + connectors and taps. Cost: 20€

Mist

• Ultrasonic Nebulizer. Cost: 10-30€. Got one but needs 24V AC adaptor

High pressure liquid spray

• High pressure water pump
• High pressure nozzles
• High pressure tubes and connectors
• Water filters

Controlling device

• Arduino. Cost 20€

Lighting

• High Intensity Discharge (High Pressure Sodium, Metal Halide)
• Fluorescent

Metering, sensing and regulation

• Thermometer
• Electrical connectivity/Total Dissolved Solids (EC/TDS) meter for solution measurement
• Ph Meter
• Ph Regulation (apple cider vinegar, baking soda)

Sterilization

• UV-C lamb
• Hydrogen Peroxide

Resources

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This project is considered safe ;-)