I am working on an aeroponic system to speedily multiply my plants. I will describe my build and the parts involve in detail, but let’s start with some definitions!

Aquaponics

General term. Often used to indicate plants grown in the water of a fish tank or with fish waste as a nutrient source.

Hydroponics

reddit link. General term. Generally refers to Kratky or Deep Water Culture/DWC setups where at least some part of the plant roots are submersed in water. The water may not be agitated at all (Kratky) or agitated by an airstone or bubbler. (DWC)

The difference between these may be blurred such as in the commercial AeroGarden product, where the upper part of the roots is in air AND the water is agitated (DWC.) Hydroponics can also refer to ebb-and-flow/flood-and-drain systems where the water is pumped into the root zone before being drained into another reservoir.

Aeroponics

reddit link. Can refer to both low and high pressure systems. Low pressure aeroponics most often involves sprinkling/spurting water on the roots, like one of those lawn watering devices. Low pressure aeroponics may also be classified as DWC if the reservoir and root chamber are the same container and/or the bottom of the roots are submerged.

High pressure aeroponic systems are arguably the most complicated and expensive. This is the system we will be building because… reasons! They may involve a reverse osmosis (RO) booster pump, RO fittings, RO accumulator tank, a solenoid, misters/nozzles, a repeat cycle timer and more.

High pressure aeroponics means that your plant roots are misted for a few seconds and then left to dry for a few seconds. Intervals vary, but the goal is that the roots are not soaked nor are they bone-dry. Aeroponics was explored at NASA and many hobbyists use their work as a starting point.

Aeroponics provides the most aggressive plant growth (as of writing) and offers many advantages over other forms of hydroponics, such as reduced water and nutrient usage, more control over feeding schedule, a more sterile grow environment for your plants and more.

Fogponics

reddit link. Fogponics often involves the use of an ultrasonic fogger to produce an extremely fine nutrient mist. Almost as unexplored as aeroponics, it too requires a level of engineering not present in more traditional forms of hydroponics. Design challenges include air circulation and direction of your nutrient flow.

Sandponics

reddit link. Similar to aquaponics, could be said to be a scaled up version of aquaponics that uses sand to filter the water. Plant nutrients are most often organic.

“Hydroponics”

youtube link and youtube link 2.I use the quotations to indicate that this is a liberal definition for when people grow plants in coco coir or peat and, basically, heavily fertilize with hydroponic nutrients. Not that there is anything wrong with that!

To be continued/updated!