How To Build A DIY Aeroponics System – 18 Easy DIY Aeroponics Plans
For all those people who have a passion for gardening and growing plants, looking for the most efficient technique to grow plants is almost an endless effort. Each day, new scientific techniques are coming up that potentially double your yield. In this article, we will see talking about the DIY Aeroponics technique.
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What Is Aeroponics?
Aeroponics is the method of growing plants without the aid of soil and the use of the minimum amount of water. While this might sound strange to many, it actually is a very efficient and effective way of growing different types and species of plants. With the help of this method, you have the ability to grow plants either horizontally or vertically, thereby making it great if you do not have ample space for growing plants.
Even NASA has had done some experimentation in outer space and concluded that the Asian bean seedlings they were cultivated on the Mir Space Station grew even better than expected in zero gravity using the Aeroponic technology.
How Does Aeroponics System Work?
In aeroponics, the plants are put in a special frame called A-frames, otherwise known as the horizontal boards, in such a way that the top of the plant (crown) and its bottom (roots) are suspended in the air. This way, the crown grows upwards and the roots grow downwards naturally without the need of soil. The gardeners or planters then spray the plants with a solution rich with nutrients and water. Because the whole system is enclosed, the nutrient mix is recycled fully within the aeroponics systems design.
Since the whole system allows for high-density planting, harvesting becomes much easier. You will notice that the yields are very high. Several researchers from Italy have concluded that the tomato plants that are grown within the aeroponics system have produced more than four crops in a year, in contrast to the common one of two.
Additionally, because aeroponics is a great way to grow plants within the confinements of one’s own home, many gardeners who are involved in urban gardens movements have found a way to grow different high-yielding herbs, vegetables, and fruits within their apartments.
Advantages of Aeroponics System
An aeroponic system is one of the best ways to grow plants. It makes use of the most effective hydroponic techniques that allows you to grow plants, according to your own wishes and choices. Perhaps, the biggest advantage of this system is the most effective use of limited space. Since the plants are grown with their roots suspended in the air, you save a lot of ground space, which would otherwise have been occupied by pots and other gardening materials. The aeroponic system will definitely grow some of the most natural, nutritious and healthy food crops you have ever laid your eyes on!
Some very important benefits of aeroponic systems include:
What Can You Grow With Aeroponics?
Using aeroponics, you can plant and harvest crops any time of the year. One can opt for plants like vine plants, leafy green vegetables, and various herbs. In the category of vine plants, there are various options for you like tomatoes, eggplant, watermelons, tomatillos, and strawberries. Lettuce varieties grow the best when it comes to leafy vegetables. Other herbs that can be grown in aeroponics systems include burdock, skullcap, ginger, mints, yerba mansa, and stinging nettles.
Materials Required for DIY Aeroponics
Making a DIY aeroponics system is a more preferred option chosen by gardening enthusiasts. Most of the needed tools and materials can be bought at the nearest gardening markets. You also have the option to shop from online stores. For making a single-bucket aeroponics system, you will need the following materials:
- One outlet timer for the pump
- One bag of hydro balls
- One water pump for the aquarium
- One ‘T’ hose
- A garden hose, minimum up to three feet long
- One rounder flower pot that does not touch the ground
- One pot without any holes or a plastic pot
How To Build A Simple Aeroponics System?
With the above materials, you can make an aeroponics system for a single plant and will not take you more than 30 minutes to make it. Here are the steps are given below:
Step 1:
Cut the hose into two pieces. One of them will be used for the filter and the other for the ‘circle’ dripper. At the bottom of the pot, drill small holes and one large hole for the hose.
Step 2:
Place the garden hose that you are about to use for the pump through the large hole. The other piece of the garden hose will be used to connect both ends to the ‘T’ fitting. You can make use of any type of rubber tube in a place of the hose.
Step 3:
Drill smaller holes (measuring about 30 cca.) into the circle hose and check if the water is dripping down. Do not drill big holes because you need the water to dispense all around the circle. Drill one hole in the bottom planter so that you can take out the pump cord can whenever you wish.
Step 4:
Connect one end of the hose to the pump outlet and fill the lower planter with water. Keep the pump aside. Connect the pump to the circle water dripper once you dropping the pump outlet and feeding the hose up and through. Make sure you place the pump at the bottom of the bigger planter. It also needs water.
Step 5:
Grab the hydro balls and place them in the flower pot. Place the plant in the hydro balls.
Best Aeroponic Systems For Sale
If you are looking to buy the best aeroponics system, below is the comparison table of top 3 aeroponics systems for sale which will help you quickly make the best choice.
Aeroponics system | Image | Our rating | |
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18 Easy DIY Aeroponics You Can Build Today
One reason why aeroponics planting system is not being utilized by everyone is that it can get very heavy on your budget. However, a lot of people have come up with their own versions of the aeroponic systems that not only saved them a lot of money but also allowed them to enjoy the benefits of the system. Here are some DIY aeroponic systems through which you can get inspired by:
1. DIY Low-Pressure Aeroponics System
Difficulty Score: Beginner (1/5)
For people who are new to the world of aeroponics, the low-pressure system is usually the first choice. Of course, it is not more efficient than a high-pressured one, but this one is very easy to build from scratch and maintain for a long period of time.
Developed by an aeroponic enthusiast called Peter Stanley, this design makes use of misting nozzles, PVC spray bars, and 5-gallon buckets. Peter has come up with an upgraded version of the same and says all the kinks and issues in the first version have been corrected and is much more efficient.
2. Simple 5 Gallon Bucket Design
Difficulty Score: Beginner (1/5)
Yet another design by Garden Pool, this aeroponic system makes use of a 5-gallon bucket, thereby making is much lighter than the previous version. This model is also easier to make and really compact. This aeroponic design can be managed without breaking a sweat. Plus, you can add seven plants in here, compared to the six in the last version. Here, the main gear is the threaded 360 sprinkler head and the hydroponic pump with a riser.
3. DIY D.W.C. Aeroponic Hybrid Hydroponic Setup
Difficulty Score: Beginner (1/5)
This aeroponic system is more like hydroponic system, which you can build under $30. One can grow plants indoors using this aeroponic system. Not just that, but you can grow watermelons with just 96 watts of light. For further information, you can check out the YouTube video link below.
4. Simple Aeroponic System
Difficulty Score: Beginner (1.5/5)
Developed by Garden Pool, an international public charity that educates the masses about the sustainable ways to grow food and crops, this aeroponic system is the simplest version of the actual aeroponic system. This version is fitted with a 30-gallon tote box that has six sprinklers inside and has six holes for the plants. This design is a great option for cloning.
Difficulty Score: Beginner (2/5)
This aeroponic system is yet another setup that makes use of low pressure. On the other hand, more emphasis has been laid on maximizing the number of plants, thereby also making it great for cloning. You can look at the video given above and see how to make this cloner aeroponic system from scratch.
6. Homemade Aeroponic Cloner
Difficulty Score: Beginner (2/5)
You can build this system using a 53-litre plastic box. One can grow 15 plants at a time with the help of this aeroponic cloner. Using this aeroponic system, you can grow scallions or green onions, Romaine Lettuce, and basil. For more information, check out the video link below.
7. Homemade Aeroponic Gutter System
Difficulty Score: Intermediate (2.5/5)
Developed by Jason from Jason’s Indoor Guide, the aeroponic gutter system is a very efficient and pocket-friendly solution to make a great if you are looking for indoor gardening. In fact, his idea behind this aeroponic system is very intriguing as well.
His DIY version of the aeroponic system is based on a 20-gallon reservoir and small rails. He created his own rails out of PVC tubes and used the narrower tubes to spray the nutrient solution from within the system itself. Also, Jason warns about one major problem with his design – the clogged spray nozzle.
8. Simple High-Pressure Aeroponics System
Difficulty Score: Intermediate (2.5/5)
This method has been tried thought-out extremely well. This simple but efficient high-pressure system makes use of an 18-gallon totes box (specifically Roughneck Rubbermaid) as the reservoir and is fitted with an Aquatec 8800 booster pump.
You can also deal with the clogging by making use of a fuel filter bag that will keep the dirt out of the system. The pores are so fine that anything larger than 10 microns will not enter the pump. Also, it is made of polyester felt and can be washed very easily. Overall, this is a very cost-effective method and you also do not have to keep a continuous watch.
9. High Pressure Aeroponics DIY
Difficulty Score: Intermediate (3/5)
The difference between high-pressure aeroponics system and the low-pressure system is that the former is better when it comes to dispersing nutrients. But these models are also difficult to make, especially if you want to DIY. Hence, it is important that you do your research first before taking the dive.
Additionally, you can also check out the instructions while doing this research. Of course, you will not be able to get a highly detailed plan, but you will have the base idea of the working principles of a high-pressure aeroponic system.
10. Small-Area Aeroponics System
Difficulty Score: Intermediate (3/5)
This aeroponic design is perhaps the first of its kind. It has a very pyramidal design and was originally created to save space, all the while trying to maximize the number of plants that can grow in it. In the video above, you will be able to see that the author also shares the problems he faced while making the system. If you follow the procedures correctly, everything that you worked for will bring you colors.
11. Automated Aeroponics System
Difficulty Score: Intermediate (3.5/5)
This is a very neat and simple aquaponic bucket that does not require you to be a genius to build. What makes this plan stand out from others is the utilization of the raspberry pi to control the functions of the camera. The camera is primarily used to click pictures of the plant. But the author states that the functionalities of the camera can be extended by using the raspberry pi to send emails, control pH and many other functions.
12. Aeroponics Tower Build
Difficulty Score: Intermediate (3.5/5)
This tower can be built easily out of materials that are easy to find, affordable and made of food-grade materials. In this video, you will see how this system is constructed. The footage will show the working system as well with leafy plants and vegetables like basil, lettuce, etc. Technical details like timer, tubes, misting and spraying are also included.
13. Aeroponic Tree
Difficulty Score: Advanced (4/5)
The aeroponic tree is capable of providing 36 growing sites, all within a two sq. feet area. The custom-built tower can also be lengthened according to your wishes. The planting sites are done in the Dutch buckets style, with empty neoprene-covered sites to prevent the mist from escaping. You can watch more in the video link below.
14. DIY Aeroponic Chambers
Difficulty Score: Advanced (4/5)
This aeroponic system uses high pressurized water that comes through mist heads. In this system, plants are hanged using PVC pipes. Here, these pipes are installed in tiny holes all around the growing chamber. On the other hand, roots droop inside the chamber, where mister heads spray them with the nutrient solution at regular intervals.
15. Vertical Aeroponic System
Difficulty Score: Advanced (4.5/5)
Also known as the art garden, the vertical aeroponic system is a small family business of sustainable gardening. You can take a look at the video as they describe their inspiring aeroponic practices that you will definitely find useful while doing it yourself.
16. Automated Aeroponic Garden
Difficulty Score: Advanced (4.5/5)
Teenagers Leona, Elise, Briana and Erik are the brains behind this automated aeroponic garden. They made use of an ultrasonic fogger, foam, and buckets for their simple base design. The Arduino automatization, rails, solar power, and tubes have all worked in this elaborate aeroponic system.
17. Flex Aeroponic System
Difficulty Score: Advanced (4.5/5)
This A-frame aeroponic system is designed to maximize the commercial germination and propagation needs without giving up extra floor space. This flex system is perfect for indoors. It delivers commercial growing area of about 80 sq. ft. You will not require a greenhouse environment for this high-efficiency light array system.
18. Rail Aeroponic System
Difficulty Score: Advanced (5/5)
This rail aeroponic system can easily grow about 39 pepper plants. Although the video only shows the review of the entire system, any person who knows the inside out of an aeroponic system can figure how to build it. Check the updated video for 39 Aeroponic Pepper at here.
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Conclusion
From the above, we have come to know making a DIY aeroponics system is not a very difficult thing to do. You can easily make one and create a whole garden ecosystem in a corner of your room. You will not have to worry about space or maintenance; just harvest your plants and rejoice!
