A Fog Aeroponics System for Propagating and Growing Horticultural Plants

The advantages of soil-less and detached media for propagation and cultivation of many horticultural crops are self-evident. All these systems, including many types of hydroponic units, rely on the use of a solid medium to support the roots. Aeroponics is a unique method of propagating and growing plants with their root systems enclosed within a mist chamber. The advantages of this system was discussed previously.

We developed a new, improved, aeroponics system, based on ultrasonic-generated fine fog. The system consists of 4 modules, each made of lower opaque plastic compartment which contains the roots, and an upper transparent hood for the shoots. The modules are fed from underneath by a central ultrasonic fog generator, which releases a fine, 1-5 m droplet, fog. The fog is equally distributed into the lower and upper compartments of the 4 modules, or can be applied to each one of them separately. The system is modular, electronically controlled, and the fog can be applied intermittently, at any pre-set cycle. Water consumption is low (100-200 ml/h at continuous operation), as is electrical power requirement (ca. 50 w/h). The aeroponics system allows the application of nutrient fog either to the base of cuttings and root-systems, or the shoots, or both.

This improved fog-aeroponics system has been used successfully, so far (year 1989 - A.K.), for: (1) rooting of chrysanthemum, kalanchoe, carnation and mung-bean cuttings, (2) hardening and liner production of chrysanthemum and kalanchoe, (3) growing mature, flowering, tomato plants, (4) germination and initial growth of mung-bean and radish sprouts. The cuttings produced good, well branched, normal root systems. Rooted cuttings were transferred to a standard potting mixture and allowed to develop in the aeroponics system. Top and root fresh weight of these liners was twice as much as liners growing without fog. Large cuttings of mature tomato plants rooted and developed well for at least 3-4 weeks, and fruit-set occurred. Seed germination in the aeroponics unit was rapid, producing uniform sprouts.

The new fog-aeroponic system is an advanced, modular, multi-purpose propagation and growing unit. This is due to both its constructional-mechanical and physiological- horticultural versatility. Mechanically, it is a simple, non-expensive and fully controlled system. Unlike traditional foggers, the ultrasonic-generated fog system alleviates the need for high water pressure and expensive filtration devices. Water and electrical power consumption is low, and the system is completely safe. Physiologically, it provides for maximal aeration, combined with adequate, continuous, water and nutrient supply to the plant. Taken together, these advantages allow uninterrupted growth of both roots and shoots. The fog-aeroponics system, therefore, seems to be advantageous for various types of propagation programs and horticultural activities, especially for the following: efficient rooting of cuttings, an alternative for standard mist and fog propagation, hardening and liner production, production of specific root crops and root-derived products, high-humidity growing of specific plants (e.g. tropical and epiphytes), tissue cultures, controlled horticulture in space modules, hobbyists, and root research programs.
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