Introduction

Aeroponics, which uses a system of spraying or misting the root system with nutrient solution, is a popular and effective method of hydroponic plant production. Sprays or mists of nutrient onto a root system which is suspended in moist air, results in high rates of root and solution oxygenation which benefits nutrient uptake, plant growth and development.

Aeroponic Misters and Spinners

 Since oxygen in the root zone can be a limiting factor for plant production in some hydroponic systems, aeroponics ensures the root system never suffers from anaerobic conditions and `suffocation’. While aeroponic systems do provide a high degree of oxygenation as well as delivering essential water and nutrients, many of these which use fine `misters’ are prone to blockages. Hydroponic systems are not ran on pure, filtered, particle free water, but on nutrient solutions which contain high levels of mineral salts, organic matter, exudates and dead plant cells from root systems, particles from propagation media, microbes, plant material, dust, water contaminates and other matter, all of which have the potential to cause plugging problems in fine misters or emitters. Inline and pump based filters can remove much of this particular matter from a nutrient solution, but high levels of maintenance by the grower is then required to continually wash out and replace filters and remove particles from mister orifices.

The major cause of concern for growers using aeroponic systems is the potential for blockages in misters. Since aeroponic plants rely on a continual or frequent misting/spraying of the nutrient solution, any blockage can result in root desiccation within hours under warm conditions. Keeping up a regular system of cleaning out misters and filters and checking inside the root chamber is time consuming.

One of the less laborious solutions to the problem of mister blockages in aeroponic systems is to use `micro spinners’ - under high pressure, these force any small particles through the spinner itself rather than plugging and causing blockages. In a solution which contains salts, organic matter, and other small particles as nutrients always do, a micro spinner which does not block up inside an aeroponic system makes a great deal of sense.

Spinners and Oxygenation

 High pressure micro spinner(s) used in aeroponic grow tubes, buckets and table systems create a high levels of aeration. The air nutrient spray created from the micro spinner, sprits out in larger droplet size, making them able to travel further distances inside the root chamber and penetrate even the very dense root systems in mature plants. The break-up from these droplets as they rapidly explode on the sides of the rooting chamber and holding basket, delivering higher oxygenation to the roots hairs. Also the force of these droplets falling back into the nutrient solution that pushes air into the solution creating high levels of dissolved oxygen in the system.

 Aeroponic plants, with their roots suspended in moist air inside a rooting chamber are able to absorb unlimited quantities of oxygen from both the air surrounding the root cells (via diffusion through the film of moisture which is coating the roots in time intervals), and as dissolved oxygen in the nutrient spray. Any system which has a spray of nutrient droplets onto the roots will create not only additional oxygenation in the system, but also an optimal environment for root development and mineral uptake.

 Provided the roots are moist with oxygenated nutrient droplets, aeroponics create the best systems for rapid plant growth and development. The addition of "micro spinners" to an aeroponic system adds the sense of security,  they're not prone to plugging up and uses both high pressure and a good droplet size will eliminate the high labour requirement for clearing out filters and fine misters and crop failures associated with blockages. FHD