Aeroponics / Fogponics / Hydro Experiments

[keen101 (Biolumo / Andrew B.)]

I've begun experimenting with Aeroponics. Some people call it "Fogponoics". Whatever. Right now it might even be a hybrid Aero-Hydro system. Just tinkering right now. Using an ultrasonic piezo disc thingy. What i've read is that is is better for starting plants rather than growing them to full size. We will see. I have some ideas of using my Arduino to program some control stuff like a water temperature cuttoff since plants grow better with their roots cooler than their leaves. The temperature differential might even be neccessary for optimum growth. I am currently under the suspicion that if plant roots and leaves are the same temperature that their growth will be none or very slow. Interesting that plants grow more at night.

Anyway, my idea, have a temp cuttoff for root/water temp. But also have the ultrasonic mister pulsed for only a little bit to help avoid water heating. Then even have a small 5vdc fan kick on for a little bit to help add Oxygen / CO2 to the roots. Apparently if the roots get too hot or the fog/mist gets too thick then the oxygen or CO2 levels get too low at the plant suffocates to death. Adding a simple airstone might help offset this.

Some interesting discussions about all this are going on at the MIT OpenAG forum. oxbowfarm , you might be particularly interested in that because many of them are directly building off the DIY pot growers designs and information.

forum.openag.media.mit.edu/t/building-aeroponic-system-and-full-automation/2348

forum.openag.media.mit.edu/t/experimenting-with-fogponics-could-you-help/2226








Here are some other related threads:
alanbishop.proboards.com/thread/9140/first-attempt-aquaponics
alanbishop.proboards.com/thread/6698/plant-growth-enclosed-chamber
alanbishop.proboards.com/thread/8624/aquaponics
alanbishop.proboards.com/thread/5090

[keen101 (Biolumo / Andrew B.)]

Today i planted some seeds in the Aero Experiment chamber for the AFT tomatoes. Literally that's what i basically named this variety. Technically they are LA1996. They were probably the most productive tomato for me in 2017 minus the wild pennellii hybrid (but inedible fruit), the peruvianum, or the 'Anasazi' or little wild-ish yellow cheesmaiae hybrid. The Aft tomatoes were unique because they were determinate and yet super productive and large large fruit. The fruits were ok, not bad. They had purple specks on them. I figure they will make a good hydroponic tomato variety.





Sorry i don't have better pictures of them ripe.

EDIT: i just noticed on the TGRC LA1996 page that it is listed as "Mating System: Allogamous-SI". Does this mean LA1996 is self incompatible?

[keen101 (Biolumo / Andrew B.)]

Just posted an update over on OpenAg. So i'll copy my update here too. For those of you like me who may find themselves stuck in an apartment or want to breed tomatoes or something together during the winter you may be interested in this project. Currently it's all hydroponic, which i don't know if i like hydroponics for long term growing, but the basic idea is what is cool. forum.openag.media.mit.edu/t/300-food-computer

okay! Here is how my Aero/Hydro (i dont like the term fogponics so i don’t use it) seed germination system has progressed. It actually works quite well. The two pepper plants got huge rather quickly and I’ve already had to move them to a larger Deep Water Culture (if i get the terminology right). I’ve eaten peppers off of one already! The other is growing bell peppers now in the windowsill. Several of the indeterminate tomatoes had to be moved out as well. And eventually even the determinate tomato (LA1996) as my shelf was just a little too short for it too (not by much). I potted that one up.

Despite this working well as a germination tray i don’t really think i really like hydroponics for long term growing. I think Soil is the better way to go for me long term maybe. But i think i will keep this system for germinating tomato seedlings and such. I did eventually have terrible algae problems so i cleaned it out and covered it with reflective tape and that has fixed it. Left some small openings for water level diagnostics. Never had to add that internal fan as i just removed one of the two piezo ultrasonic misters and that reduced the heat enough to acceptable levels. The light, the airstone, and the mister all are still on an arduino timer that turns off at night. Sometimes i put a small battery powered fan on top to stiffen the stems of the seedlings to harden them off before planting. Don’t want them weak.

I currently have Solanum galapagense, Solanum cheesmaniae, S. lycopersicoides, S. sitiens, Domestic tomato ‘Anasazi’ (one of the ones that tastes good and does well in my climate), etc. seedlings currently growing and sprouting for the upcoming summer. I have more i will want/need to germinate.

100_0043 by Andrew Barney, on Flickr

100_0045 by Andrew Barney, on Flickr

100_0047 by Andrew Barney, on Flickr

[keen101 (Biolumo / Andrew B.)]

Here are some pictures of the new outdoor aero/hydro/deep water culture thingy. I'm not intending it for long-term hydroponic growing, but more as a mid-way between transplanting out. I guess as a hardening off station? The small one only works well enough for starting seedlings, but works surprisingly well. This is just a scaled up version. I like it because it is less mess, and i seem to have less problems with seedling damp off due to fungal problems. It is not very space friendly, but still. It might work in a completley artificial environment like an apartment if you keep the pH and nutrient balance in tune, but whenever given the chance i like outdoor/soil growing much better. Still, it seems to be helping me with my wild tomatoes for the large wild tomato breeding collaboration project. So, that's a good thing!

100_0064 by Andrew Barney, on Flickr

100_0065 by Andrew Barney, on Flickr

100_0066 by Andrew Barney, on Flickr