Hydroponics & Aeroponics - The Technology Behind the AeroGarden ™
The AeroGarden uses revolutionary Hydroponic and Aeroponic technology to grow a variety of fresh herbs, vegetables, even flowers 2X FASTER than normal soil gardening! Hydroponics and Aeroponics are changing the way we garden and making it even easier for anyone, regardless of their gardening experience to enjoy fresh, home grown produce.
So What Are Hydroponics & Aeroponics?
The definition of hydroponics is basically the growing of plants without the use of soil. Researchers have observed that plants absorb nutrients as simple ions in water. In natural garden conditions, soil acts as a nutrient reservoir...but the soil itself is not essential to plant growth. Plants are only able to absorb the nutrients in soil when the nutrients are dissolved in water. When nutrients can be introduced into a plants water supply, soil is no longer needed. So, instead of drawing nutrients out of the soil, hydroponics allows nutrients to be added directly to the water, eliminating the need for soil completely.
There are a variety of hydroponic techniques, one extremely effective technique is aeroponics (a form of hydroponics).
How Aeroponics Differ From Hydroponics.
Aeroponics is a hydroponic technique that uses air in addition to water, using sprayers, misters or drip systems to feed the plants roots directly while they are suspended in the air.
In the AeroGarden hydroponic and aeroponic home gardens, the plant roots are suspended in the air above a reservoir of nutrient rich water. A pump delivers the nutrient solution via channels directly across the plant roots, and then drips back into the reservoir. The AeroGarden's aeroponic techniques are more effective than other hydroponics methods because the increase aeration allows the plants to absorb more oxygen, which stimulates growth and prevents algae from forming.
History of Hydroponics & Aeroponics
Hydroponic technology is not new. Many different cultures and civilizations have used hydroponics gardening and growing technology throughout the ages..."The hanging gardens of Babylon, the floating gardens of the Aztecs of Mexico, and those of the Chinese are examples of Hydroponic culture. Egyptian hieroglyphic records dating back several hundred years B.C. describe the growing of plants in water." ("Hydroponic Food Production" by Howard Resh, 5th Ed., Woodbridge Press 1997). In the last century, researched have experimented with various hydroponic methods in hopes to create a hydroponic system that would allow crops to be grown "in non-farmable" areas of the world and in space. NASA has done extensive research on hydroponic systems and has tested and proved aeroponic gardening to be the most effective form of hydroponics.
Hydroponic garden systems have far reaching benefits and are currently being implemented in areas of the world where is is difficult to farm - due to lack of nutrients in the soil, or lack of water. Hydroponic technology could potentially change the way the world grows food, and can provide an easy and more effective way to feed the world in the future.
Until now, aeroponics & hydroponic gardening systems have been large, complicated, and expensive. The AeroGarden by AeroGrow has spent 3 years converting the revolutionary NASA-tested aeroponic (hydroponic) technology into a simple, low-cost product for anyone with or without a "green-thumb". |
