Aeroponic (no medium, misted roots)
Also known as: Aeroponics, High-pressure aeroponics, Low-pressure aeroponics
Properties
| pH effect | not applicable |
|---|---|
| Water retention | not applicable |
| Drainage | not applicable |
| Oxygen to roots | very high |
| Bacterial surface area | not applicable |
| Reusability | very high (essentially permanent) |
| Cost tier | high |
| Weight | very light |
How it affects the system
- Highest possible root oxygenation: roots are continuously misted then exposed to humid air, producing fastest growth rates of any hydroponic method when run correctly
- Pump failure or clogged nozzles kill plants in minutes to hours: no buffer reservoir, no medium moisture
- Calibration-sensitive: droplet size 30-100 microns is the standard for high-pressure aeroponics; outside that range performance falls off
- Difficult retrofit: most hobbyist aeroponic setups are purpose-built tower or chamber systems, not adapted from other hydroponic methods
System compatibility
Works well in:
- aeroponic
Avoid in:
- media bed (ebb and flow)
- NFT channels
- deep water culture (rafts)
- drip
- wicking bed
- soil bed
Care notes
Roots hang in air inside a sealed chamber and get misted on a timer, so there is no medium to buy, rinse or replace, and the roots get all the oxygen they can use. The trade is that everything depends on the pump: a clogged nozzle or a failed timer and the roots dry out within an hour or two on a warm day. High-pressure setups (a pump, an accumulator tank and solenoid-controlled misting nozzles) grow the fastest; low-pressure versions built around a pond pump and sprinkler heads are closer to a very wet NFT. Suits people who like tuning a system and already own a spare pump. The garden planner doesn't model it yet; plan with the NFT settings and keep the reservoir cool.
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