goodnessatlanta
Well-known member
Wow that's amazing. Job well done. Don't forget you will need light over the cuttings.
I Built an Aeroponic Rooting Thing
- Thread starter ohiobruce
- Start date
goodnessatlanta
Well-known member
Mine doesn't have much bacteria, I clean it after every set of cuttings is done. I set my light to start at 4am and goes off at 8pm everyday. The water pump goes on every 10 minutes and run for 5 minutes or so before it goes off. I have nutrients A & B solution in the water and my water is never warm but cold.
ohiobruce
Well-known member
Thanks for the details. I have a separate grow light that I'll hang over the cloner.
So you use the light and nutrients right from the beginning?
I have a hydroponic PH kit. Do you adjust the PH?
Spectrum
Member
US state universities agriculture departments catalogued rooting temperature for different plants. Which are you doing, hydroponics or aeroponics? The recommendation is generally 65f for figs in hydroponics. If the roots are in the air, you are doing aeroponics, which will have some level of evaporation cooling.
State Universities recommend 65f for fig hydroponics but you're doing aeroponics, so you'll want to consider evaporative cooling.
Spectrum
Member
NASA reports indicate foggers don't work well because plant roots apparently need a minimum droplet size to work.
GoodFriendMike
Moderator
I find that interesting as I get aerial roots on some of my trees during the real humid months. Was that a study on figs or other plant types?
figuringIt
Active member
this is a project i have thought about doing before but never got around to it. it is nice to see how cheaply you did it. i wonder if it is more work than it's worth though. i can't wait to see how it works out for you
ohiobruce
Well-known member
Yea, I get it. More of a method for those that like to tinker and experiment than those that can wait for spring and plug cuttings in a good potting mix.
goodnessatlanta
Well-known member
You are welcome. I use light from the beginning and I don’t adjust the PH.
@ohiobruce get yourself some of botanical hydroguard or some hygrozyme. You add a feww ml/gal of this to the resivoir and it uses beneficial bacteria to prevent unwanted bacteria. They are both around $20 a bottle but a it will last you a while. Nice job on the aeroponics bin, I've built a few of these myself. You can also drill 3"holes if you wanted them bigger and they sell net cups. Good luck with it!
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ohiobruce
Well-known member
Thanks, I ordered some hydroguard.
I went with 2.5" holes because it was the largest hole saw in my set. Lol.
Do you use air stones and an air pump in your system?
figuringIt
Active member
i fit into both those categories
that's why i say that. i often get carried away tinkering and experimenting and over complicating things when all along i could have just sat back and let nature do the work. i love to tinker, but i also love when things just happen.i only have one fig cutting at the moment, which was one of two cuttings that i just shoved into a bit of soil and kept in a humid environment. it was such little work that it was exciting on it's own just to not have to do anything
but at the same time i love the high success rates and great quality you get from doing a project like this, and the intimate, hands on experience of the process.i'm sure it will pay off in the long run and will probably inspire me to do the same
ohiobruce
Well-known member
Update on price:
$34 - Air pump and stones
$16 - Fungicide
$13 - Water heater
$24 - Cloning solution
$29 - Short cycle timer
I'd already spent $48 as listed in my original post.
Total is $164
I have a PH kit and grow lights already, but that will be another $50 at least if you're starting with nothing.
Don't tell my wife...
$34 - Air pump and stones
$16 - Fungicide
$13 - Water heater
$24 - Cloning solution
$29 - Short cycle timer
I'd already spent $48 as listed in my original post.
Total is $164
I have a PH kit and grow lights already, but that will be another $50 at least if you're starting with nothing.
Don't tell my wife...
No, you dont necessarily need them in a aeroponic system because your roots are not submerged in the water, and they are getting sprayed. I use air stones and pump when im growing in dwc where they are needed for oxygenating the water that the roots are submerged in.
Do you have links for the components you used?
ohiobruce
Well-known member
Stones
Clonex
Air pump
Fungicide
Heater
Timer
Misters
Water pump
PH Kit
Grow lights
I used 1/2" CPVC for the manifold. To connect it to the pump, I heated the end of the CPVC until it was soft and pliable and then inserted the hose barb that came with the pump.
I bought the tub at Wal-Mart,
I designed and 3d printed the baskets.
Looking good man!
Have you considered integrating one of these "hidden" UV lights (like they use in hot-tubs)?
They can be included somewhere in the pipes (so your cuttings don't get zapped) and sterilize the water by UV.
They last thousands of hours before they burn up. Don't know about the cost, though...
The Greek
Well-known member
@ohiobruce I love your DIY setup, very cool!
I created an aeroponics guide that might help you. Within the post, there is a link to a Google Doc with tons of details that answer most of your questions. For example, on the timer, I like to use 15 minutes as the "segment," and I play around with the timings inside of that. Such as:
13 minutes off, 2 minutes on <--this is what I am using right now
12 minutes off, 3 minutes on
11 minutes off, 4 minutes on
...and so on. I know Goodness Atlanta does 10/5, I think that would be the max I would try.
Also I have never had any mold/bacteria issues with my machine. I simply wash the bucket with warm soap/water in between each batch. I found it's more important to change the water out (frequencies vary, see the doc below for more info). Good luck and I can't wait to see your progress with this!
I created an aeroponics guide that might help you. Within the post, there is a link to a Google Doc with tons of details that answer most of your questions. For example, on the timer, I like to use 15 minutes as the "segment," and I play around with the timings inside of that. Such as:
13 minutes off, 2 minutes on <--this is what I am using right now
12 minutes off, 3 minutes on
11 minutes off, 4 minutes on
...and so on. I know Goodness Atlanta does 10/5, I think that would be the max I would try.
Also I have never had any mold/bacteria issues with my machine. I simply wash the bucket with warm soap/water in between each batch. I found it's more important to change the water out (frequencies vary, see the doc below for more info). Good luck and I can't wait to see your progress with this!
Water rooting has been my go-to method for years. I learned from my uncles in Greece, as that is the only way they root (the "old Greek man" method, lol). I also learned some great tips from my friend @goodnessatlanta, who is also an experienced pro at various water rooting methods.
Here are just some of the advantages of water rooting vs other methods:
Here are just some of the advantages of water rooting vs other methods:
- Consistent moisture levels
- No fungus gnats, perfect for winter rooting!
- Typically faster rooting times vs other methods (roughly 50% less time to root, if using all of my steps)
- Minimal equipment needed (can get...
ohiobruce
Well-known member
I received some very nice cuttings from @DCallahan today, and Amazon delivered the rest of my stuff as well.
So I now have the heater maintaining 75 degrees, the air pump running two air stones, the pH between 6 and 6.5, the timer going 2 minutes and about 12 off, and Clonex solution in the water.
I lightly cleaned and dried the cuttings, wrapped the ends in Parafilm, and dipped the bottoms in Dip-n-Grow, and put them in the baskets.
Inserted the baskets and away we go. Now we wait impatiently.
So I now have the heater maintaining 75 degrees, the air pump running two air stones, the pH between 6 and 6.5, the timer going 2 minutes and about 12 off, and Clonex solution in the water.
I lightly cleaned and dried the cuttings, wrapped the ends in Parafilm, and dipped the bottoms in Dip-n-Grow, and put them in the baskets.
Inserted the baskets and away we go. Now we wait impatiently.