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Starting Aeroponic Seedlings
The Benefits of Seeding in Aeroponics
Starting aeroponic seedlings propagates plants with consistently more vigor and health from plant to plant versus traditional methods. Strong plant starts exhibiting even development create higher quality harvests while narrowing the window for potential cropping problems.
Any avid gardener knows the importance of sourcing strong, healthy plant starts. With the increasing cost of purchasing plant starts, more gardeners have turned to sowing their own seeds. Though this can be accomplished in a number of ways, starting seeds with aeroponics is showing particular promise, especially in applications where speed and efficiency matter.
Seeds are an increasingly popular method of propagating plants, whether for selecting cultivars to propagate as cuttings for future crops or as a method of populating entire grow systems with trouble free plants.
Feminized seeds (seeds with all female progeny in a dioecious species) will not harbor pests and diseases as readily as asexually propagated plants (especially if originating from outside sources).
Savvy field growers especially like to have their transplants originate from high quality seed stock as the plants have a tap root versus fibrous roots (as with rooted cuttings). A tap root can firmly anchor even the largest of plants and can drive deep through the soil to search out water and minerals while fibrous root systems tend to grow more as a mat near the surface of the substrate.
Current Culture H2O’s High Pressure Aeroponics system is ideal for starting aeroponic seedlings consistently with a high degree of health; minimizing labor and maximizing propagation success. Each planting deck holds 105 plants perfectly spaced in a two foot by four foot area. The modules are lightweight and can be stacked vertically. There is no solution maintained in the root chamber–a high pressure mist is supplied from a remote reservoir and pumping station. A single standard pumping station can operate up to sixteen 105 site rooting modules.
Very little power is required for lighting and the pump operates for seconds every few minutes helping to keep system operation costs low. Additionally, the irrigation process is highly reliable and completely automated. Once planted, there is very little to do except to marvel at the growth rates and health when starting aeroponic seedlings.
iHort plugs are an excellent solution as a germination substrate in the system. While the majority of the roots will emerge to grow into the misting chamber, the compostable organic based polymer plug will hold optimal air to water ratios to promote even and complete germination through a wide variety of seed sizes and types. The plugs, with bare roots intact, are easily transplanted into net pots or into substrates like coco or peat.
Aeroponics is widely recognized for it’s ability to deliver high dissolved oxygen levels to young plants and seedlings versus conventional growing methods. Some research suggests that plants started off with high oxygen levels in the root zone are better able to resist potential pressures later on, even if no longer being cultivated aeroponically.
Aeroponic propagation in the High Pressure Aeroponic Cloner is tidy and reduces labor requirements. It’s definitely easier on the back versus hunching over trays.
A lot of plants can be maintained in relatively small linear foot prints as the modules sit tidily on standard sized racking—plants stay healthy in tighter spacing for longer too versus conventional methods using cubes or pots to start plants.
Finally, reliable true aeroponics is here.
If you’d like to learn more about starting seeds and propagating cuttings in high pressure aeroponics please email sales@cch2o.com
