Aeroponics is a method of cultivating plants in an air or mist environment, eliminating the need for soil or an aggregate medium. It is a subset of hydroponics, which is a method of growing plants without soil. In aeroponics, plants are suspended in the air, and their roots are sprayed with nutrient-rich water or fine, high-pressure mist containing nutrient-rich solutions at certain intervals. The roots are not contained in any solid material such as Rockwool or soil. Aeroponic equipment employs sprayers, misters, foggers, or other devices to create a fine mist of solution for delivering nutrients to plant roots.

Aeroponic systems are typically closed-looped systems designed to provide macro and micro-environments that sustain reliable and consistent air cultures. The size of the water droplet is critical for root development in an aeroponic environment. Seeds are “planted” in pieces of foam stuffed into tiny pots, which are exposed to light on one end and nutrient mist on the other. All aeroponics systems require an enclosure to hold in the humidity and prevent light from reaching the roots, plus a separate tank to hold the nutrient solution.

Aeroponics has several advantages over traditional farming, including using less water, growing plants indoors, away from the elements and contamination, and allowing growers to stack plants vertically, producing far more in a smaller space. However, it also has some downsides, such as requiring constant attention with pH and nutrient density ratio because this system is sensitive, and the cost for initial setup can be high.

In conclusion, aeroponics is a soil-free method of growing plants that uses nutrient-rich water or mist to nourish the roots of suspended plants. It is a more advanced form of hydroponics and has several benefits, including higher yields, less water use, and growing in a smaller space. However, it also requires constant attention and can be expensive to set up.