Aero Sally

[RifeHeretic]

Hey all,

First post. Thought I'd like to ask about aeroponically grown salvia. I'm having a really difficult time fidning info on the 'net about it. I was wondering if any of you have ever tried? I built an aerospring a little while ago and am now only waiting to get a light. Any Info?

Peace,

Rife, from Botanical Swap

[Jupe]

I got this from a hydroponics website:

the Advantages

Excellent aeration is the main advantage of aeroponics. Trials imply an
important relationship between low water level and increased air space - the importance of oxygen in supporting the intensive metabolic processes associated with root formation and subsequent growth is well recognised.

The Disadvantages
Apart from the relatively high set up costs, the technique is mechanically quite elaborate, susceptible to malfunction, requires precise regulation and control of water and nutrients, and has no buffer capacity to sustain even slight deviations or occasional malfunctions. In the event of blocked nozzles or breakdowns going unnoticed, plants may be irrepairably damaged in a relatively short time.


..and my thoughts.....
It might work.  Misting cycle would be critical,  IMO as salvias roots hate to dry out,  perhaps a semi "continuous" spray mist would work.  In its native enviornment (streams and streamside hills and banks) it can grow right in the water, but stagnant conditions kill it in a day.  

Folks trying hydroponics have run into rot troubles, perhaps from the lack of beneficial soil fungii and bacteria, which act as a counterbalance to the  rot causing "bad guys".

[RifeHeretic]

Thanks Jupe. I built the same exact (or close enough to) Aerospring from the ebook, How-To Hydroponics from FutureGarden.com. The misting is 1minute on and 4minutes off. I have a plant that had no leaves and was just a rootball, i see tiny tiny leaves popping up off the ball. I've had it for about a week. I hope it lives. When it's grown I'm thinking of Potting up a few cuttings and then growing some in my aero chamber. The only fear i have is if the power goes out.

Anyone ever build one of these?

Rife

[TooStonedToType]

I'm not sure exactly how the aerospring works.  It seems similar to something I once made.  I took a five gallon bucket, put about a gallon of water in it, an aquarium air stone in it and suspended a plant above the water.  Some of the roots grew into the water.  Some stayed up in the air in the mist.  The plant did ok.  Need to go very light on the nutrients.  ph was about 6.5.

My power went out now and then.  Several times the thing came unplugged.  It took several days before the plant started looking bad.  Plugged it in and within 30 minutes it perked up.