How to Grow Cannabis Aeroponically
Article written by
Homegrown Cannabis Co.American Seed Bank and Cultivation Experts
Content reviewed by
Dr. Lewis Jassey
Aeroponic growing is an efficient cannabis cultivation technique that doesn’t employ an inert medium. Instead of stretching through water or soil, plant roots hang in the air and get sprayed with nutrient-rich mist.
Aeroponics is an expert-level approach to marijuana gardening with a host of advantages. Here’s how to use it to grow high-quality weed.
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What Is Aeroponic Growing?
Aeroponics systems are among the three most popular grow environments for marijuana, sometimes considered a subset of hydroponics. Instead of using soil or water to support and feed the roots, you suspend them in the air and provide nutrients through a fine mist.
The setup consists of a reservoir with a nutrient solution and a planter bed above it. Plants are in net pots, and their root systems dangle without direct contact with the liquid. A pump activates nozzles to spray them, and excess water drains back down.
This approach lets you take complete control of the growing environment. It’s also eco-friendly and cost-efficient, using less water and fertilizer than soil or hydro. The output is generous and top-tier if you keep a close eye on your system and prevent malfunctions.
Types of Aeroponic Cannabis Growing
There are four versions of the aeroponic growing system.
High-Pressure Aeroponics
High-pressure aeroponics uses pressurized nozzles to spray mist at the root system.
Medium-Pressure Aeroponics
Medium-pressure aeroponics uses an air compressor, a pressure regulator, and smaller nozzles. Water droplets are mid-sized.
Low-Pressure Aeroponics
This aeroponics set-up uses a low-pressure compressor and larger nozzles for slower misting.
Ultrasonic Fogger Aeroponics
Ultrasonic fogger aeroponics employs a high-tech device to disperse water, resulting in a thick and hyper-fine fog.
Advantages and Disadvantages
Aeroponic cultivation is gaining popularity, but is it right for you? Here are the reasons to pick it or skip it.
Advantages
The benefits of aeroponic farming include:
- Complete fertilization control: You determine the precise nutrient absorption rate for optimal development.
- Easy access to oxygen: Root zones are continuously in contact with the air, stretching more rapidly.
- Sustainability: The closed-loop system re-circulates moisture and fertilizer, resulting in minimal resource loss.
- Space optimization: As there’s no competition for nutrients, aeroponics lets you fit more plants into your cultivation area.
- Lower pest risk: Many bugs can’t survive without soil, so they’re less likely to attack aero cannabis. Since you see the plant roots, you can immediately respond to any pest activity.
- Higher yields: All the above factors culminate in large, healthy buds. Crops develop quickly, and harvests skyrocket.
Disadvantages
Aeroponic systems have the following drawbacks:
- Technical complexity: Aeroponics requires a strictly-controlled environment and constant close attention.
- High costs: This setup is high-tech and requires you to purchase equipment. As a result, it’s more expensive than traditional cultivation.
- Crop safety risk: Aero can produce healthier plants if everything works as intended. Your weed is very vulnerable to damage if something goes wrong, though.
- System sensitivity: Aero needs electricity to function. Your plants suffer if it stops working due to a power outage or malfunction.
What You’ll Need to Get Started
Smaller aeroponic setups for indoor cannabis cultivation cost around $500. Commercial growers may pay around $1000 to prepare a system that fits dozens of plants.
This gardening environment requires the following equipment.
Grow Lights
Purchase HPS or LED lamps and hang them above the containers. Lights enable photosynthesis and help plants grow.
Water and Nutrients
The reservoir requires reverse-osmosis water and appropriate amounts of soluble cannabis fertilizer.
Pruning and Training Tools
Plant growth happens quickly in aero, so you’ll need to remove excess foliage every week. Many cultivators pair this setup with the Sea of Green training technique to make their weed easier to manage.
Best Cannabis Strains for Aeroponic Growing
All strains can thrive in aeroponics, but resilient hybrids that can withstand some nutrient fluctuations perform the best in this setup. You should also pick compact strains like Purple Kush or Super Critical if cultivating in a small space.
Setup
You can buy or DIY an aeroponic system for growing plants. Here’s what it involves.
Reservoir
The container should be approximately 20 gallons, opaque, and made of food-grade plastic, acrylic, or glass. If you’re DIY-ing your aeroponic system, drill holes for the net pots on the reservoir lid.
Water Pump
Use a pond, aquarium, or another submersible water pump to spray the nutrient-rich solution.
Cycle Timer
Attach the pump to a timer to determine how often the root zone gets misted.
Tubing
Tubes connect the pump to the drip emitters.
Mist Nozzles
Nozzles spray the root surface with the nutrient-water blend. Hang sprinkler heads in the container and connect them to the pump and timer.
Pots and Grow Media
Buy net pots and fill them with hydroton (an inert, pH-neutral substrate) with your seed sprouts.
Grow Chamber
The enclosed aeroponic chamber houses the plant roots. It should be well-ventilated and have holes for baskets or plugs. These containers seal and secure your cannabis, keeping it safe from light and pests.
Must-Follow Tips for a Successful Aeroponic Grow
To start, germinate seeds in Rockwool cubes. Roots should soon protrude downward. As soon as they do, set up a misting cycle of five- to 10-second sprays every three to five minutes.
Employ the following tips to get the best results from your aeroponic growing set-up:
- Dial in the nutrients: Research marijuana’s mineral requirements and use a high-quality fertilizer appropriate for the growth stage.
- Know the ideal environmental conditions: Ensure the grow room stays at the perfect temperature and relative humidity for your chosen strain.
- Employ cool grow lights: You shouldn’t spray the roots with mist over 75°F, so use LED lamps. HPS lights emit heat and could warm it up.
- Check crops regularly: Even if you automate, inspect the roots for plant disease daily. Measure acidity with every reservoir filling, ensuring the solution is pH-balanced.
The Bottom Line
Aeroponic growing is highly technical, tracked, and suitable for experienced growers. Choose it if you’ve spent time cultivating and want to increase your harvests with optimized nutrient uptake. It may seem complicated at first, but you’ll soon find it effortless and efficient.
You can do two things to guarantee success in aero: ensure a safe source of electricity and pay close attention to your plants. As long as you maintain the optimal conditions for cannabis and nothing breaks, heaps of sticky buds are near-guaranteed.
Why not buy seeds and test your green thumb with this advanced cultivation method? It takes expert care and dedication, but the results are worth the effort.
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