staticbudz
Active Member
Ok, so I have made and photographed what I believe to be the EASIEST aeroponics system possible for the closet grower. Will cost about 50 bucks plus lighting and nutrients.
I started with a rubbermaid bin (i know, real original eh?) But insead of making a sprinkler system inside it like most people I bought a Sunbeam Cool Mist Humidifier and drilled some 1inch holes in the sides and bottom of it and placed it in the bin. The sunbeam cool mist humidifier has and air intake and a mist output. I took a sand bucket, cleaned it and cut it down in size and sealed it over the intake while making sure to leave the mist output open. I then used a piece of 3 inch black plastic tubing, sealed it in the side of the bucket and vented it out of the bin. the cord can be ran through this vent also, keeping the electrical components completely separated from the wet areas and also providing and dry air intake for the fan/motor area so as not to short out the motor.
Drilling the holes in the basin of the humidifier and setting it in the bottom of the bin allows me to use the whole bottom of the bin as my reservoir instead of just the small one of the humidifier. After that I took a rubbermaid lid and cut it smaller so it would fit in the bin about 6 inches down from the top of the bin and 6 inches above the humidifier. I drilled about a hundred 1" holes all across this lid. this gives me a place for moisture to collect and for the roots to sit and take hold to something instead of baskets. At this point I filled the bottom of the basin (with a measuring cup of course) and discovered that my basin was 11 liters. (not alot but I change the water and clean it once a week anyways so it's perfect for what I need). At this point I mixed in my nutes and plugged in the humidifier. Then I put another lid (not cut down in size) on top of the bin. At this point the nuted mist begins to fill the bin so that by the time you transplant the roots you have 100% humidity inside the bin. Then I cut 4 holes... you might be able to fit 6 in a standard bin but I only have 4 plants.
I then took my plants from their soil pots and washed all the dirt from the roots...
IMPORTANT!
You do NOT want to do this with tap water! if you're planning on washing roots from a soil plant and transplanting it to hydro or aero make sure you leave tap water out for at least 24, preferrably 48 hours. A large bucket full will do. Hold the plant by the base of the stem and dunk under room temperature water. gently knead the roots with the fingers of your other hand until they are close to clean. Trying to clean them too much will result in root damage. Don't worry if there's a little bit of soil left in the roots. It will soon be engulfed in new root growth.
I cut the holes in my lid about 2 inches in diameter. you may need to cut them larger depending on the size of plants and roots. After "planting" them in their holes with their roots touching "mesh" tray, I cut cd's down the center of one side and twisted them so they could easily fit around the stems. then I sealed them to the lid with duct tape.
Then inside another bin I cut a hole for a fan, an exhaust vent, and for lighting and currently have 6 26W CFL's hanging inside the top bin for my 4 mothers...
When I decide to take clones from them I will build another box, this time from a double-long rubbermaid bin and use high pressure sodium lights for flowering.
The initial clone cuttings will be rooted in rockwool in the "mother box" then transplanted to the flower box.
I will post my pics up as soon as I figure out how to hahaha.
I started with a rubbermaid bin (i know, real original eh?) But insead of making a sprinkler system inside it like most people I bought a Sunbeam Cool Mist Humidifier and drilled some 1inch holes in the sides and bottom of it and placed it in the bin. The sunbeam cool mist humidifier has and air intake and a mist output. I took a sand bucket, cleaned it and cut it down in size and sealed it over the intake while making sure to leave the mist output open. I then used a piece of 3 inch black plastic tubing, sealed it in the side of the bucket and vented it out of the bin. the cord can be ran through this vent also, keeping the electrical components completely separated from the wet areas and also providing and dry air intake for the fan/motor area so as not to short out the motor.
Drilling the holes in the basin of the humidifier and setting it in the bottom of the bin allows me to use the whole bottom of the bin as my reservoir instead of just the small one of the humidifier. After that I took a rubbermaid lid and cut it smaller so it would fit in the bin about 6 inches down from the top of the bin and 6 inches above the humidifier. I drilled about a hundred 1" holes all across this lid. this gives me a place for moisture to collect and for the roots to sit and take hold to something instead of baskets. At this point I filled the bottom of the basin (with a measuring cup of course) and discovered that my basin was 11 liters. (not alot but I change the water and clean it once a week anyways so it's perfect for what I need). At this point I mixed in my nutes and plugged in the humidifier. Then I put another lid (not cut down in size) on top of the bin. At this point the nuted mist begins to fill the bin so that by the time you transplant the roots you have 100% humidity inside the bin. Then I cut 4 holes... you might be able to fit 6 in a standard bin but I only have 4 plants.
I then took my plants from their soil pots and washed all the dirt from the roots...
IMPORTANT!
You do NOT want to do this with tap water! if you're planning on washing roots from a soil plant and transplanting it to hydro or aero make sure you leave tap water out for at least 24, preferrably 48 hours. A large bucket full will do. Hold the plant by the base of the stem and dunk under room temperature water. gently knead the roots with the fingers of your other hand until they are close to clean. Trying to clean them too much will result in root damage. Don't worry if there's a little bit of soil left in the roots. It will soon be engulfed in new root growth.
I cut the holes in my lid about 2 inches in diameter. you may need to cut them larger depending on the size of plants and roots. After "planting" them in their holes with their roots touching "mesh" tray, I cut cd's down the center of one side and twisted them so they could easily fit around the stems. then I sealed them to the lid with duct tape.
Then inside another bin I cut a hole for a fan, an exhaust vent, and for lighting and currently have 6 26W CFL's hanging inside the top bin for my 4 mothers...
When I decide to take clones from them I will build another box, this time from a double-long rubbermaid bin and use high pressure sodium lights for flowering.
The initial clone cuttings will be rooted in rockwool in the "mother box" then transplanted to the flower box.
I will post my pics up as soon as I figure out how to hahaha.
