Grow with your Aerospring garden

🌐 🇫🇷 FR · 🇬🇧 EN · 🇩🇪 DE

To better understand the concept of soilless growing and its application in our Aerospring vertical garden, you first need to understand how plants develop their roots and how important they are for the growth of your plants.

In nature, plants explore the soil with their roots and feed on the nutrients available nearby. Over time, they deplete the soil’s resources, forcing the plants to form new root tips to explore a wider area richer in nutrients. The root network can therefore reach a very large volume.

In the Aerospring vertical garden, the roots have all the nutrients available to them: the plants’ needs are met by continuous irrigation rich in organic fertilizer. Although the root volume is more limited than in open ground, it guarantees optimal growth for your vegetables. They benefit from the best conditions for developing dense, healthy and vigorous roots, allowing the above-ground parts (stem, leaf, flower, fruit) to thrive.

1. Getting started right

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Note

You can find all the assembly explanations in our video tutorial.

Positioning and exposure

• More information about placing your Aerospring vertical garden here.

Level in the reservoir

• The reservoir must be filled to 10 cm below the base of the aerospring.
• Use rainwater preferably, otherwise tap water.

Grow in your vertical garden

• Place one plant in each of the 36 growing cups. Position the root ball containing the plant at the bottom of the growing cup and secure it with around ten clay pebbles.
• Afterwards, do not remove the root ball before harvest so as not to damage the roots.

Arrangement of the different plant species by type

1 - Upright, erect plants - aubergine, chilli pepper, bell pepper, determinate tomato.
2 - Plants with a compact, non-invasive habit - lettuces, celery, cabbage, herbs.
3 - Trailing plants, indeterminate growth - courgettes, cucumbers, nasturtium, indeterminate tomato. This position allows the surface of the reservoir to be used as support for the plants and their fruits.

Changing crops

• Once the plant has been harvested or the growing season is over, remove the plant and its growing cup by pulling the roots out of the matrix (black substrate).
• Compost the plant and the substrate.
• Clean the growing cups with clean water and soap.

2. Fertilizer & crop auxiliaries

Description
GROW and BLOOM fertilizers

• Grow is used for the plant’s overall growth and root development.
• Bloom accelerates flowering and fruiting.

Bioponic Mix auxiliaries OR root activator
1- Bioponic Mix

• This sachet contains Trichoderma harzianum.
• Strengthens the plants’ root network to improve nutrient absorption.

2- Root activator

• This blend contains beneficial bacteria (Azospirillum sp) and mycorrhizal fungi (glomus intraradices).
• Increases the root absorption surface, improves plant nutrition and promotes plant recovery after transplanting.

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MICRO-ORGANISMS

With your Aerospring, you will receive one sachet of Bioponic Mix OR one sachet of root activator, but not both.

Do you have a sachet of Bioponic Mix?

• You need to add it in two steps according to the recommendations below.

Do you have a bottle of root activator?

• Add 1 tablet to 1L of water after each sowing, then water the root balls gently from above
• Add 2 tablets/fish tank (CITY) and 3 tablets/fish tank (FAMILY), dilute in 200 mL of water, then pour directly into the black tube, in spring and then every 3 months.
• The tablet format gives you several months of autonomy depending on
  your model.

Method for adding organic fertilizers and auxiliaries

• Add liquid fertilizers directly to the water reservoir.
• Dissolve the amount of root activator in the measuring cup with water, then pour the mixture in from the top of the Aerospring. Do not dilute directly in the reservoir.

Quantities and frequency of additions

Addition of Bioponic Mix micro-organisms

Leafy vegetable dominance (lettuces, spinach, cabbages, herbs, etc.):

Fruiting vegetable dominance (tomatoes, aubergines, peppers, courgettes, cucumbers, etc.):

3. Managing pH

In bioponics, plants have the best conditions for root absorption with an acidic pH, meaning around 6.

To test your pH, use the pH test kit. Fill the tube halfway with the water present in the reservoir and add two drops of the test solution.

If you do not get the ideal pH (=6), that is not a problem. You can still place your plants in the Aerospring cups. You can lower/increase the pH afterwards.

To lower the pH:

• Use rainwater to fill the reservoir.
• Add 30 ml of pH-down when filling with water and then every 2 weeks if needed.

To increase the pH:

• Add tap water to the reservoir

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For proper operation of the vertical garden

Monitor the pH so you can regulate it as accurately as possible.

4. Adjust irrigation with the timer

Find all instructions for using the timer here.

Spring, summer, autumn

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In the event of a heatwave

• Set the pump to continuous operation, all tabs down, for optimal plant growth.

• The visual appearance of your plants gives you a good indication of their hydration level.

Winter

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Indoor version

Indoors, heating increases plant transpiration. The number of watering cycles can be increased depending on the plants’ needs and their stage of development.

5. Maintenance schedule

Daily

• Check irrigation
• Check the health of your plants: vigour, colour, absence of deficiency

Weekly

• Prune the plants and remove dried parts
• Stake the plants if needed
• Check water level
• Plant, harvest and monitor your sowing
• Adjust the watering program according to climatic conditions

Every 2 weeks

• Add fertilizers and auxiliaries from spring to autumn

Monthly

• Add fertilizers and auxiliaries in winter
• Check the pH (=6) and adjust it
• Clean the surface of the Aerospring
• Renew the water about every 3 months if necessary (if there is deposit at the bottom)
• Post your results on the Community

Yearly

• Fully clean the tower structure with water
• Remove excess roots from the black matrix and rinse them with a jet of water

More information about maintenance of the pump and structure here.

6. What can you grow in your Aerospring?

Many crops can be grown in your vertical garden.

Aerospring is not suitable for growing roots and tubers.