Do you know if aerating water for your plants is necessary? Well, definitely yes! Have you ever wondered how plants can sit a long time in a hydroponic system without drowning? The trick is the air supplied. If you don’t provide your hydroponic plants with adequate oxygen, they will drown or suffocate.
The root of plants must be supplied with air for optimal growth so aerating water for plants is important. So, plants require oxygen to breathe or respire.
In this post, we will be talking about how to aerate your plants, the importance of aerating your plants, and more. So, read on to learn about this.
How To Aerate Water For Plants
When you aerate your water for hydroponic plants, you’re introducing dissolved oxygen (DO) to the system. The dissolved oxygen is usually ready to be assimilated by the plant roots. So, we can aerate our hydroponic system in the following ways:
1. Airstone With Air Pump
One of the easiest ways of aerating water for plants is by using air stone connected to an air pump. They are very affordable and easily accessible. Air stones also come in different sizes and shapes, thus you will always find one that is suitable for your hydroponic system.
So, air stone provides oxygenation by pushing the air pump through the stones. Because the air stone is quite porous, the air is split into a large bunch of bubbles. However, this large bubble may not be so efficient. This is because large bubbles tend to rise rapidly and they may end up not reaching plant roots.
The good news is that the air stones we find in the market now generate smaller bubbles. Thus, this makes their job done more efficiently.
2. Automatic Siphon System
The automatic siphon mechanism provides air to the plants by exposing the plant root system. This process is common in the ebb and flow system whereby the grow bed is drained and the plant root system is exposed to air.
The automatic siphon system comes in various forms. They include loop, bell, and U shape and all of these mechanisms work on the same principle.
The mechanism of action works this way: when the water level in the grow bed moves up and rises, it gets to a point it begins to go down. The water levels go down a tube called the standpipe. As the standpipe fills up, there is a suction created with a vacuum that pulls the water away from the grow bed.
So the plant root is exposed to air for a while and the water goes up again and the process repeats on and on.
Auto-Siphon Mini with 6 Feet of Tubing and Clamp
3. Air Diffuser
Using an air diffuser is another method of supplying aerated water to your plant root. Air diffusers comprise bendable tubes with holes in them that help emit air into water. Even though air stones are capable of distributing air evenly, air diffusers will supply smaller bubbles. Thus, most of these smaller bubbles usually get to the plant roots.
This is the biggest advantage of air diffusers over air stones (bubbles size). However, various brands are now manufacturing sir stones with smaller bubbles because of the growing interest in hydroponics.
4. Oxygen Gap
Some hydroponics system like Kratky method and NFT offers oxygen through an air gap. The nutrient solution should be placed in the grow bed. Allow the plant root to touch the nutrient solution and leave a gap for the rest of the plant body. There will always be enough air between the air gap created and the nutrient solution that will ensure the plant receives oxygen.
5. Root Hanging
The last method we will be looking at for aerating water for plants is root hanging. Vertical and Aeroponic system often makes use of root hanging. Rather than allowing the root to sit in a nutrient solution, the nutrient solution can simply be splashed or pumped across the system and comes back to the reservoir. Vertical hydroponics makes use of pumping nutrients. On the other hand, the Aeroponic system makes use of spraying their nutrient solution.
Importance Of Aerating Water For Plants
Aerating your water for plants is very crucial when it comes to hydroponic gardening. So, let’s look at the importance of aerating the water in your plants for their optimal growth:
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Nutrient Uptake: aerating your water for plants is important so that nutrients can be adequately absorbed by the plants’ roots. Thus, when your plants can absorb adequate nutrients, they will grow healthier and result in abundant yield.
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Bacteria Build-up Is Reduced: with optimal dissolved oxygen, the roots are able to respire and there will be a drastic decrease in bacteria build-up. However, if the dissolved oxygen drops, it will cause anaerobic bacteria and fungi to build up. These bacteria build-up affects the plant root and restricts the roots from absorbing important nutrients. So, we definitely want to avoid such.
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Respiration: just as animals and human beings respire, plants also respire. Oxygen is assimilated through the roots of the plants. This same oxygen is also absorbed through the plants’ stomata as well as their stem pores.
Aerating Plants In The Soil
Plants in the soil aren’t left out from dissolved oxygen (DO). They also assimilate important nutrients in the soil through oxygenation. Of course, the air present in the atmosphere provides these soil plants oxygen. Plants can also receive oxygen through air pockets in the soil.
They can also obtain dissolved oxygen from nature through rainwater. Rainwater assimilates dissolved oxygen from the atmosphere before reaching the earth or soil.
However, over-watering your plants can prevent the soil plant from accessing these air pockets thereby reducing dissolved oxygen. This will in turn cause your plant to drown or suffocate. So, ensure you don’t overwater your soil plants.
FAQ’s
What is aeration?
Aeration is the process of adding oxygen to your aquarium or pond water. This is done by placing a sponge, air pump, or other air diffuser in the water and allowing the water to circulate. It is also possible to place an air stone directly into the water and allow it to bubble. Aeration is especially useful for aquariums or ponds that have very little movement in the water.
The increased oxygen levels will encourage more fish, plants, and invertebrates to inhabit the tank or pond.
What is a sponge?
Sponges are made up of tiny pockets, called spicules, which are packed tightly together to form a strong and resilient structure. They are usually soft and absorbent, and can be found in both marine and freshwater environments. A marine sponge is often used as an underwater filter. Sponges are also used as filters on land, since they can absorb pollutants from the air as well as water.
What is an air pump?
Air pumps are small, portable devices that use compressed air to create bubbles that are dispersed through a diffuser. Air pumps are available in many different sizes and types. Most people use air pumps to aerate their aquariums, ponds, and water gardens.
The air pump is one of the most essential tools for any aquarist. It is used to create bubbles, which helps oxygenate the water and remove ammonia and nitrates.
What is an air stone?
An air stone is a small device that creates bubbles. There are several different types of air stones available. Some of these air stones can be attached to a tank or pond for continuous bubbling. Others require manual operation, and are often used to aerate water when it is not being filtered or pumped.
What is a bubble wort?
A bubble wort is a piece of equipment that uses bubbles to aerate water. Bubble worts are typically used on a regular basis, so the bubbles will continue to disperse throughout the tank or pond. The bubbler must be used with the air pump to produce the bubbles.
How important is considering the water for plant growth?
Water is a very important part of your garden. It’s what keeps the plants alive and allows them to grow. If you water your plants too often, it will cause the soil to become dry and compacted. This will lead to slower plant growth and can even kill them! If you don’t aerate your soil every few months, it can actually cause your plants to be more susceptible to diseases.
Aerating Water For Plants Final Thoughts
There are lots of benefits to aerating water for your plants growing needs. Ensure you provide optimal air to your plants’ roots so they can flourish and give you abundant yields.
Eunice is an enthusiastic gardener with a passion for growing beautiful flowers. She loves nothing more than spending time in her garden, tending to her plants and enjoying the outdoors. Eunice has been gardening for over 15 years and has developed a unique style of landscaping that is both practical and aesthetically pleasing. She is especially fond of growing roses and enjoys experimenting with different varieties and colors. Eunice takes great pride in her garden and often shares the fruits of her labor with friends and family. In her spare time, she enjoys reading gardening magazines and attending local horticulture events. Eunice is passionate about her hobby and is always eager to share her knowledge and experience with others.