Indoor farming FAQs

Aeroponics is a method of growing plants without soil. Instead, roots are suspended in the air and irrigated with a nutrient-dense mist. In aeroponics, the roots have greater access to oxygen, which results in healthier plant root stock and significantly faster crop growth rates. For a more in-depth read, check out our literature review "Getting to the roots of vertical farming"

Aeroponics involves the roots being suspended in a nutrient rich-mist unlike hydroponics where plant roots are regularly submerged in a nutrient-rich solution.

When roots are fully submerged in hydroponics, plant roots can only access a certain level of dissolved oxygen. With aeroponics, roots have access to unlimited supply of oxygen, allowing them to breathe properly and develop faster. For a more information, check out our literature review "Getting to the roots of vertical farming".

Within an aeroponic system, plant roots have greater access to atmospheric levels of gases such as oxygen, which boosts plant health. Just as overwatering your house plant can drown it, plant roots can become water-logged and oxygen deprived when submerged - an aeroponic system ensures this won’t happen. Healthy plants, with a good root stock, grow faster. This results in more crop cycles per year and a greater yield being produced in your farm.

Our aeroponic systems provide the ability to apply nutrient solutions with great precision. The quantity of mist produced can be easily fine tuned per grow bed, so that you can provide specific crops with a feed that will best suit their developmental needs. This control will enable you to consistently tune the quality of your crop, while higher growth rates create a quicker turnover of your produce.

The position of roots means that plants are less susceptible to mould and other infections, largely due to seeds and growing materials remaining dry within an aeroponic system. UV sterilisation and filtration is used during the recapture and reuse of water in the system, ensuring that the chances of pests or disease outbreaks are kept to a minimum. This also means there’s no need to use harmful chemicals or pesticides.

In an aeroponic system, plant roots are easy to see and access. This is useful for plant scientists and researchers who wish to observe plant roots without impacting plant growth or killing the plant by up-rooting it. This allows for more regular testing and observation.

Our method of recapturing and reusing water vapour massively reduces the amount of water and fertiliser needed in the system, and also prevents fertiliser runoff into waterways, a type of water pollution which can damage ecosystems and kill aquatic life.

Aeroponic Rolling Benches combine LettUs Grow’s aeroponic technology with typical rolling bench set-ups found in hectare-scale vertical farms and greenhouses. They are designed to retrofit into the existing infrastructure of the greenhouse or vertical farm, allowing for minimal alterations and a smooth installation process. Indoor growers also have the option to create a dedicated aeroponic facility.

Aeroponic Rolling Benches have been designed to seamlessly integrate into your current benching set-up. Each installation would need a full review of the electrical capacity to ensure a smooth installation process, as well as a consultation call with our development team.

To find out more get in touch with our team here enquiries@lettusgrow.com

Currently, leafy greens, herbs, and micro varieties will grow best. When used in greenhouses, Aeroponic Rolling Benches have the potential to be utilised for larger fruiting crops, such as chillies, strawberries, and tomatoes. We are also developing our own crop portfolio to expand outside of leafy greens, which includes propagation of willow and apple trees.

We are always open to new crop developments with R&D trial partners. If you’re interested in growing a crop not listed, get in touch here: enquiries@lettusgrow.com

Initially you would have a call with our commercial team to understand your aims and requirements. Depending on the scope of your project, LettUs Grow’s delivery team would then attend your facility to complete a site assessment. This would gather key parameters and specifications of the site to inform our product recommendation and ensure compatibility.

Our in-house team would then modify or custom-build you an aeroponic trial setup to deliver to you. Some staff training would be required to ensure all operators and confident working with the aeroponic equipment confidently and safely.

The system will require the usual upkeep associated with any large-scale growing facility. Each pilot project is unique to the facility, so to discuss your project and requirements in detail please get in touch with our team here: enquiries@lettusgrow.com