By: Charlene Rennick
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Outdoor gardens regulate their own climate without human intervention. Sunlight generates heat that is naturally blown away by the seasonal breezes. When you bring the delights from your outdoor space into your home, this natural element needs to be duplicated. Hydroponic gardens need to have a wind source in order to help control the temperature in the air.
Clean air purifies the environment for plants by bringing fresh oxygen into the cultivation climate. For natural growth to occur, the plant needs unrestricted access to air. This is called aeration. There is a direct relationship between plant disease and aeration. Plants that do not receive fresh, moving air have a much higher incidence of diseases and a lower rate of growth. When plants are aerated, it helps to control the temperature. Aerating helps maximize the carbon dioxide available for the growing vegetation. In the natural world, it is hard to separate air and temperature; air flow helps the plant’s stem to grow stronger. As the plant grows, it waves gently in the natural breezes and adapts to the air movement by increasing the stability of its root base.
Temperatures for hydroponic gardens should stay between 65 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit. The humidity level should be in the range of 50 and 75 percent which can be measured with a hygrometer. Keeping air circulation going is important for aeration, carbon dioxide absorption, temperature moderation and growth. Temperature and humidity work together to support the plant’s transpiration and respiration cycles which is part of the process of photosynthesis. If the air temperature is too warm, it will cause the moisture in the air to evaporate too quickly, thus preventing the plant from absorbing what it needs to survive through transpiration. An excess of moisture or humidity in the air can make the plant vulnerable to mildew and fungus growth. Good air circulation will prevent this.
Through the process of photosynthesis, the plant breaks oxygen down and uses it to manufacture energy. When the plant is deprived of oxygen, the root system does not develop which eventually leads to the death of the plant. Plants that are grown in aeroponic kitchen gardens have 100 percent access to carbon dioxide. Ideal carbon dioxide levels for aeroponically grown plants should be between 450 parts per milligram to 780 parts per milligram for photosynthesis to occur.
If you are lucky enough to live in a temperate climate, opening a window and turning on a fan now and then should do the trick. Remember that most climates have slightly cooler temperatures at night and warmer ones during the day.