I've recently become intrigued with STG (Sure To Grow) media.  It's been featured in the last few posts.  Interestingly enough, it's the primary focus of this post as well.  Thus far, our results have been good.  We're trying something totally new this week.  As far as I know, we may be the first people using Sure To Grow as an aeroponic growing medium.  We've set up two single-site aeroponic units, both loaded with Sure To Grow media.  Here's a photo of a little tomato, nested in Sure To Grow:

The tomato plant started in a very small cube, which in turn was placed into a larger (roughly 3"x3" cube).  We've placed the larger cube into the aeroponic pot, then filled the surrounding space with Sure To Grow's loose-fill media.  The loose media works well as a filler in the pot, and has worked well thus far.  It's lighter weight than hydroton by a good margin.  Additionally, it doesn't put off any of the "sand" associated with hydroton.  Hydroton is a clay media.  When hydroton is disturbed, it sheds a sandy clay from rubbing.

Here's a closer view:

Here's the really interesting part... The top layer of the Sure To Grow has stayed completely dry... Although the lower part is continuously sprayed, the top is dry.  The tomato seems happy.  So far, so good.

Our second plant is a baby cantaloupe. I'll admit that I have absolutely zero experience with cantaloupes, but we're giving it a try anyway.  Our second unit is a DIY aeroponic system, prepped for a single site.  We've followed a very similar process...  The cantaloupe is planted in a large cube.  The large cube is placed in the net pot, surrounded with the loose fill material.  The loose fill has contained the water nicely.

No signs of algae yet... We'll see what happens as the plants grow up.  Both plants are under an 400W HPS light at the moment.  They should probably be under a Metal Halide, but since I don't have any available at the moment, HPS will have to do...

The growing room is up to full power again... We're pulling a LOT of amps.