<aside> 🌷 Hydroponic Tower Notes!

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The following are typed out hydroponic tower notes from the manual!

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Hydroponic tower (1)

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Hydroponic tower (2)

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Seedlings

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Safety

Assembly

  1. Ensure the nutrient reservoir is level
  2. Attach the blue swivel hose on the pump to the bottom of the reservoir lid by hand screwing it into the ½ threaded hole until it is snug
  3. Place the pump in the reservoir and slide the electrical cord through the hole in the side of the reservoir (DO NOT PLUG THE PUMP IN UNTIL YOU HAVE FILLED THE RESERVOIR WITH THE NUTRIENT SOLUTION WITH WATER). To avoid electrical shock, form a loop with the cord on the outside of the reservoir near the outlet, preventing water from flowing down the cord and reaching the outlet.
  4. Place the pump towards the side of the reservoir. Push down firmly to seat.
  5. Locate the two 37” stainless steel rods. Remove the end wing nut and washer from the end containing 2 of each.
  6. Locate a pair of holes marked “A” inside the first tower section. Insert the end of one rod into one of the holes marked “A” inside the section that is connected to the reservoir lid.
  7. Reinstall a washer, then a wing nut, onto the rod and hand tighten. Turn the two wing nuts (one above and one below) toward each other. When completed there should be about ¼” of thread showing beyond the wing nut. Repeat steps 5-7 for the second rod, installing it in hole “A”, opposite for the first rod. Once the second rod is installed, seat the reservoir lid with attached rods on the nutrient reservoir.
  8. Remove the wing nut and washer from the top end of the rods. Choose any tower section to become your second section, and locate a pair of holes marked “B” inside the section.
  9. Thread the rods through these two holes. Slide the tower section down the rods to the first section. Push down firmly on center stem to properly seat with the first tower section
  10. Continue stacking tower sections until all have been installed. Firmly seat each section by pushing on the center stem before proceeding to the next section. Alternate between holes “A” and “B” as you continue to stack each section. Section 3 utilizes holes marked “A”. Section 4 utilizes holes marled “B”. Section 5 utilizes holes marked “A”/
  11. Once all of your tower sections are in place, install the shower cap. Push down firmly on the center stem to set with the top tower section.
  12. Reinstall the washers and wing nuts. HAND TIGHTEN ONLY. Overtightening will damage the shower cap.
  13. Fit a net pot into each planting port with the large lip of the net pot resting on the outside rim of each planting port. With your fingers, firmly push down on the bottom of each net pot until the small lip snaps into place. NOTE: IF THE NET POT IS NOT PUSHED ALL THE WAY IN, THE NEW SEEDLING WILL NOT GET WATERED.
  14. Once your reservoir is filled with mineral blend and cold water, the access port lid and shower cap lid can both be firmly pushed into place. (see page 8 for instructions on filling the reservoir and adding nutrients). NOTE: THIS STEP PREVENTS ALGAE AND DEBRIS FROM CONTAMINATING THE RESERVOIR.

Starting your seeds

  1. Using the seed starter tray provided, thoroughly soak the rock wool starter cubes for about 30 minutes. Remember that each variety of seed requires a different amount of seeds per hole.
    1. Gourmet lettuce: 6-12 seeds
    2. Herbs: 6 seeds
    3. Vegetables with larger seeds (tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, beans): 1-2 seeds
  2. Once you have placed your seeds, lightly fill each seed hole with the dry, coarse-grade vermiculite included. For smaller seeds, like lettuce, only fill the hole half full with vermiculite. Gently sprinkle a little water over each hole to wet the vermiculite and add a little water in the bottom of the container. DO NOT CLOSE THE LID.
  3. After 1-3 weeks, you should have healthy seedlings ready for transplanting in your garden. Place one seedling cube inside each net pot on the Tower Garden, gently pressing the seedling cube in until it touches the base of the net pot. WARNING: IF THE ROCK WOOL CUBE IS NOT TOUCHING THE BASE OF THE NET POT, THE SEEDLINGS WILL NOT GET WATERED.
  4. If you don’t have time to start your own crops, it's possible to use seedlings purchased from a local garden center. This is also a great option for plants that take longer to germinate. Really, it’s not cheating.
  5. Tip: lettuces, beans, squash, cucumbers, and basil grow in 7-10 days

Filling your reservoir and adding nutrients:

  1. Your Tower Garden will hold approximately 20 gallons when filled to within 3 inches of the top lid. Use a hose to fill the reservoir with cool water. Do not overfill the reservoir. NEVER USE SOFTENED WATER, HEAVILY CHLORINATED WATER, OR VERY HARD WATER, AS IT MAY DAMAGE YOUR PLANTS.
  2. Add the correct amount of Mineral Blend to the reservoir. Follow the instructions listed on the labels. A tower Garden will all new plants requires half strength of Mineral Blend (200 ml each of Mineral Blend A and Mineral Blend B)
  3. Use a spoon or other utensil to sir in the nutrients thoroughly. Do not use your hands, as the solution may be slightly acidic or alkaline and can irritate the skin.
  4. Use the pH tester kit to test the pH of the solution in the nutrient reservoir. The optimal pH is 5.5 to 6.5. If an adjustment is necessary, add one teaspoon/5mL of the pH buffering solution (included) to raise (pH+Base) or lower (pH-Acid) the pH. Follow all safety instructions on the pH bottles. Avoid contact with the skin. Repeat this process until you reach the desired pH level.
  5. Plug in the pump. Check that water is flowing out of the top of the Tower Garden before putting the lid on the shower cap.
  6. Your pump comes with an adjustable flow rate dial. Turning the dial counterclockwise opens the flow rate to maximum, and turning the dial clockwise reduces the flow rate to minimum. Set your flow rate so that the nutrient solution does not touch the shower cap lid to prevent leakage.
  7. A timer is included with your Tower Garden which functions best if the watering is on a cycle rather than a continuous flow. We recommend 15 mins on and 15 mins off. Cooler seasons throughout the year may allow for longer durations without water (15 minutes on and 30 minutes off). For indoor growing, set the timer for 15 minutes on and 45 minutes off. Follow the instructions found on the back of the timer.
  8. Place the access port lid on the reservoir lid

Adding nutrients to the tower

  1. Unplug the water pump to ensure concentrated nutrients don’t get pumped up to the plants and harm them