Hydroponic Vertical Growing Towers – How I Made Mine
Hydroponic Vertical Growing Towers – How I Made Mine
Sorry, this is a long one but it is very detailed.
Bosch heat gun (Amazon): https://geni.us/I9vB
The growing towers were a failure last year as I didn’t have any way of testing the nutrient level – I basically killed my plants with an overdose of nutrients but this year I’m tooled up and prepared…..things are very different and all is good.
4″ white pipes: Available from plumbers merchants and on ebay
Stands / shelving for system: https://ebay.us/FQhI7a
The stands are available in lots of variations but these are the ones I bought since they are powder coated to protect against rust.
The pump I am using is a (very) old Oase Nautalis 3000 which is probably around 25 years old – still going strong.
The USB 4-way splitter for powering the USB fans and USB lights can be found here: https://geni.us/pMzxIk
K1 micro media used for the mesh bags of media in the top of each tower – it supports only aerobic bacteria so processes the ammonia and nitrite but generates nitrate which is used by the plants: https://filterpro.co.uk/k1-micro-1-litre-24-p.asp
The 2″ solvent pipe, rubber fittings, pipe joiners, taps and solvent glue were bought from Kockney Koi as I have an account with them but similar products can be found all over the internet.
I like Kockney Koi as they don’t fanny about with nonsense – they just sell stuff which works.
I recently bought an electronic test stick to make sure I get the nutrient levels correct and also picked up a couple of nutrient solutions formulated for leaf growth from North East Hydroponics: https://northeasthydro.com/ as I was passing one day and . Next video will discuss the nutrients, show how the test stick works and explain why it is a very important piece of kit.
When I tested the water in the reservoir which supplies the vertical growing towers it was off the scale so maybe I should have bought a test stick this time last year…..
If anyone is interested and lives local feel free to call in any time to see the systems (and share any tips) that’s no worries – just give me a ring first for directions.
Richard 07772848730
They call the orange soil pipe, terracotta 🙂 I made a couple of 5ft towers out of the 160mm, took me all day to form the pockets. If you only use cuttings you can get away without the collars and just use chunks of pool noodle. They will squidge into the hole and seal it up completely. Nutrients from grow shops are ridiculously expensive and not (elementally) ideal for normal veg, there are a few dry nutrients around that cost a lot less and will do a better job.
Alright mate, love watching your videos. Do you have another channel too?
Great video thanks so much you have one of the best ones on the internet. Cheers from Canada
🎉🎉🎉 TY
Thanks for a great clear step by step explanation!
Put one on each and use a chalk line to mark 4 sides
hello, very interesting to see how you built your hydroponic towers.👍
Hi, what is the thickness of the tube 4 inch? 1.8 / 3.2 ! ..
Great video very informative. Could you please send a link for the collars?
Is PVC safe to grow food ? I want to do this so badly.
This is excellent.
Great vid. Very clear. Good gentle humor. Down to earth. All good Thanks, lots of blessings to you, Joel
What moves the water from the center to the perimeter of the pipe so it arrives at the net cups?
Thanks Richard. You are genius.
I’ve experimented with your method of making holes and if you wear heat proof gloves you can pinch that little gap tight to your mould pipe.
Hi! Thanks for everything (:
I started making one of these myself and ran into 2 problems.
1. In the video itself you said you use a 2 inch pipe, I bought a 2 inch pipe but it seems to be smaller than what is shown in your video.
2. After sawing and heating, I pushed the pipe 2 inches as you explained and I noticed that the edges of the hole I created do not look like yours, the edges did not open that much and for some reason remained relatively closed.
Could it be related to the 2 inch pipe?
Appreciate you making this video. Incredibly informative!
You could use two ratchet straps on both sides to hold pipe
Like your setup , just a little trick for you next time when you cut the pipe 8 cm is to much try 4.5 cm give no smilleys like you say and wont need to patch with silicone 😉
Sorry, this is a long one but it is very detailed.
Bosch heat gun (Amazon): https://geni.us/I9vB
The growing towers were a failure last year as I didn’t have any way of testing the nutrient level – I basically killed my plants with an overdose of nutrients but this year I’m tooled up and prepared…..things are very different and all is good.
4" white pipes: Available from plumbers merchants and on ebay
Stands / shelving for system: https://ebay.us/FQhI7a
The stands are available in lots of variations but these are the ones I bought since they are powder coated to protect against rust.
The pump I am using is a (very) old Oase Nautalis 3000 which is probably around 25 years old – still going strong.
The USB 4-way splitter for powering the USB fans and USB lights can be found here: https://geni.us/pMzxIk
K1 micro media used for the mesh bags of media in the top of each tower – it supports only aerobic bacteria so processes the ammonia and nitrite but generates nitrate which is used by the plants: https://filterpro.co.uk/k1-micro-1-litre-24-p.asp
The 2" solvent pipe, rubber fittings, pipe joiners, taps and solvent glue were bought from Kockney Koi as I have an account with them but similar products can be found all over the internet.
I like Kockney Koi as they don’t fanny about with nonsense – they just sell stuff which works.
I recently bought an electronic test stick to make sure I get the nutrient levels correct and also picked up a couple of nutrient solutions formulated for leaf growth from North East Hydroponics: https://northeasthydro.com/ as I was passing one day and . Next video will discuss the nutrients, show how the test stick works and explain why it is a very important piece of kit.
When I tested the water in the reservoir which supplies the vertical growing towers it was off the scale so maybe I should have bought a test stick this time last year…..
If anyone is interested and lives local feel free to call in any time to see the systems (and share any tips) that’s no worries – just give me a ring first for directions.
Richard 07772848730
looks like a brilliant design thank you for posting it
where to buy the little one where the plants put.
Благодарю. Очень подробная инструкция. Пошел делать.
How many times should i turn the system on for watering
Very well explaining video, thanks for sharing with us Richard.
excellent video
Oi mate. You could almost paint those suckers green and have a neat living wall up along a privacy fence. Ik you’re doing it all indoors but I think seeing a living green wall would be a neat outdoor scene. Wouldnt necessarily need to be veggies or anything edible but pretty
Great show of genuine effort. I’ll have to try one of these for myself.
Thanks for the video. This was very useful.
Well done video…..planning to build 2 or 3 over the winter, to expand my garden Next Spring. Big Thank You from Michigan USA. The Critters got into my stuff…..I plant to offset it,and keep them fed, but the Vertical Method is Intriguing, and might keep My Gal in Homegrown Lettuce next year…..and my herbs,…..I need More.
THANK YOU SO MUCH!
The BLACK pvc pipes are for sewer and is TOXIC you have to use the white for potable water use or your food is going to leach in toxins so I wouldn’t grow anythung edible
Thanks mate, great work!