Basement Hydroponic Tower Garden Version 2.0: 3 Year Update

Here is the 3 year update, including alternative planting to maximize grow space and ventilation, mylar reflective backing, and removal of the LED bulb diffusers to increase light intensity.
Materials List for a similar School Build
docs.google.co...

[@billybangbang9180]

My family and I, thank you, for teaching me how to build your "Hydroponic Wall Tower Vegetable Garden"... because of your video lessons, I can now feed my kids, all year long, a constant flow and tons of clean decent real healthy fresh healthy green vegetables, and they love it... Thank you, Mary and Joe, from the bottom of my heart, for the creation of your video lessons, that are truly a gift from God for my kids and family health.

[@maryneumayer01]

Hey Billy - it's my pleasure. Glad it's working out for you. I found myself in a position where I loved growing food for my family in my garden but due to our location it was just for a small fraction of the year. So I thought outside of the box, watched a lot of KZbin videos, and developed something that worked for me. I'm a high school teacher so by nature I'm happy to share with others. :-)

[@brianandlynphilippines]

I was wondering about the sprinkle of German words, now I know you are a German teacher! I was stationed in Germany for around 13 years, love the language and speak it at home. As a high schooler, I dreaded language class. I now realize the mind expansion, comprehension of life, and importance of cultural connectivity that speaking multiple languages breeds. I like the hydro system you are using too!

[@bkonker]

I was so excited when i saw an update!!!

[@great0789]

Awesome! Glad to see a 3 year update. That means it works... and is worth the time! I will likely make a copy of this on the North wall of my greenhouse after it is built. Got to maximize the space!

[@maryneumayer01]

excellent idea - be sure to UV protect your towers with UV blocking paint.

[@jjfbond]

Hey Joe, you are one of the few people I miss from West! I am growing this year due to Covid, I am using the mini-systems from my environmental racism unit. Its good to see your update. I have the towers in my garage and will attempt to build my 1st like you, "the master". I hope you and your family are doing well and staying C-free. Looking forward to new videos. Peace!!!

[@maryneumayer01]

Hey Jason, I miss you too man! It's not the same without you and your smile. Glad to hear you're safe and well and growing too! I'm doing more veggies and flowers now than ever in my traditional beds. I packed my greenhouse with seed cells as early as possible and I'm much farther along than usual. I had an amazing spring lettuce crop - just beautiful heads. Now it's hot in there - flavor is find but many varieties bolt quickly. I also started sprouting and love that fresh crunch and taste. I'm brewing a ton of kombucha too and getting creative with some flavorings which is fun. Sometimes I feel guilty because so many people aren't able to grow as we are, but I guess I work hard for what we have and I invested a lot of time and money to get this far. Best to you and the fam!

[@jjfbond]

@@maryneumayer01 OMG you are brewing kombucha! My wife would pay you for your flavors she luuuuvs kombucha! We got a great crop of lettuce too, it grows like crazy, we have too much. We also have peppers, peas, sunflowers, sage, lavender, cilantro, tomatoes, spinach, basil. I also grew watermelon, carrots, kohlrabi, squash, cucumber the conventional way. We have to look into raised garden beds because the chipmunks and squirrels are complete jerks!!!

[@johnruiz1743]

glad to see it is still operational and with only minor improvements along the way. Signs of a great design!

[@maryneumayer01]

thanks!

[@audiopro333]

Couldn't hear what you said: "Chuled Nutrient" for the KZbin search for your nutrient formula? Your system certainly is an inspiration! I'm already making a parts shopping list. My wife will be "thrilled" with me coming up with this new project!

[@kyleharbour5118]

Chill LED Nutrient

[@maryneumayer01]

youtube ChilLed nutrient

[@jeevespreston]

Fantastic build! Well done and thanks for all the data, background, instruction, and parts list!!

[@maryneumayer01]

that's easy - I don't grow down there in the summer when it's humid. :-) In the winter I don't even need to run the humidifier in the house - especially when using the heat pump!

[@lloydb248]

I've come here from the original video. I must say I was very impressed with you build.... I'll head back to your original video and do my comment there. Awesome system though.

[@maryneumayer01]

sounds like a plan. :-)

[@donk.5730]

Hi Joe, And Thanks again for your constant effort in answering so many questions. I've looked through many comments below , but I don't recall you mentioning the preferred pH for your system. I'm sure you need to adjust it weekly ? Thank you so much, great explanations, excellent photography, just the facts'! No hype or promotion. A great teacher here !!! Cheers, Don...

[@maryneumayer01]

Hey Don, thanks, and I keep my pH around 6.3 but according to what I read anywhere between 5 and 6.5 is acceptable. I shoot for 6.3 for ideal calcium absorption to reduce leaf tip burn. :-)

[@DIYSolarandWind]

You have done an amazing job. Once it warms up I want to do something like that in my grow room. I have a bug zapper in there to keep the spider mites under control. Once I can got the plants in the ground I want to do something similar to your system and never have dirt or bugs in the house again.

[@maryneumayer01]

That's interesting about the bug zapper and spider mites. I had not thought of that and have had extensive damage in my greenhouse with spider mites. If I don't squelch them immediately they spread like wildfire and all is lost. Thanks for the idea!

[@maryneumayer01]

Since spider mites don't fly and are actually arachnids, I'm curious why they would be attracted to the light of a bug zapper.

[@yuffey]

This is my dream!! Looks great. Greetings from Germany :) loved the sprinkles of German 😁

[@maryneumayer01]

danke vielmals!

[@RADComputers]

Alright i just bought all the stuff in the list, minus the lighting (going with grow lights I won at an auction site) ... I'm also switching out nutrient solution for fish and going to try to make an aquaponics version of this, and smaller. I'll update you as I go, but thank you so much for making these videos. Your specific design is what really made me think "man, i like that... the presentation of the vegetables, the order, the spacing... I'm gonna build that" ... a lot of the parts were not available for shipping from the supplier you put in the document, so I had to order them on amazon and they were not cheap at all :/ but, it'll be worth it. Thanks again! - Mark, in Maricopa, AZ

[@maryneumayer01]

Thanks Mark, looking forward to seeing your continued progress.

[@lektor6910]

Awesome, thanks for sharing all the detailed informations. Wünsche dir und deiner Familie Gottes reichen Segen. 😊👍

[@maryneumayer01]

vielen Dank! Der Herrgott war immer sehr gut zu uns besonders in der Pandemie!

[@TheTyrori]

You've got a fantastic build here. I've been looking to get into hydroponics purely for my own interest in sustainability engineering and this has been an immense inspiration so far. As I am preparing to start my own, I do have some questions, if you happen to see this and are willing to spare the time to answer them: - you mention you check for pH and parts per million of your nutrient in solution. What pH levels do you try to stay within to maintain healthy growth, how do you correct imbalanced pH, and what tools do you use to test the concentration levels? - could you elaborate more on the specs of the generator, power source, and pump that you have keeping the nutrient circulating through the system constantly? Thanks for your help regardless of whether or not you have a chance to take a look at these questions. :)

[@maryneumayer01]

Hi Ryan, I use a digital pH and TDS meter to record pH and nutrient values and aim to keep them between 5.5-6.5 and 1200 ppm. I make my own nutrient with a formula published by ChilLed hydroponic nutrients and I use a pH up/down formula purchased by general hydroponics (generally pH down but sometimes if I'm using rainwater it can get acidic and I have to raise it). I use conventional electricity to power my lighting, pump, and fans. We have a 9.1 kWh solar system that helps provide electricity for our house. For my pumps I have always used Pondmaster Supreme pumps - the only maintenance is to descale the precipitate on the pumps and replace the impeller every few years. It's quite the task to build a system but once you get it going I spend 30 minutes topping off the nutrient weekly and planting new seeds and then about 2 hours every 3 weeks to do the flush. That's like doing laundry - most of the time the system is flushing and I am doing something else. Then there's harvesting as needed. The pipes get bleached once per year. My nutrient supply generally lasts 3-4 months. I have a system going in the basement fall/winter/spring and my greenhouse spring/summer/fall. It's a fair amount of work if you are not dedicated. I'd call it a labor of love. Good luck!

[@papasgreengardenandmore7220]

That's a great lighting hack! One I will use when starting my plants in doors. Thanks for sharing. PS if I had a basement this would be the type of build I would use. Thanks again.

[@maryneumayer01]

Glad it was helpful!

[@randomjohn]

Looking good, I’m going to check out that nutrient information. I’ve been using a modified Masterblend formula, but I think I can do better. Thanks for the video, it’s always interesting to see what you’re doing.

[@chadwickducharme1194]

Thank you sir. Teacher at heart and I learned alot. Great job.

[@maryneumayer01]

Glad it was helpful!

[@cesarosorio77]

Ver tu video fue lo que me inspiro ha hacer mi propio cultivo. Muchas gracias por compartir.

[@maryneumayer01]

De nada. ¡La mejor de las suertes para ti!

[@truthbetold2611]

This is my dream

[@johnbolongo9978]

Looks great ....I'm inspired.

[@maryneumayer01]

Awesome! Thank you!

[@richardmcnamara659]

Cleaning, I would like to see this issue more fully addressed.

[@maryneumayer01]

we'll, I scoop all the nutrient out, put 15-20 gal of H2O in and run for 45 min, repeat, and then fill up the nutrient container with water and add nutrient and adjust for pH. not much to it.

[@maryneumayer01]

oh, and I remove the piping and bleach it out with 10% solution with a hard scrub brush when I shut it down for the summer so it's ready to go again in the fall for my fall/winter/spring growing.

[@Dualwieldingbucklers]

@@maryneumayer01 I saw you have a cleaning video, but how frequently do you clean?

[@zweiundzwanzigg7442]

Danke für diese informativen Videos, ich konnte sehr viel lernen! :) Jetzt ergeben die deutschen Sätze zwischendurch auch Sinn, ich hatte mich schon gewundert :D

[@maryneumayer01]

gerne :-)

[@primalemerge224]

Very cool system

[@maryneumayer01]

danke, glad you like it!

[@beast91509]

Looking good Joe!

[@phuongdang3790]

Happy to see the update again! I'm building myself but not finish yet. Can you have a quick brief on nursery baby plants?

[@maryneumayer01]

sure, just start the seeds in the Grodan plugs (1.5 inch) directly under light in a tray. I like the plugs from FarmTek - the ones with the large holes. If the light source is not bright enough, they will be leggy. I usually start a set once per week to keep up with harvesting. Best of luck to you!

[@Dualwieldingbucklers]

I've done a little bit of digging, but I was wondering if you had a video that would show beginners like myself how you built your most recent setup. If this doesn't interest you, would you please show me which videos or instructions aided you the most? This is going to be a first time for me, but I'm very interested in giving it a go. Thank you in advance!~

[@maryneumayer01]

Hi Kendra. I have not produced build videos. I designed these based on what I found online - those systems were so expensive and had a weird footprint so I came up with my own design. I'm just a school teacher, with no construction/plumbing/electrical training, so I just had a go at it while keeping youtube close at hand for help in those areas. I have provided a lot of build instructions in my comment section so if you read through what I have already posted, many times over, you can get some good tips. Sometimes I feel weird giving advice since I'm not a professional or an expert in these areas myself. You can always start small and then expand. That's what I did. Good luck!

[@orione3873]

Great videos! Thanks for continuing to update and answer questions. Are those two inch rockwool cubes? I always thought you’d need exposed roots hanging down the inside of the pipes to transplant but I suppose the water hits the back of the rockwool cubes to saturate and maintain moist roots?

[@maryneumayer01]

the plugs are 1.5 inches and the towers are tilted slightly forward and so the nute runs down the front of the towers.

[@mariajacqueline8574]

Very impressive system and result! Do you have a video on how you are doing the seedlings on each stage until you move it to the tower? I haven't had much luck and all my seedlings grow very tall and spindly...

[@maryneumayer01]

no, but your problem with leggy seedlings is a light issue. you need to increase your light intensity and that will solve the leggy seedling issue. good luck!

[@grillegertzoo222]

Sehr cooles Video 👌

[@maryneumayer01]

danke vielmals!

[@michaelschnittker7388]

Great videos, thank you.

[@maryneumayer01]

Thanks for watching!

[@mrlafalot]

Hi Joe. Thanks for the great videos explaining your build! I've already started buying parts to construct a system just like yours. While I do have indoor space where I COULD set this up, I'm down in Austin, Tx where have loads of sun year round. I plan to have the system facing south, where it will get a lot of sunlight, have the pump on a timer, use the same piping and drip system. Do you know of anyone who's already done this outside at all? Do you think this type of system would do okay outdoors?

[@maryneumayer01]

Hi, sure, I use it in my greenhouse- I have videos you can check out on that. I also did some test systems just in the outdoors too. The challenge is keeping the nutrient temp low - also paint the pvc to limit UV degradation. Best of luck to you!

[@aycagurelman]

Great update. Question: How do you clean this system, i saw some using hydrogen peroxide (50%)•diffused with water after each harvest. As you have seasonal and perrinial plants in the system your harvest time will never end.

[@maryneumayer01]

I shut the system down in April and start back up in September. I bleach out the towers and drain piping (remove them and bleach them out on the driveway, 10%), pump, and container as well. I do the same in the greenhouse, which I run from March - Nov.

[@SimplestUsername]

Could you make a video showing the maintenance process? I would like to see how you test for nutrients and pH.

[@maryneumayer01]

Hey Cody, that shouldn't be a problem. I'm doing a flush tomorrow and I'll try to make a quick vid and post it. Chicago is scheduled to get 10-12 inches of snow so it will be an inside day anyway!

[@JoshMurrah]

Joe do you have a suitable place for discourse or collab? I'm building one of these this spring, have a CAD layout built up and I'm going to try my hand at 3D printed wyes to increase the left/right spread, direct water a little better internally, and have tighter towers and save some $. I'd love to get involved in convo with some other DIYers but don't know where to start. Thanks!

[@maryneumayer01]

oh that's cool! I don't have any ideas. Perhaps check the comments and message those who are building their own system - there are many people doing this. Keep me in the loop!

[@MrZeissOne]

Grossartig! Vielen Dank! Have you tried tomatoes, or other vining plants?

[@maryneumayer01]

jein - mit Gurken draußen im Gewächshaus - und eigentlich auch im Keller mit der Kratke Methode - hat drinnen nicht so gut funktioniert. Draußen doch. Fruiting veggies need more nutrient and different lighting for flower and fruit production compared with greens. Also you'd need a structure for support.

[@Q_Bits]

I'm in the process of making a system highly inspired by yours. I love the design and the aesthetics. I was wondering if you're using any kind of spray nozzles inside the pipes or if you just the the 1/4" tube angled towards the one side to drain towards the lean of the tubes. Is there an advantage to using caps on the top? (Apologies if you've answered these questions before!)

[@maryneumayer01]

Hi Christopher - ha, I am always repeating myself in these comments so thanks for being considerate. I would consider less of a lean if I would redo it - if you shoot the nute with the 1/4 in tube from back to front, the nute will naturally drop from one plug to the next. Originally I drilled through the caps on top (also useful to reduce evaporation from the system) and shot the nutrient downward. The back to front was an "upgrade" at some point. No nozzles - I'd be worried about clogging and there is plenty of aeration as the nute drops down the pipe. I don't even use an aerator in the nute container. Best of luck!

[@valeriyapro1]

Thanks for the list of necessities! Can you add, what are you making the nutrients of? What is the recipe?

[@maryneumayer01]

It's in the video. ChilLEd nutrient on KZbin. Best of luck.

[@JoshMurrah]

Hi Joe thanks much for the update! If you were building again with the diffuser-less bulbs, would you skip the vent pipe diffusers?

[@maryneumayer01]

hmm, that's a great question. I still think some channeling would be helpful, but perhaps they are no longer so necessary. Certainly would save time and cost.

[@khairulazrilaziz]

I am amazed with your idea and still having difficulties and controlling the climate. I look forward for your input on the method to control the CO2 and temperature level. What temperature and CO2 levels are ideal?

[@maryneumayer01]

the temp is consistently held around 65F naturally in the basement and I don't measure CO2 levels. I'm not a professional operation just a hobby hydroponic gardner. :-)

[@obviouslytwo4u]

What a great idea fella, would you mind if I gave this a build?, thinking I'd add clay pebbles as not sure what you have added in the pips. Good idea about not using glue, that was a wise and sensible choice.

[@maryneumayer01]

Go for it. Others have replicated this system. Keep reading the comments....

[@davidburt5033]

Weird question: What does it smell like? How do the plants and water / nutrient tank make the room smell? Good? Bad? Fresh? Only when dirty?

[@maryneumayer01]

fair question. no smell really - although the humidity does get to 55-65% though which is amazing in the winter. No need for a humidifier on the first floor unless it gets nasty cold and we are running the furnace a ton. Since I grow outdoors spring/summer/fall I don't have to deal with humidity issues in the basement. In the winter it is enjoyable down there - the air is so fresh!

[@robertzmed4658]

Hello! Very impressed with your system. I would like to build my own as well. How are you as of this moment? How does the basement grow compare to you green house grow? Are you finding the cut off defuser working well for you? Any pest (spider) problems in the basement? Would love an update.Thanks!

[@maryneumayer01]

All good. Cut off diffusers worked well - will continue so when I start up again in September. No spider mites in the house - had them once - you have to eradicate them completely, immediately upon sighting. Don't mess around with those little pests. They ruined my greenhouse end of last summer. Had to basically shut it all down 2 months early. Disaster. I just found some on my mustard greens last week and yanked everything out within a 4 foot radius and sprayed with my home made solution. My rule is nothing comes in from the outside into the basement. That system runs in complete isolation. All germination occurs in the basement and stays in the basement. I brought powdery mildew in from the greenhouse 4 years back and it plagued me for 2 years. It was horrible. Basically had to start my hydro room on fire to get it hot enough to kill the damn stuff. Last winter was mildew free so fingers crossed!

[@sebastianbartolo3658]

Hi joe, i really like your system and would like to implement one similar. could you share some information on the flow rate used for the pump and what fertiliser products you are using and how you monitor the water reservoir conditions??

[@maryneumayer01]

Hi Basti! The pump is dependent on your head (height to pump nute) - I use a Pondmaster Supreme model 5. My nutrient recipe is from KZbinr ChilLED lights - nutrient. I use a pH meter and a TDS meter to monitor my nutrient. I add weekly and flush every 3 weeks. Scroll through the comments to get more questions answered. I often answer the same questions over and over. Best of luck!

[@DanteAlvaradoFromChile]

Your system is awesome, I am building one very similar to yours. But I can't find the "chilled nutrient" you mentioned, could you please guide me where to find it? Thank you, and greetings from South Patagonia, Chile

[@maryneumayer01]

kzbin.infoEUzGFqzW0Vo best of luck!

[@dfrusdn]

I recommend you try coconut husk for your grow medium instead of rockwool

[@gravewalker1632]

Okay...but, are you going to tell us why this is your preference?

[@maryneumayer01]

does it fall apart? I'd be concerned about pieces falling through and causing clogging issues. also does it leach? do they come pre-cut in 1.5 in. x 1.5 inch? What is the bulk cost per? Can you recommend a supplier? Lots of questions. Sorry. Thanks for your time in advance. I don't know anything about coconut husks with hydroponics. :-)

[@dfrusdn]

@@maryneumayer01 the tower.farm guys were using it. I just thought it might be something worth trying if you don't want to accidentally consume rockwool. My experience using it is some of the light coir stuff will fall apart as you mention but the husk fiber hold together much better and does not degrade too quickly

[@danielledrummond4563]

MaryandJoe Neumayer Rockwool isn’t sustainable/compostable and also has particles that you can breathe. But yes the coco coir you will have to filter out more.

[@donk.5730]

@@maryneumayer01 I am going with Cocoanut-Coir - it's organic, holds amazing water content & 'rockwool' is heat expanded rock(mica) , but the chemicals they use before the heat- concerns me. Maybe it's just me. I'll put seeds to sprout in 'cocoanut-coir' -already placed into 2'' round net pots.

[@EditingFun]

I'm thinking of setting up two reservoir systems side by side. One with more nutrients and one with less. That way I can better give each plant what it needs. Is that a good idea, or am I overestimating the degree to which that matters?. Ideally, I'd like a good variety of leafy greens, herbs, and possibly some fruits like strawberries and tomatoes. Every system I've seen on youtube so far only runs with one reservoir.

[@maryneumayer01]

Hi Lane, That would be fine to have 2 reservoirs - just know that it would be double the flushes, etc. Interestingly I did experiment with strawberries in my greenhouse using a nute TDS of around 1200 ppm and I had beautiful berries. I also grow cucumbers with that concentration for years without any troubles. But that is in an outdoor greenhouse and everything grows better in there compared to in my basement with artificial lighting.

[@giad2757]

Great job!!! ❤️❤️❤️ Well done!!! 👍 👍 👍

[@maryneumayer01]

Thanks again!

[@alodelore9597]

Danke für dein Update! Bin gerade dabei dein System als grobe Vorlage für meins zu nutzen und finde es super, wie du alles beantwortest! Eine Frage hätte ich, wieso hast du beim Rücklauf des Wassers diesen Micron Filter? Ist es nicht besser, wenn die Nährstoffe wieder mit in's Wasser gehen? Wird das sonst nicht extrem verdünnt? Thank you very much and have a pleasent christmas and new years eve!

[@maryneumayer01]

Hi - ja gerne. Der Filter ist für grobe Detritus - wie Wurtzeln usw. Die Nährstoffe fließen durch ohne Probleme. Frohe Festtage und einen guten Rutsch wünsche ich dir auch!

[@CyrixLord]

Hi, I have built a smaller version based on your design :) what size pump are you using. I have to get water up 6 feet amd im using a 1000 gph pump and it just trickles water. is the 1/2 inch tube crimped at one end? that's what I'm doing. thanks for the wonderful inspiration!

[@maryneumayer01]

Hi Cyrix, cool! I just replaced the irrigation tubing 2 weeks ago and I put a 90 on the end and went down the side of the end of the framing about a foot. Then I put a ball valve on it and intend to use that as a cleanout. The end of the system tends to calcify and so this will keep that junk from plugging up the lines going to the final towers. As for pump, I am using the pondmaster model 5 and I think that should be more than enough for your setup. They have charts for the height of your head so you can check those out to be sure. There may be some initial leaking from when you put in your connectors but they always fix themselves within a couple of days. Finding the balance between too much pressure and just enough is tricky. Best of luck to you!

[@extendedp1]

Just discovered your videos, I watched the first one, and now this update. Have you considered making another update? I was wondering how the changes you made to the LED’s worked out, and if the reflective backing seemed to make any difference? Thanks for these videos!

[@maryneumayer01]

Hey Bubba! The reflective background seems to be a positive change - doesn't seem to make a huge difference but there seems to be a difference. The backing seems to also channel some of the air from the fan so there is also additional circulation which is very important. The lights are also an improvement too as they decreased my energy needs by about 30% with the same grow rate. 2 weeks ago I had to replace the irrigation tubing and I made a 90 at the end of the line and came down about a foot and closed with a ball valve for an easy clean out. I think that will help with the calcification that was happening at the end of the line and diminishing the flow into the last towers. Thanks for your questions.

[@extendedp1]

@@maryneumayer01 thanks for the reply, I will keep an eye out for updates. Do you have any recommendations for seed suppliers and varieties? Thanks again

[@JoeHawk77]

I wanted to thank you again for this great idea. I've had success with ours as well. It's so nice always having fresh lettuce, spinach and bok-choy. I did have some problem with growing cabbage, cauliflower and broccoli as the roots soon overwhelmed the 1 1/2 in pipe. I tried a simple solution to retrofit one 2 in pipe to grow these. facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10217786979692336&set=a.1562016416467&type=3 I'm in zone 10a and seemed to have luck outside throughout the winter. My worry is heat during the summer. Although we did just survive our first heatwave.

[@maryneumayer01]

cool, thanks for sharing. 2 inch pipe is a great idea for larger rooted veggies!

[@wendytitelman6502]

Thank you so much for your videos. I love your system and am making a smaller version of it. I’ve searched the comments and may have missed the answer to my question. I apologize if so. What is the filter you have set up above your nutrient container that you use to flush the system? Where can I purchase it? Thank you.

[@maryneumayer01]

Hi Wendy - sorry for the long delay. Been busy. I removed the filter since. It's not necessary when the irrigation lines got changed to 1/4 inch from 1/8 inch. They don't get clogged anymore - although I do have a nut sack on the end of the return pipe before the nutrient re-enters the container. That's all the filtration I need. It helps that the pump runs 30 min on and 15 off, because the blast of initial start clears the lines. After several years of operation I have changed the supply and irrigation lines and at the end of the supply line I noticed a lot of buildup like plaque, so I put in a ball valve and flush it out every other month or so. That has solved the problem. Good luck!

[@1skinnypuppy]

Wow awesome

[@maryneumayer01]

Thanks 🤗

[@preetivarghese110]

Hi, thank you for such a detailed video. Could you explain the lighting a little more. I have been looking for the right kind of light source for an indoor vertical garden. Are regular LED lights (like the ones in your video) enough or should I be looking for specific grow lights?

[@maryneumayer01]

Sure thing! If you are growing just greens that this lighting (regular LED light bulbs) are sufficient to marginal. I don't get reds that I do in the greenhouse with the sun, but the plants grow fine. I'm looking for other lighting too - there seem to be some newer LED strips that seem promising but I have not researched much.

[@mateovidela7619]

Thank you so much for Sharing all this information. I am fascinated. May i ask you how much power are you consuming with the light System?

[@maryneumayer01]

yes, at the moment 750w according to my Sense and that averages 20.8% of my monthly electricity use. Luckily I used to run the system at 1.1 KwH but reduced the amount of bulbs by sawing off the plastic diffuser. One of the best improvements so far! Interestingly, I just finished our yearly spreadsheet calculations for our rooftop solar production (year 4) vs. usage and we were able to produce 80% of our yearly electricity needs from our panels. And we updated our heating and cooling system with a Daikin Life residential VRV system so we will be using more electricity for heating with the inverter moving forward. We'll see what happens. :-)

[@masonm600]

Looks like you have a little algae? Any plans to deal with that or it's too small to worry about?

[@maryneumayer01]

too small to worry about. Once the plant grows its leaves, the algae is shaded out. It's interesting where the algae originates. It has to be from the tap water, or the grodan plugs. I get algae growing at school too, in different classrooms and locations even. I think it's present in the tap water.

[@haleyshoaf1046]

This is very cool! Quick question - what type / brand of seeds do you use? And how does your seed starter system work? (i.e. do you use a heat mat, do you use any nutrient solution, or is there anything that you focus on when starting seeds before putting them into the system?)

[@maryneumayer01]

It's a bit tricky - I get virtually all my seeds from Johnny's. Not all varieties work well in my setup. I grow Rex, Rouxai, Panisse, and am experimenting with Theodore and Ilema. It's hard in the greenhouse in the heat of the summer. These seeds are ridiculously expensive and so I collect my own seeds to use. Rouxai and Rex hold up the best. Inside I just start them in rockwool, no nute, in a container sitting in my tray with the other seedlings, which get a bit of diluted nute. But algae grows quickly and the seeds don't germinate well competing with algae, so the small container with the germinating seeds just get H2O.

[@jaduyare]

Awesome! Can these towers be used to grow tomatoes, squashes, etc. or does the diameter have to be much wider to fit the roots or something?

[@maryneumayer01]

wider, and you need plant support, and different lighting unless you are growing outside, which has its own challenges.

[@richielum]

hi! Thanks for your great videos! I was wondering how you think your method of dripping nutrient liquid at the top of slanted tubes compares to an "aeroponic" system with multiple misters installed inside the tubes. it seems that your method is just as effective!

[@maryneumayer01]

Hi Richie, good question. I don't want to deal with blocked nozzles and constantly cleaning out strainers/filters, so I came up with this instead. I might imagine aeroponics could be better for the plants, but I'm happy with what I designed for my purposes. They seem to get plenty of O2 and I don't even have a bubbler in my nutrient container.

[@careersirl971]

Great video! Trying to build something similar but will be in a room with more for traffic. Wondering your thoughts on using spotlights for lighting? Hoping to hang some daisy chained light sockets similar to yours, but from the ceiling using spotlights to shoot a more concentrated beam of light about 10 to 12 feet. Do you know of any resources where I could find out if that is possible?

[@maryneumayer01]

Hey, fixed lighting is tricky when needing to access the plants I would think. I often roll mine out of the way - especially when I removing and replacing once per year after a bleaching, and also when I need to harvest plants. I wonder if they can be put on a rail to slide back and forth? I don't have any good resources as I put this system together myself - but maybe you need to use your phone as a lumen meter to test if you have enough concentrated light with your spotlights. Good luck.

[@quixoticgeeks]

What sort of flow rate do you have for each vertical tower? What pump do you use (link In Google Doc 404's). Really interesting project. Thank you!

[@maryneumayer01]

sorry about the 404 error - I check the doc and it seems fine. Perhaps there was a server glitch: docs.google.com/document/d/1DsThOtZz1AnbvGN08H1S64OluTRDND1hgzJcIYEBP2w/edit?usp=sharing You want enough pump head power to irrigate all of your towers but not so much that there's leaking from the connections. It depends on the size of your system. Downstairs I use Danner Pondmaster Supreme model 5 pump.

[@tacoyaky8872]

I watched your other video with the greenhouse and you said that the greenhouse doesn't produce enough light. Why not set up the light system in the greenhouse instead? What's wrong with simultaneously using LEDs along with sunlight? The sun would only add to the strength of the lights.

[@maryneumayer01]

true - it gets wet in there. water and electricity don't pair well. and I don't want to spend big bucks on waterproof fixtures - plus there's not a ton a room. just not worth it to me. it's a hobby.

[@atticusjpacz2822]

Why did you change the pump timer from 15mins on/off to 30mins on, 15mins off?

[@maryneumayer01]

plants do better

[@tomvondeek]

Hallo! Also das Projekt hat mich so fasziniert, dass ich mir sowas jetzt auch bauen will :D Material ist schon teilweise bestellt, also erstmal nur holz und pvc rohre etc, aber ein 2 fragen zur praktischen Anwendung: Ich möchte den Tower Garden eine Wand entlang bauen... wieviel platz zwischen den türmen, bzw zwischen den Etagen sein? Meine dafür zur Verfügung stehende Fläche ist 1.50m hoch, 4m breit! Desweiteren überlege ich in die Rohre einen Wasser zwischenspeicher zu bauen- das wird direkt in meinem Wohnraum hängen, und da würde ich die Pumpe ungerne nachts laufen lassen (wobei ich mich da bestimmt auch dran gewöhnen kann :D)

[@maryneumayer01]

Grüß Dich Tom! Sorry für die lange Wartezeit. Toll dass du daran arbeitest. Ich versuche dir zu helfen so gut wie ich klann. Die Röhre stehen 18 cm auseinander. Mit der Fläche 1.5mx4m ist mehr als genügend Platz für den Anbau. Was mir gerade unklar ist - was meinst du mit hängendem Wasserspeicher? Ich hab' dir ein paar Fotos geknipst: drive.google.com/open?id=1DSdcnT-B4XHnEebqf0hcrHRf227AoHeE Ich nehme an du meinst für die Bewässerung an der Nacht ohne Pumpe. Aber achte drauf wie schwer das wird wenn du das Container hängst. Ich find's gut wenn der Wasserspeicher gerade neben dem Hydrogarten sitzt. Auch siehst du in den Fotos den Hauptaufbau (alles ist neulich gereinigt und noch auseinander da ich jetzt draußen im Gewächshaus anbaue) und noch einen zweiten kleineren Aufbau - das ist mein Testgarten wo ich experimentieren kann. Noch eine Sache - der Garten ist gedacht an eine Wand zu kommen damit er wenig Platz benötigt - aber da musst du rechnen dass die Beleuchtung auch davor passen muss - d.H. man bräuchte eigentlich ca. 1.5 m von der Wand. Zum Thema Wasserpumpe kann ich mir vorstellen dass sie beim an und ausgehen an der Nacht stören könnte. Der Energieverbrauch ist sehr wenig - es wird nicht schaden wenn die Pumpe einfach duch die Nacht läuft. Ich rechne $1.30 wenn du einen Montat nachts durchlaufen lässt. Viel Glück!

[@jenjen9224]

Hello. Do you have a DIY video or some type of instructions to build this? I'm a single mom of 4 and trying lol. I just had a gardyn system in my cart but before checking out I came to look at more videos trying to figure out a way to build something myself. I love how this is almost like a "wall" of plants. The design is very pretty. Would love to build myself but can't find a diy and I'm new to this lol

[@maryneumayer01]

hey Jen, sorry, I have a parts list in the description but not a build video. unfortunately no time for that. I'd scale down and build with a buddy - maybe share the produce? Good luck.

[@desmondlee3434]

Hi Joe, thanks for sharing this amazing idea of yours. May I ask what is the pipe distance between 2 wye tee edge to edge?

[@maryneumayer01]

yes, edge to edge is 5 1/4. center pipe to center pipe is 7 1/4 (off center). you want at LEAST 8 inches of grow space between plants, and in the greenhouse with natural lighting I have a bit over 9 inches.

[@desmondlee3434]

@@maryneumayer01 thank you 😊👍🏼

[@mimiclausen6533]

Hi. when do you know to flush? Is it because the EU keeps rising? Also when you flush do you throw that water out too, or when finished, simply add nutrient to it? I am very interested in where you learned this stuff. Was there book you followed? Cheers. M

[@maryneumayer01]

Tag Mimi! You can tell the plants aren't happy if you go too long without flushing - their leaves don't grow normally - smaller/tip burn, sie sind einfach unzufrieden. When I flush I keep the nute water for my houseplants, diluted with tapwater at about 50%. Houseplants seem to respond positively. If it's not frozen outside I usually take the flushed water out to give to plants and bushes. For the process, I remove the leftover nutrient by scooping it out. It's usually about 15 gallons. Then I add 15 gallons, dechlorinated, and let the pump run for about an hour. Then I remove that water, and repeat. Then I refill for a third time and fill all they way up, and moderate pH and add nutrient. At this point I hardly need to test as I have my nutrient and pH down amounts nailed down. As for where I learned this stuff - I'm self taught. I've been doing this a s a hobby for many years, and I am science-minded, so I experiment here and there and take notes to help understand outcomes based on my variables. Happy Thanksgiving! (using my Hydrokräuter in the turkey!)

[@naniloar]

i am setting up my own hydroponic system after being inspired by your initial video but my only issue is the T’s and pvc pieces that are laying horizontal across the bottom. The pipe doesn’t fit snug in to the T pieces and won’t hold in place with flex seal either. Have you used any sealant between the bottom pieces to prevent leakage? If not, any guesses as to what can prevent leaking here? Thank you

[@maryneumayer01]

yes, water potable pvc glue

[@gadgetman694]

With your garden being in your basement, do you have any mold problems due to humidity? I was wondering if you had to run a dehumidifier at all?

[@maryneumayer01]

I only run my basement system in the Chicago winter when it's so dry I sometimes still need to humidify my house despite the system running in the basement. If I would run this basement system in the summer, when I need to dehumidify my basement, then this could be an issue. Great question.

[@Paintingtube]

Mary and joe do you guys have any bug problems like vegetable insects? Aphids Etc.

[@maryneumayer01]

not indoors. but outdoors yes. major problem in the greenhouse with spider mite infestations unfortunately. have to catch those little bastards asap and that's tricky. especially when I try to seed my own lettuce varieties. will need to do that outdoors rather than in the greenhouse.

[@RADComputers]

Hey again, so when you're planting the plant directly into the Wye-tee, are you planting it rockwool plug and all? Or are you removing the rock wool from the roots and then planting? I'm having an issue with the lettuce not coming in full in my modified aquaponics setup. The leaves are paper thin, sparse and long, and drooping. I was on a 15on/45off pump cycle and 16-hour light cycle. I've now changed it to a 30on/15off to match yours. But when I reviewed the original 2.0 video, you mentioned you liked the wye-tee because it was the perfect size for the plant plug, but then in this video you said you plant the plants directly in and when you pulled it out, I didn't see a rock wool plug at all, just massive beautiful roots. I also am afraid I'm going to push the rockwool plug in too far and it'll fall down the vertical shaft, which has happened to me twice already. your input and wisdom are appreciated! - Mark

[@maryneumayer01]

Hi Mark, I use rockwool 1.5 inch cubes as my growing medium and after 2 weeks of germinating and sprouting I push the plugs into the wye fitting - it's a snug fit and I've never pushed one through. (although one of my students did - high school freshman boy - so there you go) Don't remove any rockwool - I compost the finished plug with the roots and stem after I remove the leaves to eat. Be sure your pH is between 5.5-6.3 and your keeping your nutrient around 1200 TDS. You may want to use your phone and download a light meter to test your lux (illumination intensity) readings so that your plants are getting enough lighting. I'd recommend to be over 7500 lx to avoid leggy growth. You may need to move your lighting closer. Also, you should have a fan to include airflow for healthy plants (helps with transpiration). You mentioned aquaponics and I just want to verify that you meant hydroponics since aquaponics involves fish instead of liquid nutrient and that's a different ballgame. Good luck!

[@RADComputers]

Joe your expertise has been extremely beneficial. I was able to successfully grow a green onion for around 6 months before it was so obnoxiously large that we decided to compost it and start over 😂 We've not yet figured out how to grow leafy greens. They seem to bolt prematurely, and I think it may be due to the temperature. At what temperature do you keep your basement? Do you need any additional cooling methods aside from the fans you have running?

[@Marco-rn8lh]

Was für Stromkosten hast du so im Monat mit dieser großen Anlage? Echt cool :)

[@maryneumayer01]

Hi - eigentlich nicht so viel als erwartet. Es kommt darauf an, wie viel Strom wir von unsrer Solaranlage erzeugen. Weniger im Dez/Jan wie bei euch. Auch sind die Stromkosten ein drittel so teuer im Vergleich zu Deutschland. (schreibst du aus Deutschland?) Ich habe nur ein paar mal gerechnet und die Kosten sind zwischen 35 und 70 Dollar im Monat. Ich habe genug Köpfe für Nachbarn und Freunde usw. und die spenden, also am Ende sind die Kosten alle bedeckt. MfG, Josef

[@Marco-rn8lh]

@@maryneumayer01 Ah das stimmt, wenn man so viel Salat in so kurzer Zeit hat kann man die alle verschenken 😁 Ja, ich schreibe aus Deutschland und habe so etwas (in klein) auch vor. Dabei bin ich auf deinen Kanal gestoßen und fande die Technik von dir echt super! Grüße Marco aus Deutschland :)

[@acakhil]

Hi Maryand,no need of any hydroponic media to fill inside the Pipe?Can you please explain the type of nutrients and nutrient flow control?

[@maryneumayer01]

hello, I use Grodan plant plugs (1.5 inch) to hold the plants and the nutrient just trickles down the pipe and irrigates each site. The nutrient (watch ChillLed Nutrient on KZbin for recipe) is collected in a pipe on the bottom and runs back to the nutrient container for re-circulation. Use a Pondmaster Supreme Model 5 pump, 30 minutes on and 15 minutes off. Hope this helps!

[@line65]

A question here-can you address humidity? How does growing in your basement affect humidity in your basement/house?

[@maryneumayer01]

it's wonderful in the winter. I don't use a humidifier anymore. In the summer it would be a big problem but I grow in my greenhouse outside then. So it works out perfectly.

[@kidman2006]

I know I asked too many questions already ^_^ Was just wondering if you recommend using single or double sockets so that I get more lumens. I have noticed here you replaced the double sockets with single ones (and hence only 7 bulbs per light fixture, rather than 10). Would you recommend doing this? Also does removing the diffusers help on the long run? Thank you!

[@maryneumayer01]

Hi Andy, no problem - ask away! I find that a total of 7 lights per fixture is enough for good growth of greens. And a big yes on the diffuser removal. My tests showed that there is up to 40% more brightness measured by lumens with the diffusers removed. That's how I was able to reduce the bulbs from 10 to 7 without losing any vegetative quality. And decreasing my energy expenditure.

[@kidman2006]

@@maryneumayer01 Thanks a lot!:)

[@TamaraCZ]

This is amazing. Where I can buy this hydroponic system?Can you please recommend some suppliers?

[@maryneumayer01]

I wish I could. I designed and built it myself. The supply list is in the description.

[@robertzmed4658]

Hi Joe, I have set up my system. have you noticed any smell coming from your open sites or your water? If so, what have you done to eliminate or reduce the smell? Thanks and hope you and the family are safe.

[@maryneumayer01]

Thanks Robert. No smell - never have I had a smell from any of my systems - inside/outside at home or at school. What kind of smell? There must be something in it that's decomposing. Try flushing out your return pipe - maybe there are roots sitting somewhere decaying? Also check your mesh filter bag. Then do a flush and empty completely. Good luck.

[@wg4476]

I am having trouble with starting the 2 week tray nursery. The seeds won't grow in the Rock Wool. How exactly are you starting the 2 week nursery tray? I poke a whole and put the seeds in the Rock Wool and water them using Hydroponic PH solution, but I see virtually no growth coming out of the Rock Wool.

[@maryneumayer01]

Hi WG, could be a couple of things actually. I don't use any special solution to start my seeds - just tap water, which I guess I should technically dechlorinate and drop the pH to mildly acidic but since the germination is not affected I don't bother - keep it simple right? It could be your seed - have you tried germinating in a wet kitchen paper towel to make sure your seeds are viable? Wet the towel and keep it in a plastic baggie to keep damp- don't drown the poor seeds. They can't swim. Perhaps your rockwool plugs are too wet? Different seeds need different temps for proper germination - lettuce likes it cool - like 60ish. Some sources also say lettuce seeds need light but I have not found that to be the case, although I generally expose them to light. Do not use nutrient solution for the seeds - they don't really need nutrient until week 2 and beyond, and you should start out diluted. I struggle with algae when I add nutrient and even when not. Our city water must contain small amounts because I always get it, even when I try to keep the germination tray as sterile as possible. Good luck!

[@eojlin]

(Question/s) Hi, in your other video, you mentioned that you only used 1.5" pipes in your indoor version 2.0 hydroponic system, I'd just like to ask how that is going now. Would you recommend or still use 1.5" pipes in your future projects? Also, would 1.25" (or 40cm outer diameter) pipes do, or is it going to be too tight for the roots? I am thinking of using 1.25" pipes since their PVC fittings (tee, elbow, wye, etc.) are also more compact. TYIA.

[@maryneumayer01]

Hey Buddy - I'd continue to use 1.5 but 1.25 inch would work for quick grow like greens which get pulled out entirely. If you are keeping plants in and clipping leaves, like parsley, basil, mint, dill, etc. then even 2 inch pipe would work better. I have the fittings to replace my pipes for those plants but haven't gotten around to it - I just replace the plants at the halfpoint - around Christmas. There is lag period which is a bummer but I could stagger.

[@eojlin]

@@maryneumayer01 Cool! Thank you very much.

[@Light45]

How do you prevent common problems in a basement caused by humidity? (Mold, for example).

[@maryneumayer01]

During the summer months I shut down and grow outdoors.

[@jahnaiyp5303]

How do you make the light tower??? Is there a video on this?

[@maryneumayer01]

Hi, I just built the wooden structure and used ducting for heating, drilled the holes for the sockets, added an insulator (duct tape), and pushed through the sockets. I used lamp cord to power the sockets. Please see my materials list for the lighting here: docs.google.com/document/d/1DsThOtZz1AnbvGN08H1S64OluTRDND1hgzJcIYEBP2w/edit I put this list in the description of my Version 2.0 video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/oHK4p2iPra6eiZY&ab_channel=MaryandJoeNeumayer Good luck!

[@adamdahlberg4403]

Do you have another update on this? Do you think you could add fish to the system?

[@maryneumayer01]

Hi Adam, perhaps - you would just need to account for the waste the fish produce, and the system would have to be scaled up slowly to produce enough nutrients for the plants. And the plants like acidic and fish like more basic. I started with aquaponics and then switched over to hydro. Fish are great but there's a lot more work involved. I just don't have the extra hours per week. Good luck.

[@nicolasv7521]

Which type of pump do you use? I tried with a 800 gph 10ft high pond pump and half the towers (9 total) wouldn't get water. Now I'm using a 1110 ghp 12 ft high pump and it's so so. Had to use drippers on the end of the 1/4 hose. should of went with a 1/3 hp but I dont like the power consumption.

[@maryneumayer01]

Danner Pond Master Supreme model 5 works great for me.

[@eM_Wu]

I guess the most pressing question is how much electricity does your setup use? What is the cost of it with nutrients etc. I'm guessing not much but the info would be appreciated. Thanks.

[@maryneumayer01]

uses a lot of electricity. solar helps when the sun is shining. 7 towers at 7 15 watt bulbs each. nutrient and rockwool are manageable. pump and fan don't use much.

[@berniemac8413]

MaryandJoe Neumayer so you’re hovering around $53/month (352.8 kilowatts per month at .15 cents a kilowatt) in electricity alone just the for lights. Each tower has 7 15 watt bulbs --> 7x15 = 105 watts per hour There are 7 towers --> 105 watts/hr x 7 towers = 735 watts/hr for all the towers each hour. You have the lights on for 16 hours of each day --> 735 watts/hr x 16 = 11,760 watts / day. On average there’s 30 days in a month --> 11,760 watts you use each day x 30 days = 352,800 watts/month 352,800 watts / 1000watts = 352.8 kilowatts The average price for electricity on the Chicago area is around 15 cents/kilowatt. Hence, 352.8 kilowatts x .15 = $52.92. Which rounds up to $53 in electricity each month just for the lighting.

[@jeffchong5008]

What brand of LED bulbs did you use? Thank you for posting. Looks great.

[@alodelore9597]

Take a look at his first Video of this build.

[@maryneumayer01]

I've moved to these and I like them: Barrina 8FT LED Shop Light Fixtures 100W, 15000LM 6500K Super Bright White, Linkable, with Clear Cover, V Shape LED Tube Lights, T8 LED Ceiling Lights for Garage, Workshop, ETL Listed, 4 Pack

[@rnatior]

Hello. How to keep the plant and its rockwool stay in place during early stage of cultivation since youre not using net pot ? Thank you

[@maryneumayer01]

The grodan plug sits securely in the opening of the fitting.

[@dlpgraphics]

Are you happy with the 1.5" pipe system? I believe you reduced the size from the original 3". Any issues with the smaller pipe?

[@maryneumayer01]

love the 1.5. just an issue with the kale, parsley, etc. with root balls clogging the pipe at around the 6 month mark. At that point it's time to replant anyway. So I run two crops of those in the winter and there are a couple weeks where there's a harvest lull but it's not the end of the world. I have 2 inch pipes and tees but haven't gotten around to replace those 2 towers yet.

[@bhangoo]

If you had to do it again would you go with the 2" pipes instead of 1.5? Thanks for the material list, do you also have the build plans somewhere (I might have missed them), things like spacing between pipes, tees etc. I am going to order the supplies to build one in my garden, I am in California so cold is not an issue most times, I might add a transparent plastic sheet greenhouse around it later. Thanks.

[@donk.5730]

@@bhangoo Hi Barry, looks like Joe may have missed your Q's. If you see his earlier video- the 1st time using 1.5'' pipe, he goes into many details. Good luck... I'm just starting mine this weekend , long overdue. I really appreciate Joe's generousity here. Amazing, Cheers, dk.

[@Paintingtube]

Nice 👍🏽

[@maryneumayer01]

thanks

[@cnolan7577]

I'm sorry if you've already answered this question but I was wondering what kind of pump system you are using. Thanks.

[@maryneumayer01]

Hi Cheryl, it's the Pondmaster Supreme Model 5, thanks for your question.

[@cnolan7577]

MaryandJoe Neumayer thank you! Beautiful system!!! I aspire to have your system set up in my basement some day!

[@ZailCZ]

May I know what nutrient solution do you use that is universal for all the plants you have there?

[@maryneumayer01]

yes, I use the recipe from KZbinr ChilLED grow lights - nutrient

[@caseyguinan7472]

Any suggestions on how to get going? What got you to this point? Books? Sources?

[@maryneumayer01]

sure, see my components list in the description. start with the frame, then do the pipes, and then finish off with the plumbing. Then the lighting. That's the order I'd recommend. Good luck!

[@jasonmorgan75]

Getting ready to build this system (only 6 towers instead of 19). Are you still happy with the 1.5" versus 2"? Are you selling these or eating that many greens?

[@maryneumayer01]

go with the 1.5, and I have extra for family and friends. donations accepted!

[@jasonmorgan75]

@@maryneumayer01 sounds good. What size pump are you using? I made a single tower test system and my little 400gph pump works there but I want to go 6 stacks

[@donk.5730]

@@jasonmorgan75 Hi Jason, Joe mentioned above(I repeat:) pump is: ''Danner Pond Master Supreme-Model #5'', I'm looking into those now.-tx. dk.

[@TrackMasta99]

Anymore news or updates on this? Even a quick tour of it in 2022?

[@maryneumayer01]

yes, I should do another vid - I put a ball valve on the end of the supply line to collect particulate, I downsized, I got rid of the filter and associated piping. I think those were the big ones. Wish there were more hours in the day! :-)

[@TrackMasta99]

@@maryneumayer01 thanks for the updates! Looking forward to a new video

[@claytonmcgalla7392]

How do you connect the 1/4" tube that to the main line that supplies the nute?

[@maryneumayer01]

Hi, they are called barbed tubing couplings, and I like the ones from Farmtek the best.

[@joeguillory9751]

Do you cycle lights on an off?

[@maryneumayer01]

ja, 16 hours on, interrupted, to avoid peak energy times

[@ishfaqurrahman4567]

How do you maintain the light? I mean like do you give the plants light for 24 hrs?

[@maryneumayer01]

16 hours a day off peak electricity times with a timer

[@n2w7n]

Is the pump running in the 30 min on and 15 min off cycle the whole day?

[@maryneumayer01]

genau

[@ammars.h5541]

How long is the day when the water pump to grow the verticals runs the pipes

[@maryneumayer01]

nutrient pump on 30 min and off 15 with a timer

[@alexdiffley7661]

Is there a concern about PVC LEACHING TOXINS INTO THE PLANTS?

[@maryneumayer01]

not based on my research. I've made many, many comments on this topic if you search the comments.