Nutritower Vertical Hydroponic Indoor Garden User Guide

: June 10, 2024
: Nutritower

Table of Contents

Nutritower Vertical Hydroponic Indoor Garden
Product Information
Product Usage Instructions
Seed Starting Guide
Why start from seed?
- SAVE MONEY
- Step by Step
Transplanting Guide
Growing Media
- Here is our 5-step transplanting guide
Documents / Resources

Nutritower Vertical Hydroponic Indoor Garden

Nutritower-Vertical-Hydroponic-Indoor-Garden-PRODUCT

Product Information

The Nutritower is a vertical hydroponic indoor garden that allows you to grow fresh produce in the comfort of your own home. It can accommodate up to 32 plants and uses a renewable germination medium called coco coir, which is generally free from pests, diseases, and mold spores. The Nutritower allows for experimentation with different plant varieties and can be used to grow a wide range of plants, including passion fruit vines, melons, and edible flowers.

Product Usage Instructions

Seed Starting Guide

Starting plants from seed is the best way to ensure that only the strongest and healthiest plants get transferred to the Nutritower. Here are some basic steps to follow:

Step 1 – Before You Begin

Place the coco coir pellets in the germination kit provided with your order. It is recommended to prepare more than 32 pellets as not all seeds are guaranteed to germinate. Coco coir is the preferred germination medium as it is renewable, inert, and generally free from pests, diseases, and mold spores. However, you may also choose to use other seed-starting materials such as Rockwool.

Step 2 – Seed Starting

Moisten the coco coir pellets with water and place one or two seeds in each pellet. Cover the pellets with a plastic dome or plastic wrap to maintain humidity and warmth. Keep the pellets in a warm location with plenty of light until the seeds germinate.

Step 3 – Transplanting

Once the seeds have germinated and the plants have grown a few
leaves, they are ready to be transplanted to the Nutritower. Carefully remove the plants from the pellets and place them in the designated holes in the Nutritower. Fill the tower with nutrient-rich water and monitor the plants’ growth regularly.

Starting from seeds saves money, promotes biodiversity, and allows for experimentation with different plant varieties. It also results in healthier plants with higher nutritional value, flavour, and growth rate. Ultimately, the sense of pride and ownership you will get from growing your own produce is rewarding in so many ways!

Seed Starting Guide

Healthy seeds and seedlings are the foundation of a flourishing Nutritower

Starting plants from seed allows for the best experience with the Nutritower. Not only will you ensure that only the strongest, healthiest plants get transferred, but you can also experiment with many different varieties! Our customers have grown a wide range of plants in the Nutritower, including passion fruit vines, melons, and edible flowers! So have fun experimenting and exploring different types of plants that adapt well to hydroponics. You may be surprised by what you can grow!
This guide is designed to help you understand the basics of seed starting for hydroponics and the Nutritower. We’ve simplified the process to ensure your success on your path to harvesting the freshest homegrown food ever.

Why start from seed?

Here are our top five reasons for starting from seed:

SAVE MONEY

Starting from seeds saves you money! Consider that the average plant started from seed will only cost you time and a few cents for a seed and a seed starting pellet vs seedlings that are far more expensive.

ITS FUN

With all the online stores selling specialty seeds now, the possibilities are endless. Did you know that there are over ten thousand tomato cultivars out there? Half of the fun with gardening is expanding our knowledge and finding new and exciting things to grow! So why not try something like red iceberg lettuce or dragon egg cucumbers and have some fun with it!

PRESERVE BIODIVERSITY

We’ve all heard about GMOs (genetically modified organisms). There is a lot of information out there, both bad and good, but as a whole, we prefer to promote non-GMO cultivation as it helps preserve biodiversity The more we support our small heirloom seed producers the better chance they have of preserving their existence.

HEALTHIER PLANTS

A big upside of growing from seeds is that we can then selectively identify and discard the weaker plants before transferring them to the Nutritower. This helps to ensure that the plants that you grow are stronger and healthier which ultimately impacts their nutritional value, flavour, and even growth rate!

SATISFACTION

Ultimately, the best reason to start from seed is the satisfaction factor. There is no better way to beat the winter blues than planting a bunch of seeds and then watching them grow into vibrant plants. There is something special about harvesting a head of lettuce for your salad or a sprig of mint to garnish a refreshing cocktail. The sense of pride and ownership you will get from this experience is rewarding in so many ways!

Step by Step

Here are some basic steps to starting your seeds that will ensure their success

STEP 1 – BEFORE YOU BEGIN

Place the coco coir pellets in the germination kit provided with your order. Since not all seeds are guaranteed to germinate, it is a good idea to prepare more than 32 pellets. The Nutritower has a capacity of 32 plants; planning ahead with a few extra is always good practice!
Coco coir is our chosen germination medium because it is a renewable byproduct that is inert and generally free from mould spores, insects, and other pests or diseases. You may also choose to use different seed starting materials such as Rockwool. Each type of material has its own advantages and it comes down to personal preference.
In any case, the process is pretty much the same.

STEP 2 – PREPARATION

Pour a few cups of room-temperature water over the germination pellets to moisten them. They will quickly expand from their original shape to form a pod measuring about 4cm (1.5 inches) in height.
For the self-watering germination kit, pour the water directly into the bottom of the tray to just about the bottom of the pellets.
Note: It is best if the pH of the water is slightly acidic. The optimal level is
6.0 while the seeds are germinating and propagating. This can be tested and adjusted by using a simple hydroponics pH kit.

STEP 3 – PLANTING

Place the seeds in the germination pellets with only one type of plant in each one. Use a small pointy object (ideally made of wood like a chopstick – do NOT use a pencil) to ensure that the seeds are sitting at the bottom of the hole in each cube.
For herbs (basil, parsley, mint) put 2-3 seeds in each cube.
For fruits and veggies (cucumbers and tomatoes) put only one seed.
For lettuce and leafy greens, you can put 2 seeds. As they start to germinate, remove the seedling that looks the weaker of the two.
Lettuce that is very thin (or leggy) at the base will not grow well. For the stems, the thicker and shorter, the better. (See step 8) Seedlings will get leggy if they are not getting enough light.

STEP 4 – GERMINATION

Sprinkle some water over the seeds to ensure that they are moist. Place the Nano dome or clear lid on top of the tray and place it in a dark area for 48 hours to stimulate growth. It is important to keep the germination cubes in a warm area
(18˚C – 24˚C). Place the tray in a temperature-controlled environment to keep the seeds from getting cold. Alternatively, you can also use a heating mat.

STEP 5 – RECREATING SUNLIGHT

If you have an advanced germination kit, place the light on top of the Nano dome. After plugging it in, keep the light on for 16-18 hours a day. Check to make sure that the vents on top of the Nano dome are closed. Direct sunlight is also good for the seedlings.
If you do not have an available light, place the tray next to a window that gets a lot of sunlight throughout the day.

STEP 6 – WATERING

Be sure to monitor the germinations pellets regularly and keep them damp. The cubes should not be sitting in still water. If the inside of the clear dome gets too humid, open the vents on the top of the dome to allow some of the condensation to evaporate.

STEP 7 – PROPAGATION

While the seeds are propagating, it’s a good idea to monitor them and to remove the seedlings that look weak or leggy.
Here are examples of good versus bad seedlings: The seedling on the left is short-stemmed, has multiple leaves and roots protruding from the germination pod. The seedlings on the right are leggy and are showing signs of lacking light.

STEP 8 – HARDENING OFF

After approximately 3 weeks, most of the seedlings will be ready for transplanting into the Nutritower.
Hardening off is the process of slowly acclimating young plants or seedlings to a new environment. The process is much faster for transitioning plants to an indoor system instead of outdoors – 48 hours vs 1 to 2 weeks for outside.
On the first day, avoid watering the plants and open up the vents completely to allow more airflow into the dome. If necessary, remove the light to reduce heat build-up. At this stage, many of our growers will use a small fan to create more airflow.
On the second day, place the tray in a cooler area and remove the clear dome completely for 4-6 hours. Keep a close eye on the seedlings – if there
any signs of wilting, replace the dome on the tray and place under the light for a few hours until any sign of wilting is gone. Repeat until the plants are able to withstand being out in the open without wilting – usually, two days is sufficient for indoor plants.

STEP 9 – TRANSPLANTING

Once the seedlings have hardened off, they are ready to be transplanted into the Nutritower.
This guide will help you get your seedlings off to a great start!

Transplanting Guide

The transfer process to the Nutritower plays an important role in ensuring your plants are strong and healthy
Plants, especially seedlings, do not like to be handled or maneuvered too much. Just like you, they can get stressed out and in turn, this can slow down their growth rate and affect overall health. This guide is designed to help you transition your seedlings from their warm, cozy home in a germination tray to their new life in the Nutritower.
Following a few simple steps will help you ensure that this transition is done with the lowest impact possible on the plants. Once this step in the growing process is completed, you are on your way to your first harvest from your Nutritower!

Growing Media

What you grow in is essential

The growing medium is the material that you will use to hold the plant in place within the netting pot (black pot). There are many options at your disposal, and yes, some are better than others for different applications.
The Nutritower is a vertical drip irrigation system, which means that nutrient-rich water is circulated over the roots of the plants at various times to keep the plants hydrated and fed. For this type of system to work optimally, Hydroton (clay pebbles) allows for both aeration and water retention.

Step by Step Transplanting

Here is our 5-step transplanting guide

STEP 1: CLEAN YOUR GROWING MEDIUM

Cleanliness is the number one contributor to the success of your transplants. To clean your growing medium, we recommend placing the material in a colander and rinsing thoroughly under hot water until all of the debris is removed. You may also use a mild soap to ensure that no pathogens remain. Plant Wash by Greentree is a great product for this. If soap is applied, rinse abundantly to ensure no residue remains.

STEP 2: CLEAN YOUR POTS

Using clean pots is equally important to the success of your transplants. New pots may have dust or pathogens collected in storage and if you are resetting your tower it is normal to have some accumulated algae and other residues build up from the previous growth cycle. The pots from your Nutritower are dishwasher safe and can also be cleaned in hot water using mild soap. If washing by hand, make sure to rinse thoroughly.

STEP 3: SELECTING SEEDLINGS

Seedling health is a top contributor to how fast and strong your plants are going to grow. Selecting only the strongest seedlings for your Nutritower will directly equate to how fast you can start harvesting produce!
When selecting a seedling, always try to pick the largest, most well- established ones. We suggest that you always plant a few extras to provide the best options for your Nutritower as it is normal for seeds to vary once they germinate.

The key elements of a healthy seedling:

Well-established true leaves. The true leaves appear after the two seed leaves (cotyledons).
An established root structure should be visible outside of the germination medium.
Overal seedling health – Some diseases are seed born and will only be visible once germination begins.
The same visual inspection can be applied to mould and insect damage, although these issues are greatly reduced in a controlled environment like your home, they can still occur.

STEP 4: TRANSFERRING TO NETTING POTS

In this step, you will transfer your seedlings to the netting pots. We have broken this into a simple process to ensure that each plant is consistently placed for transfer to the Nutritower.
4a ) Clean the netting pot thoroughly. This ensures that no dust, pests, or unwanted pathogens are passed along to our plants.
4b ) Place a bed of substrate into the netting pot.
4c) Place the seedling on the bed of substrate so that the seedling sits about 1 cm (1/2 inch) below the top of the netting pot.
4d) Fill around the seedling to ensure it is securely in place.

STEP 5: PLACING SEEDLINGS IN THE TOWER

With your seedlings secured in the netting pots, you can now safely transfer them to the Nutritower!
As the plants adjust to their new homes they will need a few days to settle in, after which you will start to see rapid growth as the system takes over in caring for your plants!
5a) Place the netting pot inside the outer pot (white hanging pot).
5b ) Place the retainer clip in the cable slot to secure the pot in place.
5c ) Place the watering tube into the retainer clip to secure it in place.
5d ) Adjust the plant’s position so that water is flowing onto the seedling root base.

That’s it! You’re all done!

If you have any questions along the way, reach out to us at any time. We are always happy to help!
CONTACT US:
Support Team
info@nutritower.com
1-800-721-8419
nutritower.com

Documents / Resources

| Nutritower Vertical Hydroponic Indoor Garden [pdf] User Guide
Vertical Hydroponic Indoor Garden, Vertical, Hydroponic Indoor Garden, Indoor Garden
---|---