I'm just starting out with this myself. Great to hear that like me, you are still learning and fantastic to hear that you say it is a viable process. Totally agree.
Wow, this is the most simple effective design I've seen. I have seen the slit heat dowel method. This hole heat dowel method seems easier to form the pockets with less heat time and less tearing risk. As mentioned, the tower remains more rounded than the slit method. I love it!
This is really wonderful. I liked your process and crisp narration, which greatly helped in understanding about vertical planting in a short span of time. Thanks for sharing
Super video Brent! I fab'd my latest vert tower just like you show on this video. I am trying to sucessfully use it as a NFT tower. Working good so far! Thanks
Good day.. how often do you change your rice hulls..like your system... I live in the Philippines and am limited on what's there.. but have a shit pot of rice hulls..thanks
After one growing season or up to a year. You can pile them up after and let the weather rinse them regularly for a long period of time then partially use again with fresh.
Hello there sir, I am just wondering if the ppm of the strawberry is the same ppm as the lettuce? Do you change the nutrient of strawberry when it's the flowering stage?
@@C3Voyage Awesome bud thanks I'll be trying this because it looks very interesting. What advice would you give if I am going to plant chive with regards to the spacing ?
@@C3Voyage good point but the 4 inches space you spoke about in the video seemed very reliable regarding the switching up of crop top If I remember correctly. In terms of the chive/onions do they still get big in size with that spacing 4 inches I mean?
@@Mike-xt9fm Never really big, but I didn't put enough work into this platform for performance--watering levels, types of medium, etc. I think it has great potential though.
Question: Skipping a plant - does that build up algae/fungus inside of the unit because of light access? Also, I couldn't see for sure - is this schedule 40 or 20 PVC? If 40, do you think we could use 20?
Good questions and I'm just going to answer directly ok. Algae needs light so it'll only be on the surface if the surface can't dry out. It's topical plant life. Mine tend to dry out between the water cycles. There are all kinds of fungus and good fungus is in everything in some form. It's part of an integral growing system pants thrive on. There can be troublesome fungus, but I'm thinking your questions are arising from user-caused issues so none to worry about. I think the small holes skipped is the same as the surface area of any container gardening. It depends on how saturated you keep it, and to blow your mind even more, algae doesn't hurt plants. It can clog up some simple hydro systems, but really, it's an aversion we have. The 4" towers are constructed of the thinner PVC (sewer lines). I hope that helps Daniel! All the best on your growing buddy.
Just wondering, why don't you use net pots and forego potting soil all together? I'd like do a similar system and I'm trying to figure out exactly how to mold the PVC to hold a 2" net pot.
I believe you're speaking of flowing water over the roots and nothing else?? Sort of a vertical NFT?? If so, I've seen people try it time and time again unsuccessfully. With a wicking medium, there's no problem because all the medium is saturated. If you figure it out, I'd surely love to see ok.
Hi sir, I would like to aks you some questions? Why do you make roles? In other channels the people make just slices not roles. How much watts has your heater? And how the system works? I mean, inside the pipe, how the water flows from top. Do you use any kind of sprayer? Thank you!
I make it this way so nothing bends into the pipe. If PVC bends in, there's restrictions in putting in and removing the grow medium (aged rice hulls for me). I grow in medium so I can plant a seed directly into the tower instead of a transplant. I haven't taken on the challenge of growing water only (trickle-down) in towers (hydro). I might in the future. It's just too simple to use growing medium and it works great just putting water in the top. In this playlist are a few ways I water top down: ruclips.net/p/PLyTv0Nr3KOXkxf6DY_YC9CfqmRrhjuG38 This is my exact heat gun showing watts at the 2 settings: www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00004TUCV/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Hydroponic Gardening & More with Brent -Hi from Maryland, Brent! This playlist has 14 "private " links we cannot see. Would love more info about how to grow in this beautiful vertical tube, what medium, what plants grow best, and how to water. Thanks!
Hi Brent! Thank you for this wonderful video! I have been looking for how-to of vertical NFT rain tower that is not complicated and I found yours. I was really in awed! Bit question here, with the 3/4 inch hole - what size of pot did you use? I am using 2 inch pot.
These were filled with rice hulls, a media based grow. However, I'm certain it would work with net cups as well. Off top of my head, use smallest net cup you can find with a dowel and hole saw to match.
thanks for the reply. :-) so, the size of hole saw equals the net cup. Does hot air gun will not affect the size? or should I use a bit smaller hole saw so the net cup will fit?
That's why I said dowel to match. I'm not sure if you'd need to go a little smaller or not. I'd use a sample pipe to test it out. Once you got it down, it's a done deal. : O)
Jo Erlinda Yabut, I have found with towers.. I did the "slit" method 2" wide slit. Heat it up and used a clean/empty coke bottle. I have my bottle tape at the point where I stop pushing it into the heated plastic. 2" net cup drops right in. I saw this other guy use a piece of 2" x 1" wood, rather than a coke bottle. The trick with this is not to over heat the plastic as it tears pretty easily.
Hi Brent, So, if you wanted to you could take the heat gun to your end caps and form it around a baseball or softball. Have you tried growing corn in the vertical grow tubes? Cheers, Bill
+William “Bill” Walter Bill, more details on the baseball idea. Then what? I haven't tried growing corn in the tubes. My concern is the root mass would be too big. I like the thought and challenge of it. Brent
Heat gun your end caps.... for a rounded look that will be sure to drop the liquid dead center back into the gutters. Drill as normal for net cups or individual holes. More for a stylistic look but also functional.
+William “Bill” Walter I thought that's what you were referring to and it's a great idea. It only needs a very small bend downward and it should allow me to remove the tube to take to market (an idea in the works). Thanks so much for the idea brother. Brent
very good but i didnt understand why the pipe did u made last year didnt do good is that becouse the pockets inside prevent water to arrive roots?or wht
Last year's pipes worked great. In fact, probably a little better than these because they were shorter and not as many growing points. But, they are more difficult to make, harder to clean out, and grow less plants. Brent
I don't believe the shorter ones are better for the overall objective. By the time I used these, temps were high for lettuce so there was increased evaporation and I didn't provide enough of a water flow. I've got a new pipe coming that will optimize the towers (I hope). It's using these existing pipes similar to the brassica towers I made. Stay tuned. No iceberg grown in a while. Brent
Add coco/peat to bottom most hole, put in plant, fill to next hole and tamp down to set coco/peat onto plant at bottom hole. Add more to next hole and repeat till you get to top. Water from top down. I use my PVC watering system. Brent
It shouldn't come out. I water 3x day during spring. Look for wilting and if so, water more. Also, use a water soluble fertilizer often. Fertilizer is very important. Brent
Thanks, man! We are doing a student research project and this is really helpful. My question is, can the holes be made larger? Obviously we'll need a bigger drill bit but have you used a larger hole size? Also, you're only heating the bottom half of the hole and stretching that so that you can clean it easier, right? Thanks again.
Yes! Make them suckers bigger if you like. If it makes spacing difficult, go to 6" pipe vs 4" pipe. I only heat the bottom to ensure that the inside is completely round and doesn't have pipe bent inwards. This helps with cleanout and gives you more media for roots to grow into. Might help some with water flow as well. Ask anything you like as you guys proceed ok. Have fun you guys! Brent
I have a new video coming up VERY soon. Likely within a week. It'll be called something like "Hydroponic Dutch Buckets (Modified)". What type of hydroponics are you wanting to get into? Drip, DWC, Kratky, NFT?
I just started a my hobby...i had start with aquaphonic but lake of knowledge and not study also couldnt find any help from facebook or youtube i stopped doing aquaphonic, now almost one month i changed to hydroponic but here also look like same...most of the people just want to showoff in youtube that they had succeed, nobody tell what is the tips behind of succeed... tats why maybe this hydroponic also i have to leave and choose my other hobby, I ma using NFT,
Well, Haroon, you gotta search RUclips a little more. There are folks out there who share their stuff. I am one of them. I will also answer any questions your have, but I don't have experience with NFT. With me, it's simple. Mix nutrients correctly and deliver to plants in a drip irrigation system. One pass over plants is easiest. This is called flow-to-waste. Recirculating requires more work to keep the nutrients at the correct levels. It is some work with keeping ph and ppms correct. Ask anything you want, but be specific with your questions! I'd be happy to work with you. Brent
Thanks a lot Brent, actually i m totally new in this, i dont know anything about this hydro or aqua, i just watched few videos and i got interest but in the start i got problem cause as i dont have even basic knowledge, i started with aquaphonic and now doing the hydrophic, sure i have lot of question and if i can have you email addres that will be more easy for use to communicate, my email address is bismahydro@yahoo.com
![How To Build A Vertical Hydroponic System: 4 Tower DIY Hydroponic Garden [Part 2] The Towers](/img/1.gif)
I'm just starting out with this myself. Great to hear that like me, you are still learning and fantastic to hear that you say it is a viable process. Totally agree.
Best of luck!
Wow, this is the most simple effective design I've seen. I have seen the slit heat dowel method. This hole heat dowel method seems easier to form the pockets with less heat time and less tearing risk. As mentioned, the tower remains more rounded than the slit method. I love it!
I'm glad you like it!
Thanks for the details.
This is really wonderful. I liked your process and crisp narration, which greatly helped in understanding about vertical planting in a short span of time. Thanks for sharing
Glad you liked it B! Thanks for the kind words.
Thanks. You've inspired me to try vertical. 🙂☘🌲
Go for it!
Super video Brent! I fab'd my latest vert tower just like you show on this video. I am trying to sucessfully use it as a NFT tower. Working good so far!
Thanks
+buckmaster Very cool. Love to see it sometime Mark.
Brent
very good idea for make it hole,,,and look clean and easy...thanks
:O)
Good day.. how often do you change your rice hulls..like your system... I live in the Philippines and am limited on what's there.. but have a shit pot of rice hulls..thanks
After one growing season or up to a year. You can pile them up after and let the weather rinse them regularly for a long period of time then partially use again with fresh.
Great video Brent!
Thanks Denise! I enjoyed growing vertically. :O)
love this idea, will give it a try. thank you
+Project DORTON Sure Dorton. Will look for your video.
Brent
Love your video. I used to live in AR for 15 years. Love your AR razorback shirt too.
Thanks Nghia! I've been here since '92 and I guess I'll stay here now. :O)
Great video. Thanks for sharing!
+Chris Whiteside Thanks Chris!
Brent
Hello there sir, I am just wondering if the ppm of the strawberry is the same ppm as the lettuce? Do you change the nutrient of strawberry when it's the flowering stage?
No changes. Same for all veg throughout grow.
Nice work. hope soon I can implement it
Good luck.
So up tell did they work..would like to know the pros and the cons... just so I don't make to many mistakes.. thanks again
Oh yeah, they work. Grew lettuce, onions, greens, and more.
That was great I wish you long life
Исабек Ибраимов Thank you.
Hi can please tell me about the heat gun that you used thanks
The one I use now is in my store under microgreens: www.amazon.com/shop/hydroponicgardeningmorewithbrent
What kind or size of net cups do you use with the 3/4” holes?
None.
That's Good product.
Thanks Seigo!
Brent
Brilliant tutorial. Can this tower be used for hydroponics?
It sure can. :O)
5:00 genius idea with the string. Better than using a set square on a table anyway
:O)
hi! very inspiring video. i would like to know what is the water & plant ratio? say for 100 cups how much water should be in the water reservoir?
I've never really considered it.
How do you give nutritions ? That is filling up with a rice medium and giving a drip on top?
Yes, hydroponic solution.
Excellent video bud, one question though because I'm looking Into doing something similar. Did you Have soil in the pipes or water ran through them ?
Water, with soluble fertilizer, dripped from top through a mix (aged rice hulls and peat) if I recall correctly.
@@C3Voyage
Awesome bud thanks I'll be trying this because it looks very interesting. What advice would you give if I am going to plant chive with regards to the spacing ?
@@Mike-xt9fm I think just about as close as you'd like, but keeping in mind that you may change to something else. Real clear, eh? :O)
@@C3Voyage good point but the 4 inches space you spoke about in the video seemed very reliable regarding the switching up of crop top If I remember correctly. In terms of the chive/onions do they still get big in size with that spacing 4 inches I mean?
@@Mike-xt9fm Never really big, but I didn't put enough work into this platform for performance--watering levels, types of medium, etc. I think it has great potential though.
Question: Skipping a plant - does that build up algae/fungus inside of the unit because of light access? Also, I couldn't see for sure - is this schedule 40 or 20 PVC? If 40, do you think we could use 20?
Good questions and I'm just going to answer directly ok. Algae needs light so it'll only be on the surface if the surface can't dry out. It's topical plant life.
Mine tend to dry out between the water cycles. There are all kinds of fungus and good fungus is in everything in some form. It's part of an integral growing system pants thrive on. There can be troublesome fungus, but I'm thinking your questions are arising from user-caused issues so none to worry about. I think the small holes skipped is the same as the surface area of any container gardening. It depends on how saturated you keep it, and to blow your mind even more, algae doesn't hurt plants. It can clog up some simple hydro systems, but really, it's an aversion we have. The 4" towers are constructed of the thinner PVC (sewer lines). I hope that helps Daniel! All the best on your growing buddy.
you could cover it up with pandex that back and white film to cover the net slot and bam algae/ fungus prevented.
Just wondering, why don't you use net pots and forego potting soil all together? I'd like do a similar system and I'm trying to figure out exactly how to mold the PVC to hold a 2" net pot.
I believe you're speaking of flowing water over the roots and nothing else?? Sort of a vertical NFT?? If so, I've seen people try it time and time again unsuccessfully. With a wicking medium, there's no problem because all the medium is saturated. If you figure it out, I'd surely love to see ok.
Hi sir,
I would like to aks you some questions? Why do you make roles? In other channels the people make just slices not roles. How much watts has your heater? And how the system works? I mean, inside the pipe, how the water flows from top. Do you use any kind of sprayer?
Thank you!
I make it this way so nothing bends into the pipe. If PVC bends in, there's restrictions in putting in and removing the grow medium (aged rice hulls for me). I grow in medium so I can plant a seed directly into the tower instead of a transplant. I haven't taken on the challenge of growing water only (trickle-down) in towers (hydro). I might in the future. It's just too simple to use growing medium and it works great just putting water in the top.
In this playlist are a few ways I water top down: ruclips.net/p/PLyTv0Nr3KOXkxf6DY_YC9CfqmRrhjuG38
This is my exact heat gun showing watts at the 2 settings: www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00004TUCV/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Hydroponic Gardening & More with Brent -Hi from Maryland, Brent! This playlist has 14 "private " links we cannot see. Would love more info about how to grow in this beautiful vertical tube, what medium, what plants grow best, and how to water. Thanks!
Hi Brent! Thank you for this wonderful video! I have been looking for how-to of vertical NFT rain tower that is not complicated and I found yours. I was really in awed! Bit question here, with the 3/4 inch hole - what size of pot did you use? I am using 2 inch pot.
These were filled with rice hulls, a media based grow. However, I'm certain it would work with net cups as well. Off top of my head, use smallest net cup you can find with a dowel and hole saw to match.
thanks for the reply. :-) so, the size of hole saw equals the net cup. Does hot air gun will not affect the size? or should I use a bit smaller hole saw so the net cup will fit?
That's why I said dowel to match. I'm not sure if you'd need to go a little smaller or not. I'd use a sample pipe to test it out. Once you got it down, it's a done deal. : O)
Thank you so much Brent! I am so excited to do this. :-)
Jo Erlinda Yabut, I have found with towers.. I did the "slit" method 2" wide slit.
Heat it up and used a clean/empty coke bottle. I have my bottle tape at the point where I stop pushing it into the heated plastic. 2" net cup drops right in.
I saw this other guy use a piece of 2" x 1" wood, rather than a coke bottle. The trick with this is not to over heat the plastic as it tears pretty easily.
Hi Brent,
So, if you wanted to you could take the heat gun to your end caps and form it around a baseball or softball.
Have you tried growing corn in the vertical grow tubes?
Cheers,
Bill
+William “Bill” Walter Bill, more details on the baseball idea. Then what?
I haven't tried growing corn in the tubes. My concern is the root mass would be too big. I like the thought and challenge of it.
Brent
Heat gun your end caps.... for a rounded look that will be sure to drop the liquid dead center back into the gutters. Drill as normal for net cups or individual holes. More for a stylistic look but also functional.
+William “Bill” Walter I thought that's what you were referring to and it's a great idea. It only needs a very small bend downward and it should allow me to remove the tube to take to market (an idea in the works). Thanks so much for the idea brother.
Brent
Great method for creating the holes. Why are you using soil in aeroponics system?
Larry Johnson I use rice hulls in a hydroponic drip system. Never attempted aeroponics.
I'm confused. The towers are for hydroponics?
Larry Johnson For me, yes. Doesn't have to be though.
Hello good day so do you use net pots or what type of growing material do you use for the holes
jerid gooding Hi! I have used rice hulls in them seeding directly into the holes, but I'm trying something different in 2018.
Hydroponic Gardening & More with Brent ok was wondering if i can use 2 inch net pots for the holes
jerid gooding Sure, if the hole is right size.
very good but i didnt understand why the pipe did u made last year didnt do good is that becouse the pockets inside prevent water to arrive roots?or wht
Last year's pipes worked great. In fact, probably a little better than these because they were shorter and not as many growing points. But, they are more difficult to make, harder to clean out, and grow less plants.
Brent
Great that mean they were better as alone pipe with reservoir?
Did u grew isberg littuce
I don't believe the shorter ones are better for the overall objective. By the time I used these, temps were high for lettuce so there was increased evaporation and I didn't provide enough of a water flow. I've got a new pipe coming that will optimize the towers (I hope). It's using these existing pipes similar to the brassica towers I made. Stay tuned.
No iceberg grown in a while.
Brent
thx for reply i ll be dtaying tuned can i have yr facebook account if u please im trying to build one wanna take yr openion
if I use Coco peat inside the pipe then how to plant sampling and how to water them sir....
Add coco/peat to bottom most hole, put in plant, fill to next hole and tamp down to set coco/peat onto plant at bottom hole. Add more to next hole and repeat till you get to top. Water from top down. I use my PVC watering system.
Brent
do Coco peat do not come out from the hole sir.... and for how much time per day we have to water the plants sir.....
It shouldn't come out. I water 3x day during spring. Look for wilting and if so, water more. Also, use a water soluble fertilizer often. Fertilizer is very important.
Brent
thanks sir....
Thanks, man! We are doing a student research project and this is really helpful. My question is, can the holes be made larger? Obviously we'll need a bigger drill bit but have you used a larger hole size? Also, you're only heating the bottom half of the hole and stretching that so that you can clean it easier, right? Thanks again.
Yes! Make them suckers bigger if you like. If it makes spacing difficult, go to 6" pipe vs 4" pipe. I only heat the bottom to ensure that the inside is completely round and doesn't have pipe bent inwards. This helps with cleanout and gives you more media for roots to grow into. Might help some with water flow as well. Ask anything you like as you guys proceed ok. Have fun you guys!
Brent
you dont have any new video about how to control PH and PPM...? as i m new in hydroponic i dont know how to setup these all for growing the plants
I have a new video coming up VERY soon. Likely within a week. It'll be called something like "Hydroponic Dutch Buckets (Modified)".
What type of hydroponics are you wanting to get into? Drip, DWC, Kratky, NFT?
I just started a my hobby...i had start with aquaphonic but lake of knowledge and not study also couldnt find any help from facebook or youtube i stopped doing aquaphonic,
now almost one month i changed to hydroponic but here also look like same...most of the people just want to showoff in youtube that they had succeed, nobody tell what is the tips behind of succeed...
tats why maybe this hydroponic also i have to leave and choose my other hobby,
I ma using NFT,
Well, Haroon, you gotta search RUclips a little more. There are folks out there who share their stuff. I am one of them. I will also answer any questions your have, but I don't have experience with NFT. With me, it's simple. Mix nutrients correctly and deliver to plants in a drip irrigation system. One pass over plants is easiest. This is called flow-to-waste. Recirculating requires more work to keep the nutrients at the correct levels. It is some work with keeping ph and ppms correct. Ask anything you want, but be specific with your questions! I'd be happy to work with you.
Brent
Thanks a lot Brent,
actually i m totally new in this, i dont know anything about this hydro or aqua, i just watched few videos and i got interest but in the start i got problem cause as i dont have even basic knowledge, i started with aquaphonic and now doing the hydrophic,
sure i have lot of question and if i can have you email addres that will be more easy for use to communicate,
my email address is bismahydro@yahoo.com
Sent email.
what water pump you using?
I believe it was my Ecoplus 396 then. Since the no-weed garden was added, I switched to the Hydrofarm 1000 in the greenhouse.
Brent
Thanks for the video. What kind of medium do you put in the tower ?
Here's my vid on it: ruclips.net/video/kVyCaLjBtPo/видео.html
Can be cheap potting soil or a peat blend too.
Brent
You can get a good heat gun from Harbor Freight for $9.99
Half of what I paid!
I keep reading (on the web) ppl talk about ' Food Safety' issues if using PVC pipe - is that really a concern - - or just a paranoid thingy ???
I always say people should do their own research and make up their own minds. You'll never find consensus on anything.
You didn't add watering system to your planter
The planters are in action in several other videos so they are getting water and nutrient. Ask anything!
Brent