Seven Skills to Improve Your Vertical Hydroponic Tower Operation

People are beginning to realize that there is not much land in the world for people to grow crops and are gradually exploring all possible ways to grow crops. Vertical hydroponic towers are one of the more accepted approaches. The vertical hydroponic tower model is relatively easy to understand both In the literal and in terms of the intuitive structure. 

However, it's not enough to successfully start your own vertical hydroponic tower growing. You still need to master a few key skills. Whether you're a hobbyist who wants to try growing your own or a grower who wants to run a commercial operation, understanding these key skills will make it easier for you to navigate this new-style growing model.

Here are seven operation skills for vertical hydroponic tower planting model that growers should know .

skill 1 : Preference should be given to indoor growing

It is a disputed problem that whether vertical hydroponic towers are better placed outdoors or indoors. Placed them outdoors doesn’t seem to be much of a problem. However, in practice ,we are more likely to suggest moving the hydroponic tower gardening indoors . there are four reasons for this advice .

1) Tower placed indoors allow you to have a continuous green supply year round , seamlessly transition from one season to the next . even in winter , you can enjoy fresh vegetables . because you can tailor the growing conditions for the crops to meet their needs. If the light is insufficient, you can use led grow light to supplement the missing lighting . Likewise ,HVAC can be used to adjust the insufficient heating and the stagnant ,sweltering air indoors.

2) Tower placed indoors, the crops you grow are protected from the vagaries of the natural environment .and your harvest will not be affected.

3) Tower placed indoors, you can harvest more ,which is more in line with expectation of commercial operations. And the quality of harvested vegetable products generally is superior to those grown outdoors.

4) Tower placed indoors, you can even grow some crops that are not suitable for growing in that location.

skill 2 : Choose reusable equipment whenever possible 

Selecting reusable equipment is key to reducing the cost of long-term continued farming running. when building your own vertical hydroponic tower growing room , there are some equipment you need to purchase to improve the operation of whole growing system.for example,

1) Irrigation devices. for vertical hydroponic tower model , mineral nutrients are supplied by water. So this model requires a proper irrigation system that delivers water and nutrients evenly to all plants, becoming a microcycle of nutrient transport.

2) HVAC . an outstanding heating, cooling and ventilation solution can make your indoor growing space more productive. HVAC is a system that integrates heating, ventilation and air conditioning. It is mainly used to regulate the circulation of air between indoor and outdoor areas. The use of HVAC in vertical hydroponic tower growing rooms allows crops to be grown at optimum temperature, humidity, and without suffocating the plants at all times.

3) LED grow light. If your vertical hydroponic tower system is outdoors, the ancient idea of using  staggered layers is perfectly feasible. If it's indoors, providing plenty of sunlight can be a challenge even if the vertical hydroponic tower garden rooms have skylights. because not only will the crops block each other-just as the upper crops shade the lower crops, but the towers will also be shaded each other due to the movement of sunlight. Proper led grow lights can well solve the problem of mutual shading of vertical hydroponic towers.

4) Pest control. The use of some pest control equipment can be physically controlled to reduce the damage of pests to planted crops, thus producing green and pollution-free vegetables.

These devices serve as the primary and frequently-used equipment for this planting mode. Its recyclability means a lot to growers. If growers have to buy it again every time they start a new growing cycle, the cost of the equipment will be very large and unaffordable for them. The practice of this pattern will also become meaningless.

skill 3 : Different crops, different growing periods, give different care

For different crops planted on vertical hydroponic towers, the conditions required to grow for them may be different. Even for the same crop, there are different growth needs in different growing periods.So if you are running a vertical hydroponic tower project, it's best to tailor the growth conditions to the needs of the crop.  Take the lighting condition for example , the spectrum applied to hydroponic strawberries is not the same as that applied to hydroponic lettuce, and likewise, the spectrum applied to the vegetative growth phase of strawberries should be different from that applied to the fruit phase of strawberries.  Considering the lighting cost, it is advisable to choose the horticulture lighting solution with the best overall performance when choosing led grow lights to replace sunlight or supplement lighting.

skill 4 : Choose suitable vertical hydroponic tower frame

There are a number of vertical hydroponic tower frames on the market. and many plantation enthusiasts like to do it themselves to meet their own needs. These frames can be roughly categorized into the following three common structures: vertical structure, vertical dislocation structure, and A-type structure.

If the vertical dislocation structure and A-type structure are meant to stagger the plants between the top and bottom of the tower so that the lower plants can get enough sunlight to photosynthesize, then the application of LED grow lights can make the grower not have to worry about this problem at all. A vertical hanging led grow light Horti-tube of atop lighting company is just parallel to the vertical hydroponic tower.Both upper and lower crops have an equal chance of getting plenty of light. 

Growers can get rid of these two frames, which take up more space, and opt for the simple one- the vertical structure that expands the number of hydroponic towers that can be accommodated per unit of space.

skill 5 :  Avoid crops that heavily attract pest

Connecting with nature can ease mental and emotional imbalances like stress, anger, and fear. Spending time in green spaces also helps us physically by reducing our blood pressure, heart rate, muscle tension, and the production of stress hormones. But if you're growing crops that are prone to attracting pests, staying in such a growing space could be more boring than relaxing.

skill 6 : start with the easier crops before moving on to the more difficult ones.

It is better for growers start with the easier crops before moving on to the more difficult ones .There are many crops suitable for vertical hydroponic towers, such as lettuces, herbs, leafy Greens, strawberries, basil, swiss chard, kale, spinach etc. Starting with a crop that is easy to grow successfully will help to enhance the confidence of the growers in the subsequent planting.

skill 7 : Be patient. don't be so nervous 

The growth of crops has a certain process. Before starting your project, you need to have such a psychological expectation. It is unwise act wantonly just because there is no obvious change in a short time, especially for those who are new to planting or have no experience in the field at all. Of course, regular observation is also essential.

Vertical hydroponic towers allow you to grow more produce in a small indoor space. It is also ideal for urban farming. So far at least ,it is one of the more suitable choices to deal with the land crisis in the future.