The Mechanics of Vertical Farming: Understanding the Hydroponic Tower System
What is a Hydroponic Tower Garden? A vertical garden, commonly referred to as a tower garden , uses a soil-less growing method called hydroponics to cultivate plants, herbs, vegetables, and fruits. Unlike traditional gardening, where seeds are planted in soil and roots absorb water from the surrounding dirt, a hydroponic system supports the plant base and roots using net pots. The setup is a tall cylinder with a reservoir tank at the base. A water pump circulates nutrient-rich water from the reservoir to the top of the tower. The water then drips down, flowing over the exposed roots inside the tower before returning to the reservoir to be pumped back up. This continuous, closed-loop system highlights one of the key advantages of a hydroponic tower : incredible water efficiency, using up to 95% less water than conventional farming. Aeroponics: A Subset of Hydroponics This method of growing is often more accurately described as aeroponics , which falls under the umbrella of hydrop...