How To Build Hydroponic Vertical Gardens: Your Guide

Close up of lettuces in a row on decorated vertical garden wall idea.

If you’re looking for a way to grow fresh produce in a small space, hydroponic vertical gardens could be the perfect solution for you.

With vertical hydroponics, you can grow a variety of fresh foods using less space than traditional gardening methods require.

And, with the hydroponic method, you don’t need to use soil – which can be pretty messy and expensive (especially for those on a budget).

What are Hydroponic Vertical Gardens?

Hydroponic vertical gardens white wall structure with colourful lettuces and salad leaves grown inside.


Hydroponic vertical gardens are a way to grow plants upwards and without soil where essential mineral nutrient solutions are supplied via water. Vertical hydroponic systems specifically facilitate plant growth in a vertical orientation, optimising space and nutrient delivery.

I recently started with hydroponic vertical gardening because I was finding traditional gardening expensive and time consuming. Soil tended to get everywhere, so I was spending a lot of time tidying up!

As a result, I decided to put together this guide so others can discover more about hydroponic vertical gardening. I’ll be looking at the process from beginning to end – from designing to building your very own hydroponic vertical garden.

I’ll discuss how to develop the structure, to irrigation best practices, nutrient delivery and of course maintenance. Whether you’re new to gardening or an experienced green thumb, this guide will give you the information you need to create a thriving hydroponic vertical garden.

Table of Contents

Hydroponic Vertical Gardens: Understanding Hydroponics

Ok, let’s get started by taking a closer look at hydroponics.

The key is in the word: “hydro” – a prefix that means water. So, hydroponics is a method of growing plants without soil, using a nutrient-rich water solution instead.

This technique has gained popularity in recent years due to its ability to produce fresh produce in small spaces, making it an ideal choice for those living in apartments or with limited outdoor space.

Basics of Hydroponic Systems

Hydroponic systems come in various forms, but they all share the same basic principles.

In a hydroponic system, plants are grown in a soilless medium, such as peat moss, coconut coir, or perlite. The plants are then fed with a nutrient-rich water solution that is circulated through the system.

Why vertical hydroponics?

Because this is a popular method of growing your own food, where plants are grown in stacked layers, using less space than conventional horizontal gardens.

A hydroponic vertical garden can also be referred to as a hydroponic tower garden. These gardens can be grown indoors or outdoors, and they can be illuminated with fluorescent or LED grow lights.

The Main Types of Hydroponic Systems

Below is a list of the major types of hydroponic systems that are available for you to use:

  1. Deep water culture (DWC) is a hydroponic method where plants are suspended above a nutrient solution, allowing their roots to grow freely in the oxygen-rich water.
  2. Nutrient film technique is where a thin film of nutrient solution continuously flows over plant roots, providing them with nutrients while maintaining oxygenation. This method means that the roots have access to both water and nutrients while also receiving ample oxygen, promoting healthy growth and efficient nutrient absorption.
  3. Drip irrigation is a method of watering plants by applying water directly to the base of each plant through a network of tubes or pipes with emitters. This efficient technique reduces water waste by delivering water directly to the roots where it’s needed most.
  4. Ebb and flow is also known as flood and drain, and is where nutrient solution periodically floods the plant roots before draining away. This cyclic process ensures roots receive ample nutrients and oxygen while preventing waterlogging.
  5. Aeroponics is a soilless growing technique where plant roots are suspended in the air within a chamber, and a nutrient solution is misted onto them at regular intervals. This method promotes rapid growth and efficient nutrient absorption due to the direct exposure of roots to oxygen and nutrients.

Each type of system has its own advantages and disadvantages, so it’s important to choose the one that best suits your needs and growing conditions.

Benefits of Hydroponic Vertical Gardens

Let’s take a look at some of the benefits of hydroponic vertical gardens.

Apart from the obvious fact that you won’t need to use any soil, one of the main advantages of vertical gardens is that they require less space than traditional gardens, so perfect for tight city spaces.

Other benefits of hydroponic vertical gardens include:

  • They use less water than traditional gardens as it’s recycled through the system.
  • Nutrients can be added to the water solution, making sure plants receive what they need.
  • You can grow fresh food with fewer pests and diseases, so less pesticide use.
  • They can produce higher yields than traditional gardening and over a faster timeline.
  • It’s an affordable way to produce food at – scale even in city spaces

Overall, there are many advantages of using hydroponic systems – it’s just a question of getting to grips with the process and planning carefully in advance.

Hydroponic Vertical Gardens: Designing Your Vertical Garden

Now we’ve looked at the benefits of hydroponic vertical gardens, let’s take a look at design. In this section, I’ll cover two important factors: choosing the right location and selecting suitable plants.

Choosing the Right Location

So, it’s vital that you choose the right location for your garden to ensure that your plants thrive. Here are a few things to keep in mind:

  • Accessibility: choose a location that allows easy access for monitoring and maintenance. This will make it convenient to check nutrient levels, adjust lighting, and harvest your plants.
  • Light: your plants will need plenty of light to grow, so choose a location that receives adequate natural light. If you’re unable to find a spot that gets enough sunlight, you may need to invest in grow lights. Fluorescent lights and LED lights are good options.
  • Temperature: most plants thrive in temperatures between 65°F (18°C) and 75°F (24°C). Make sure the chosen location maintains a stable temperature within this range.

Selecting Suitable Plants

When it comes to selecting plants for your hydroponic vertical garden, you’ll first need to consider the amount of space you have available.

Vertical towers and hydroponic walls are great for growing herbs and small vegetables, while larger plants like cherry tomatoes and cucumbers may require more space.

Next, think about the hydroponic nutrients your plants will need. Different plants require different levels of nutrients, so be sure to choose plants that are compatible with your hydroponic system.

And don’t forget visual appeal: the right plants in your vertical garden can add much-needed beauty to your living space…

Hydroponic Vertical Gardens: Building the Structure

Close up of coriander planting water hydroponics.

There are a couple of options for building your hydroponic vertical garden.

  1. You can order your own hydroponics growing system such as the hydroponics vertical tower
  2. You can build your own.

And, there are many other garden kits available on the market that can help you get started. These kits come with everything you need to set up your new garden, with different structures and containers, grow lights, and hydroponic nutrients.

I’ll discuss the best hydroponics growing options in another article, in this blog I’m going to take a look at how to build your own…as I know you’re all keen DIY fans! 😉

Materials and Tools

So, before you start building your hydroponic vertical garden, you’ll need to gather the following materials and tools:

Materials

  • PVC pipes or gutters
  • PVC elbows, tees, and end caps
  • Net cups
  • Hydroponic nutrients
  • Grow medium such as perlite, vermiculite, or coconut coir
  • Seeds or seedlings
  • Water

Tools

  • Hacksaw or PVC cutter
  • Drill
  • Hole saw
  • Measuring tape
  • Marker
  • Sandpaper

Some of you may be wondering if PVC materials are safe.

Luckily, the answer is yes, PVC is generally safe to use in hydroponic systems, but it’s important to choose high-quality, food-grade PVC that does not contain harmful chemicals.

PVC pipes can leach chemicals into the nutrient solution over time, so it’s important to monitor the pH and nutrient levels regularly and replace the pipes if necessary.

Step-by-Step Construction Guide

Here are some general steps on how to build your own hydroponic vertical garden:

  1. Measure and cut the PVC pipes or gutters into the desired length for your vertical towers. Make sure to sand the edges to avoid any sharp edges that could damage the plants.
  2. Drill holes into the PVC pipes or gutters for the net cups. The holes should be big enough to fit the net cups snugly.
  3. Install the PVC elbows, tees, and end caps to create the structure of the vertical tower. Use PVC cement to secure the joints.
  4. Fill the net cups with the grow medium and place the seeds or seedlings into the cups.
  5. Mix the hydroponic nutrients with water according to instructions.
  6. Pour the nutrient-rich water into the top of the vertical tower. The water will flow down through the PVC pipes or gutters and feed the plants.
  7. Install grow lights above the vertical tower to provide artificial light for the plants. Fluorescent lights and LED lights are good options.

Hydroponic Vertical Gardens: Maintaining Your Garden

Let’s check out some daily maintenance tips and troubleshooting common issues to help you keep your garden thriving.

Daily Maintenance Tips

  1. Check the water level in your hydroponic system daily. Make sure the water level is not too high or too low. If the water level is too low, add water. If the water level is too high, drain some water out.
  2. Check the pH level of your hydroponic nutrient solution daily using a digital pH metre. The ideal pH range for most hydroponic systems is between 5.5-6.5. If the pH levels are too high or too low, adjust it using pH up or pH down solutions.
  3. Check the nutrient level in your hydroponic nutrient solution daily. Make sure the nutrient level is balanced. If the nutrient level is too low, add hydroponic nutrients. If the nutrient level is too high, dilute the nutrient solution with water.
  4. Inspect your plants daily for signs of pests or diseases. If you notice any pests or diseases, take action immediately to prevent them from spreading.
  5. Monitor the temperature and humidity levels in your hydroponic system daily. The ideal temperature range for most hydroponic systems is between 18-24°C. The ideal humidity range is between 50-70%.

By following these daily maintenance tips, you can ensure that your hydroponic vertical garden produces fresh produce and fresh foods all year round!

Hydroponic Vertical Gardens: Final Thoughts

Congratulations! You have successfully built your very own hydroponic vertical garden.

I know you’ll enjoy producing fresh produce and herbs all year round and that it’s totally possible with this smart garden choice.

One of the biggest advantages of a hydroponic vertical garden is that it takes up less space compared to traditional gardening methods, so is ideal for those of you living in urban areas.

By using vertical gardening techniques and hydroponic methods, you can make your home look more attractive, have a regular supply of vegetables to cook with and build on your self-reliance skills without needing to use soil or go down the traditional gardening route.

Hannah

Hannah is a journalist based in London who is passionate about self-sufficient living and loves exploring how to live independently in urban spaces. When she’s not planting on her balcony and small garden (and working out how to best shield her crops from the erratic UK weather) you can find her exploring the wild outdoors in the home counties or Cornwall.

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