Vertical Top-Feed Systems

Marijuana Horticulture

by Jorge Cervantes

Vertical gardens can increase overall yield more than ten-fold over a flat garden. Substrate bags, tubes, or slabs are positioned vertically around an HID. Short plants are placed in the medium and fed gradually with a drip emitter. The runoff drains through the growing medium and back to the reservoir. The solution is re-circulated once it returns to the reservoir.

Use rockwool or coco mixed with lightweight vermiculite as a growing medium to lessen weight when substrate is wet. Irrigate constantly to keep roots supplied with water and nutrients from a well-aerated solution.

Vertical hydroponic systems save space, but require more maintenance. These systems can also be tricky to fine tune so they operate at peak capacity.