Vertical Planters
Vertical planters are either manufactured or homemade planting
structures designed to hold plants in a vertical manner. Vertical
planters are basically self-contained multi-tiered gardens. An
example of a homemade vertical planter is a 55-gallon plastic
drum with holes cut into the sides where the plants can be placed.
Vertical planters are usually designed to be used with potting
soil. Typically, these planters are watered from the top, which
allows gravity to bring the nutrient solution to all the plants in
the container. Strawberries and lettuce are just two of the crops
commonly grown in vertical planters within a greenhouse.
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Where to place which type of plant is an
important consideration when setting up
a multi-tiered system in a greenhouse.”
Vertical Hydroponic Systems
Vertical hydroponic systems are multi-tiered systems that utilize
soilless gardening in a vertical position. Most vertical hydroponic
systems used in greenhouses are recirculating systems. This
means the nutrient solution is collected in a reservoir and reused
after each feeding. The nutrient solution is commonly delivered to
the uppermost plant module and gravity is the force that brings the
solution to the remaining plants down below. Vertical hydroponic
systems combine the speed of growth associated with hydroponic
gardening with the space-maximizing benefits of multi-tiered
vertical gardening. When the nutrient solution’s temperature is
kept in check, vertical hydroponic systems are one of the most effi-
cient growing methods used in greenhouses.
Multi-Tiered Setups for Indoor Gardens
As in a greenhouse, a vertical, multi-tiered setup can help maxi-
mize floor space and exposure to the radiant energy within an
indoor garden. In an indoor garden, the radiant energy used by
the plants for photosynthesis is not provided by the sun, but,
rather, an artificial light source. One of the most efficient ways to
use an artificial light source for growing plants indoors is to hang
the light vertically and surround the lamp with plants. Most high
intensity discharge (HID) lighting systems emit radiant energy
in a 360-degree circle. In other words, they emit radiant energy
evenly from all sides of the lamp. As previously mentioned, radiant
energy from a light source diminishes exponentially. The farther
the light has to travel to the plants, the less radiant energy is avail-
able. A good example of this is the use of light reflectors. When
light is reflected and redirected toward the plants (common for a
horizontally positioned lighting system), some of the light must
travel farther because it must first travel upward toward the reflec-
tor and then back down toward the plants. This makes the total
distance that the light travels farther than if it reached the plants
directly. This is why surrounding the light source with plants is
a more efficient use of the given radiant energy. When plants
surround the light source, the light travels a shorter distance
before reaching the plants, thus providing a higher amount of
radiant energy. Similar to greenhouse gardens, there are many
different ways an indoor horticulturist can implement a multi-
tiered, vertical garden, including stadium- or colosseum-style
gardens and vertical hydroponic systems.
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Maximum Yield