10 Reasons Your Tower Garden Is Wilting (and How to Fix It)

June 5, 2021

If your Tower Garden plants are wilting, the first thing to check is whether water is reaching the roots. A low reservoir, power problem, faulty timer, clogged pump or disconnected hose can all interrupt water flow and cause plants to wilt surprisingly quickly.

Water flow isn't the only possibility. Water quality, too much nutrient solution and a Tower that has outgrown its pump capacity can also stress plants. Use the troubleshooting steps below to work through the most common causes.

First: Check Whether Water Is Reaching the Top of the Tower

Before troubleshooting anything else, make sure there is water in the reservoir and confirm that the pump is running and water is flowing from the top of the Tower Garden.

No water flowing? Start with causes 1–7 below. Water flowing normally? Pay particular attention to water quality and nutrient strength in causes 8 and 9.

1. The Tower Garden Reservoir Is Empty

Tower Gardens can use water quickly, particularly during hot weather or when you're growing large, thirsty crops such as tomatoes and cucumbers. If the reservoir runs dry, the pump can't deliver water to the roots and plants can begin wilting.

Fix it: Refill the reservoir with water and the appropriate amount of Tower Garden nutrients. Make sure the pump is operating and water is once again reaching the top of the Tower.

Prevent it: Check the reservoir regularly and increase how often you check it during hot weather and when mature fruiting plants are growing.

2. The Breaker Has Tripped

If the pump suddenly stops working, check whether the circuit supplying your Tower Garden has lost power.

Fix it: Check the breaker and reset it if needed. Once power is restored, confirm that the pump is running and water is flowing through the Tower.

Prevent it: Periodically inspect cords and electrical connections for damage and keep electrical connections protected from water.

If the breaker repeatedly trips, stop resetting it and have the electrical circuit checked by a qualified electrician.

3. The GFCI Outlet Has Tripped

Outdoor Tower Gardens are often plugged into a GFCI-protected outlet. Rain, moisture or an electrical problem can trip the GFCI and cut power to the pump.

Fix it: Reset the GFCI and check whether the pump begins running again.

Prevent it: Keep outdoor plugs, timers and connections protected from rain and standing water. A weatherproof electrical box can help protect outdoor connections.

If the GFCI repeatedly trips, the pump, timer, outlet or another part of the circuit may need to be checked.

4. The Tower Garden Timer Isn't Working

A timer problem can prevent the pump from switching on at the scheduled time even though the pump itself is working.

Fix it: Temporarily plug the pump directly into the outlet. If the pump runs normally, the timer or its settings may be the problem.

Check your timer settings and replace the timer if it is no longer functioning correctly.

Need help with the schedule? See our Tower Garden timer settings and instructions . If the timer needs replacing, we also carry a replacement Tower Garden timer.

5. The Tower Garden Pump Is Clogged With Roots

Roots from mature plants can grow down into the reservoir and eventually reach the pump. A buildup of roots around or inside the pump can restrict water flow through the Tower.

Tower Garden pump clogged with plant roots

Fix it: Unplug the pump before handling it. Remove roots from around the pump and clean the pump and filter as needed. Reassemble everything, reconnect the pump and check the water flow.

Prevent it: Check the reservoir for long roots regularly and remove excessive root growth before it reaches the pump.

For more help, follow our Tower Garden pump cleaning guide .

6. The Blue Riser Hose Is Loose or Disconnected

Moving or rotating the reservoir lid can loosen the blue hose connecting the pump to the center of the Tower. The pump may still be running, but water won't reach the top correctly if the hose is disconnected.

Fix it: Check both ends of the hose and reconnect it securely. If the hose is cracked or damaged, replace it.

Prevent it: Take care when lifting or repositioning the reservoir lid so the hose isn't pulled loose.

7. The Tower Garden Pump Isn't Working

If the outlet has power, the timer isn't the problem and the pump is clean but still won't run, the pump itself may have failed.

Fix it: Test the pump directly in a working outlet. If it still doesn't run, contact Tower Garden if it may be covered under warranty or replace the pump.

We carry a replacement Tower Garden pump if you need one.

Prevent it: Keep roots away from the pump and clean it periodically to remove buildup that can restrict its operation.

8. Your Water Quality Is Stressing the Plants

If the Tower Garden started wilting shortly after you refilled the reservoir, consider whether your water source may be contributing to the problem. Chlorine, chloramine and other characteristics of tap water can affect plants.

Fix it: Check what your local water supplier uses to treat the water. Chlorine can dissipate, while chloramine requires filtration designed to remove it.

Prevent it: If your water contains chlorine or chloramine, use an appropriate filter when filling the reservoir. Our GrowRite garden hose filter is designed to make filling the Tower easier.

Learn more in our guide to choosing water for your Tower Garden .

9. The Nutrient Solution Is Too Strong

More nutrients don't mean faster growth. A nutrient solution that is too concentrated can stress plants and contribute to wilting, particularly during very hot weather.

Fix it: If you've accidentally added too much Mineral Blend, dilute the reservoir with additional water or empty the reservoir and refill it correctly.

Prevent it: For established plants, use 20 ml of Mineral Blend A and 20 ml of Mineral Blend B per gallon of water added. New seedlings generally use half strength. During very hot weather, you may also need to reduce nutrient strength.

See our complete guide to Tower Garden nutrients and Mineral Blend .

10. Your Tower Has Too Many Extensions for the Pump

Adding extension kits increases the height that the pump must move water. If the pump doesn't have enough capacity for your Tower's configuration, water flow at the top may become inadequate.

Fix it: Check the water flow at the top of the Tower. If your extended Tower requires a larger pump, upgrade to the appropriate pump for the configuration.

If you've added more than one extension kit, we carry a high-capacity Tower Garden pump .

What to Do After You Find the Cause

Once you've corrected the problem, make sure water is flowing normally through the Tower Garden. If the plants became badly dehydrated because water flow stopped, temporarily bypassing the timer and allowing the pump to run continuously can help rehydrate the plants.

Remove badly damaged leaves or fruit as needed and give the plants time to recover. How quickly they bounce back will depend on the crop and how long the roots went without adequate water.