🌱 10 Reasons Your Tower Garden is Wilting, How to Prevent it and How to Save It! 🌿
Picture this: You stroll over to your Tower Garden, excited to admire your thriving greens, and bam—sad, droopy plants staring back at you. 😱 Oh no, your Tower Garden is wilting! But don’t panic. Take a deep breath (and maybe grab a coffee). With a bit of troubleshooting, we’ll have your plants bouncing back in no time.
Here are 10 reasons your Tower Garden might be wilting—and how to stop it from happening again!
1. The Reservoir is Empty (Oops!) 🚰
Life gets busy, and sometimes we forget to check the water level. When the reservoir runs dry, the pump sucks air, and your poor plants suffer. If I had a dollar for every time this happened to me, I’d have enough for another Tower Garden.
Fix it: Fill the reservoir with water and nutrients, then plug the pump directly into the outlet (bypass the timer) and let it run continuously overnight. Most plants bounce back by morning. Trim any sad-looking leaves and fruit to help them recover faster.
Prevent it: Check your water levels often—especially during hot months or when growing thirsty crops like tomatoes or cucumbers.
2. The Breaker Tripped ⚡
It’s rare, but sometimes the breaker trips, cutting power to the pump. No pump = no water.
Fix it: Flip the breaker back on, then plug the pump directly into the outlet (bypass the timer) and let it run continuously overnight. Most plants bounce back by morning. Trim any sad-looking leaves and fruit to help them recover faster.. If it trips again, call an electrician to check things out.
Prevent it: Inspect cables for damage and keep plugs away from water puddles.
3. The GFCI Outlet Tripped 🔌
Rain or moisture can cause the GFCI outlet to trip. If your pump isn’t running, this might be the culprit.
Fix it: Reset the GFCI outlet. Check outdoor connections and protect them with weatherproof covers, then plug the pump directly into the outlet (bypass the timer) and let it run continuously overnight. Most plants bounce back by morning. Trim any sad-looking leaves and fruit to help them recover faster.
Prevent it: Use weatherproof boxes for timers and outlets. If the GFCI keeps tripping, test the pump, timer, and outlet individually to figure out which one’s the troublemaker. you may need an electrician to help replace the GFCI.
4. The Timer is Acting Up ⏱️
Timers are great—until they aren’t. Sometimes they just quit.
Fix it: Plug the pump directly into the outlet. If it works, your timer is likely faulty. Contact Tower Garden for a replacement if it’s still under warranty or purchase a replacement one here. Plug the pump directly into the outlet (bypass the timer) and let it run continuously overnight. Most plants bounce back by morning. Trim any sad-looking leaves and fruit to help them recover faster.
Prevent it: Protect your timer from water and extend its life with a weatherproof box.
5. The Pump is Clogged with Roots 🥴
Over time, plant roots can sneak into the pump and clog it up, reducing water flow.
Fix it: Open the pump, remove any rogue roots, and clean the filter if your pump has one.
Prevent it: Attach the pump near the reservoir edge, not the center, and regularly remove long roots hanging into the water. No need for scissors—just yank them out with your hands, then plug the pump directly into the outlet (bypass the timer) and let it run continuously overnight. Most plants bounce back by morning. Trim any sad-looking leaves and fruit to help them recover faster.
6. The Blue Hose is Loose or Disconnected 🔵
If you rotate or lift the reservoir lid, you might accidentally loosen or break the blue hose, stopping water from reaching the top of the Tower.
Fix it: Reattach the hose securely to the pump and Tower. If it’s damaged, you can find replacements at Lowe’s, Home Depot or Amazon. Plug the pump directly into the outlet (bypass the timer) and let it run continuously overnight. Most plants bounce back by morning. Trim any sad-looking leaves and fruit to help them recover faster.
Prevent it: Be careful when moving the reservoir lid and avoid unnecessary rotations.
7. The Pump is Dead 🛑
If the pump isn’t working at all, despite your best efforts, it may have reached the end of its life.
Fix it: If it’s under five years old, contact Tower Garden for a replacement. Otherwise, grab a new one and keep a spare on hand for emergencies.
Prevent it: Clean the pump regularly to keep it running smoothly. Follow the directions here.
8. Recently Refilled the Reservoir? 🚿
Sometimes the water itself is the problem. Chlorine or chloramine in tap water can stress your plants.
Fix it: Leave the pump running continuously to help chlorine dissipate. If chloramine is the issue, you’ll need a filter.
Prevent it: Use filtered water whenever possible. We love these inexpensive filters to remove chlorine and chloramine. To learn more about the water you fill your Tower with read this post.
9. Too Many Minerals? 🧪
More nutrients = better plants, right? Not always! Overdosing your Tower with minerals can cause wilting, especially in hot weather.
Fix it: Either dilute the water by adding more or empty the reservoir and start fresh. Then plug the pump directly into the outlet (bypass the timer) and let it run continuously overnight. Most plants bounce back by morning. Trim any sad-looking leaves and fruit to help them recover faster.
Prevent it: Stick to the recommended dose: 20ml of A and B per gallon of water. In high temps, cut that to half or even a quarter strength. Read more here.
10. Too Many Extensions for the Pump 🚀
If you’ve added multiple extensions, your pump might not be powerful enough to get water all the way to the top.
Fix it: Upgrade to a high-capacity pump if you’ve added more than one extension kit. Plug the pump directly into the outlet (bypass the timer) and let it run continuously overnight. Most plants bounce back by morning. Trim any sad-looking leaves and fruit to help them recover faster.
Prevent it: Plan ahead—each extension increases the load on your pump.
Final Thoughts 🌞
Your Tower Garden is designed to thrive, but even the best systems need a little TLC. Keep these tips in mind, check your Tower regularly, and you’ll be growing fresh, healthy greens without a hitch!
Pro tip: Keep a spare pump handy and always use filtered water. Trust me, your plants will thank you! 🥬💚