How to Set Up a Tower Garden FLEX: Step-by-Step Instructions

Before You Assemble Your Tower Garden FLEX

Before you start assembling the tower, choose where you're going to grow and gather everything you'll need.

If you're growing indoors, plan your Tower Garden location with your grow lights and electrical outlet in mind before filling the reservoir. A full FLEX reservoir is much easier to leave in place than to move.

Unbox and Check Your Tower Garden FLEX Parts

Lay out the Tower Garden FLEX components before you begin assembly. This makes it much easier to identify each piece as you work through the instructions.

Your Tower Garden FLEX components include:

• Reservoir base and lid
• Five growing pots
• Shower cap and shower cap lid
• Pump and timer
• Swivel hose
• Access port lid
• Support rods, wingnuts and washers

Your growing supplies may also include:

• Germination tray
• Rockwool cubes
• Starter seed packs
• Vermiculite
• Net pots
• Tower Garden Mineral Blend
• pH kit
• Measuring cup

Build the Tower Garden FLEX Base

Place the reservoir base on the flat, level surface where you plan to grow. Check it with a level before continuing. Keeping the reservoir level helps water circulate evenly through the tower.

Install the Pump

1. Place the pump near the edge of the reservoir, rather than directly in the center.
2. Connect the blue tubing to the threaded fitting on the underside of the reservoir lid.
3. Tighten the connection finger-tight. It should be snug, but don't overtighten it.
4. Connect the other end of the blue tubing to the pump.

Position the Pump Cord

Tower Garden FLEX reservoirs may have either a hole or a notch for the pump cord.

• If your reservoir has a pump-cord hole, feed the plug through the hole.
• If your reservoir has a notch, position the cord in the notch before closing the reservoir lid.

Assemble the Tower Garden FLEX

The FLEX uses support rods that alternate through the A and B holes as the growing pots are stacked.

Install the Support Rods

1. Insert the support rods through the holes marked A on the reservoir lid.
2. Secure each support rod using the washer and wingnut.

Stack the Growing Pots

1. Take the next growing pot and feed the support rods through the holes marked B.
2. Gently push down on the center tube so the growing pot fits snugly into the section below it.
3. Continue adding the remaining three growing pots, alternating the support rods through the A and B holes as you stack.

Install the Shower Cap

Place the shower cap on top of the final growing pot and push down in the center to make sure everything is seated snugly. Secure the tower with the wingnuts, then install the shower cap lid.

Insert the Net Pots

Gently pinch each net pot slightly and slide it into one of the growing ports. Pinching the pot helps it slide into the opening and fit securely.

Fill the Tower Garden FLEX With Water and Nutrients

The Tower Garden FLEX reservoir holds approximately 20 gallons of water.

• If your reservoir has a notch for the pump cord, look for the small molded fill line near the notch that marks the 20-gallon level.
• If your reservoir doesn't have a visible fill line, fill the water to approximately 3 inches below the pump-cord hole.

Use the Right Water

• Do not use softened water. It contains salts that can harm your plants.
• Filter city water to reduce chlorine and chloramine before using it in your Tower Garden.
• Reverse-osmosis water can be used, but it generally isn't necessary unless your water source is particularly hard or problematic.

If you're using city water, an inexpensive garden hose filter can make filling the Tower Garden easier.

You can also learn more about choosing and preparing water in our Tower Garden Water Guide .

Add Tower Garden Mineral Blend

If you're filling your FLEX with all new seedlings, begin with half-strength nutrients:

Mix the nutrients thoroughly into the reservoir water.

For ongoing feeding instructions and nutrient adjustments, see our Tower Garden Nutrient Guide .

Check the pH

Test the reservoir after adding the nutrients and adjust the water as needed. The ideal Tower Garden range is approximately pH 5.5–6.5.

Set the Tower Garden FLEX Pump Timer

Your Tower Garden pump doesn't need to run continuously. The correct watering cycle depends on whether you're growing indoors or outdoors and which style of timer you have.

Digital Tower Garden Timer

The digital timer is pre-programmed. Plug the pump into the timer and plug the timer into your electrical outlet.

Use the gray mode button on top of the timer to select:

• I for indoor growing
• O for outdoor growing

Once the correct mode is selected, the timer automatically controls the watering cycle.

Mechanical / Analog Tower Garden Timer

Older Tower Garden timers use a dial with pins. Each pin represents 15 minutes.

• Outdoor: Push every other pin out to create a 15-minute ON / 15-minute OFF cycle.
• Indoor: Push every fourth pin out to create a 15-minute ON / 45-minute OFF cycle.

For more detailed timer instructions, see Tower Garden Timer Settings & Instructions .

Add Seedlings to Your Tower Garden FLEX

Now for the fun part — adding your plants.

Insert each seedling, still in its rockwool cube, into a net pot. Make sure the rockwool touches the bottom of the net pot so it can absorb the water flowing through the tower.

Plant Your FLEX Like a Pyramid

Think about the mature size of each plant when deciding where it goes in the tower.

• Place larger plants such as tomatoes and squash toward the bottom.
• Place smaller crops such as lettuce and many herbs toward the top.

This helps reduce the chance of larger plants shading smaller crops as everything grows.

Your First Week With a Tower Garden FLEX

Once the Tower Garden is running, keep an eye on your seedlings and reservoir during the first several days.

• Confirm that water is circulating through the tower.
• Make sure each rockwool cube is receiving moisture.
• Check that the pump timer is set for indoor or outdoor growing.
• Keep the reservoir within the pH 5.5–6.5 range.
• Make sure seedlings are receiving enough light.
• Monitor the reservoir water level regularly.

If you're growing indoors with Tower Garden grow lights, provide approximately 14–16 hours of light each day and keep the lights roughly 6–8 inches from the tops of the plants. Give the plants complete darkness overnight.

Keeping Your Tower Garden FLEX Running Well

Once your FLEX is established, a little regular maintenance goes a long way.

• Check the reservoir water level regularly.
• Add water and nutrients as needed.
• Monitor and adjust pH.
• Keep the pump clean and free of roots and debris.
• Watch plants for pests, nutrient problems and changes in growth.
• Clean the Tower Garden periodically between growing cycles.

Our Tower Garden Cleaning & Maintenance Guide walks you through the regular maintenance your system needs.

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