Tower Garden Maintenance Schedule + Printable Checklist

Check Your Plants for Pests

Take a quick look at your plants each day. Check the tops and undersides of leaves for holes, insects, caterpillars, eggs or other signs that something has been feeding on your plants.

Catching pests early is much easier than dealing with a large infestation later.

Look for Changes in Your Plants

Watch for sudden wilting, widespread yellowing or other changes that could indicate a growing problem.

A single older yellow leaf isn't necessarily a concern, but widespread yellowing is worth investigating. See our yellow leaves troubleshooting guide for help narrowing down the cause.

Check the Reservoir Water Level

Water use changes dramatically as plants grow and temperatures rise. A young Tower may use relatively little water, while a mature Tower filled with large fruiting plants can use several gallons very quickly.

Check the reservoir regularly rather than waiting for plants to wilt. During hot weather or when growing tomatoes, cucumbers and other large crops, you may need to check it more frequently.

Check the pH

Keep your Tower Garden nutrient solution between pH 5.5 and 6.5. Check the pH after adding water and nutrients, then adjust it if necessary.

If you're unsure how much Mineral Blend to add, use our Tower Garden nutrient guide .

Clean Up Algae, Mineral Buildup and Plant Debris

Use a scrub sponge, toothbrush or small cleaning brush to remove visible buildup and plant debris before it becomes difficult to clean.

This doesn't need to be a full Tower Garden cleaning. A quick weekly cleanup can help keep the Tower looking good between deeper cleaning sessions.

Check and Clean the Pump

Plant roots can make their way into the reservoir and around the pump. Check the pump and clean its filter, if your pump has one, to help maintain good water flow.

If you need more detailed instructions, see our Tower Garden pump cleaning guide .

Remove Excessive Roots

Open the reservoir access lid and check for long roots that have grown down into the water. Remove excessive root growth before it reaches or clogs the pump.

Be careful around the blue riser hose and the pump's electrical cord while working inside the reservoir.

Drain and Refill With Fresh Water and Nutrients

Rather than continually topping off the same nutrient solution, periodically drain the reservoir and start again with fresh water and the correct amount of Tower Garden Mineral Blend.

The old nutrient solution doesn't have to go to waste. You can use it to water suitable plants elsewhere in your garden.

Give the Tower a Thorough Cleaning

Periodically, your Tower Garden will benefit from a more thorough cleaning than the quick maintenance you perform throughout the year.

This is where our main Tower Garden Cleaning & Maintenance Guide comes in. It walks you through the broader cleaning and maintenance process in more detail.

For a focused deep-cleaning method, you can also follow our guide to cleaning a Tower Garden with citric acid .