Like this dragonfly, go vertical with your marijuana plants
If given the opportunity, cannabis is one of the most fascinating, beautiful and aromatic plants you will ever grow.
Some states have legalized marijuana for recreational use … meaning, all adults 21 years of age and older in those states now have such an opportunity to grow their own.*
Each state has regulations and I encourage all residents to carefully familiarize themselves with the rules before enrolling in what will become a new university for you. You’ll be learning about soil, amendments, water, nutrients, lights, strains, terpenes, pests, diseases, PH, CO2, cannabinoids and so much more.
The common grow-your-own setup involves marijuana plants in containers with overhead lighting (in indoor grows).
There is now an exciting alternative called the Earth Tower Garden that is perfect for the grow-your-own garden … both outdoors and indoors.
Since tomatoes grow similarly to marijuana, this picture of a Tomato Earth Tower gives you a good idea how well your plants will grow.
The Earth Tower is a 4-ft high, 4-sided vertical garden on wheels that turns into a dream machine for growing marijuana. Here are some of the reasons why:
1) SOIL vs. HYDRO
Earth Towers are filled with an abundant amount of POTTING MIX. Growing in soil or “soil-less” mediums has many advantages over hydroponic growing:
a) Much easier to grow organically (most hydro growing uses synthetic chemicals)
b) More forgiving. In other words, fewer things can go wrong
c) A lot less expensive
d) Buds taste better
2) IT’S ALL ABOUT THE SPACE!
Earth Towers provide maximum growth in minimum space. An Earth Tower takes up only a 2x2 foot space but provides enough room to grow 8-12 healthy marijuana plants.**
If you were to grow twelve plants in, say, 5 gallon Smart Pots you would need at least 12 square feet of floor space vs. 4 square feet of floor space for the Earth Tower.
3) ROOTS THRIVE
The Earth Tower holds 5 cubic feet of potting mix. This means that your plants are really happy with plenty of room to grow. The bigger the playground, the more the roots want to spread out and play! Larger root systems = larger buds.
Feed your plants FROM THE INSIDE!
4) INTERNAL WATERING & FEEDING RESERVOIR
Speaking of roots, they also thrive better when watered the Earth Tower way. The Earth Tower has a food-safe reservoir in which you simply pour water and nutrients. This reservoir provides an even supply of water and nutrients to the plants FROM THE INSIDE of the tower. Benefits include:
a) In the Earth Tower, roots REACH for the internal source of food and water and grow longer and stronger. When watered in normal pots, water is introduced at the very top of the plants and roots have no incentive to burrow deeper.
b) Watering from the inside eliminates wetting of leaves, reducing the conditions that encourage fungal diseases and molds.
5) DRAINAGE – NOT DAMAGE
Improper drainage is probably THE MAJOR problem in container gardening. When soil becomes waterlogged, air is excluded from the roots and they begin to rot. The Earth Tower’s base is specially designed to funnel excess water out through the drainage hole. It is almost impossible to overwater!
6) PLANTS PROTECTED FROM COLD FLOOR
Four wheels attach to the Earth Tower’s strong base, keeping the base several inches off the floor. In container gardening, if your pots are sitting on a cold floor, plant roots will retract and shrink faster than a guy’s gonads. Keep your roots warmer and “hung” in an Earth Tower.
7) SAVE YOUR BACK!
Earth Tower Vertical Garden places your plants closer to eye-level. This saves your back and makes it easier to view, prune, and care for your plants … and your body.
8) SAVE YOUR EYES!
Ever come close to poking out an eye on one of those bamboo poles used to stake your plants? I know of people who have lost an eye. The Earth Tower’s side slats give your plant stems extra support and the four side posts act as the perfect frame where you can tie the limbs and train your plants to grow in the direction you want them to grow (for maximum light exposure).
EARTH TOWER SETUP FOR GROWING YOUR OWN MARIJUANA:
OUTDOORS
If you have a sun-filled space on your patio or small yard, you can grow a single outdoor harvest. Again, check your State’s regulations regarding growing outside. You’ll want to start your seeds or clones indoors in the winter and get your plants big enough for transplanting. When there is enough sun, move your plants outdoors (typically April/May). Late freeze warnings? No problem! If your Earth Tower is on the patio, simply wheel inside until the weather threat has passed.
Remember, your Earth Tower is on wheels so you can move and rotate it for maximum sun exposure.
Mockup of Earth Tower with vertical LED grow light
INDOORS
Indoor setup with proper ventilation and temperature control is beyond the scope of this blog. I will, however, recommend a vertical lighting setup.
LED Lighting has greatly improved, making it a valid option that is energy and cooling efficient. Several brands offer these lights in long rectangular arrays, perfect for lighting a vertical garden. Place light vertically (up on its end) along a wall or stand to give two sides of the Earth Tower full light exposure.
Here are some higher-end lighting suggestions for maximum yield. Look for units built to flower a 4'x4' space:
If your state only allows three flowering plants, transplant evenly throughout the bottom half of the tower (to provide best growing room for roots and plant height) along two sides and position the Earth Tower so both sides receive good illumination with ONE vertical grow light.
If you’re allowed 6-12 plants, transplant evenly throughout the bottom half of the tower and position the Earth Tower so all four sides receive good illumination with TWO vertical grow lights.