Vertical planter with 3 pots for passive hydroponics

The vertical planter has 3 stacked, independent pots, so you can grow three different crops in it. Each pot holds 3.6 quarts (3.4 liters) of growing medium and has its own 1.2-quart (1.1-liter) reservoir. According to the technical specifications, it measures 12.2 x 12.2 x 30.3 in (31 x 31 x 77 cm). Its vertical design saves a lot of floor space, so it's perfect for a kitchen or a small balcony.

The vertical planter works indoors and outdoors alike: kitchen, living room, balcony, or patio. It's ideal for culinary herbs, small foliage plants, or flowers, and turns a corner of a room into a mini urban kitchen garden. Plants that need to dry out between waterings, such as cacti and succulents, won't do as well in it. Outdoors, be sure to empty it or move it under cover during long periods of heavy rain.

Each pot of the vertical planter lifts off easily to give you access to the reservoir underneath: fill it, then set the pot back in place. For the first few weeks after planting, also water from the top while the roots get established. After that, simply refilling the reservoirs is enough. Check the level of each of the three 1.2-quart (1.1-liter) reservoirs regularly.

For the vertical planter, fill each of the 3 pots, 0.9 gallon (3.4 liters) each, with a light, well-draining potting mix that won't stay soggy where it touches the wick. As for fertilizer, vermicompost works very well: mix in 30% vermicompost to 70% potting mix at planting time. During the growing season, an occasional watering with compost tea diluted at 1 part to 9 parts water is all you need. Stick to small doses, because water doesn't drain out the bottom of the vertical planter, so fertilizer salts build up.