How to Water Your GreenStalk Vertical Planter – FAQs

The GreenStalk’s patented watering system is unlike other vertical planters. In this post, we’ll explain how the watering system works and answer your most common questions.

How does the watering system work?

In other vertical planters, the water has to travel through the soil at the top to get to the bottom, leaving the top level over-watered and the bottom level under-watered. With the GreenStalk’s patented watering system, the water travels through the center funnel and slowly drips into the soil at each tier. The results are more consistent watering and you’re not over-saturating some tiers to bring water to others.

The GreenStalk’s watering system works on overflow – but not in the way you might think! Unlike other stackable planters, the GreenStalk has a series of reservoirs that deliver fresh water to each tier at the same time. When you quickly fill the top water reservoir, it flows down the center column and fills each tier’s grey disk with water. The grey disks then start dripping fresh water into each pocket.

How do I water the GreenStalk Vertical Planter?

Use a bucket or a hose with good water pressure for the best results. Simply fill the water reservoir and you will see the water start swirling down the center funnel. You can water with a slower filling hose, but you will need to watch for the water to start dripping out of the bottom.

To find the perfect amount of water you need with your hose, keep filling the top water reservoir until water drips out the bottom. You can then stop filling the top and know that the bottom tier is getting water. You will begin to learn how much water your planter needs based on when it starts to drip. This can change as your plants grow or the weather changes.

For more details, check out this video all about watering with different water pressures:

Should I use a cap to cover the center hole in the top water reservoir?

We do not recommend using the Mover’s black cap to block the center hole when filling with water. The center hole is a funneling system that delivers the water to tiers below. Using the methods above, you won’t need to use a cap to get to the appropriate watering level at the top.

How often will I need to water my GreenStalk Garden?

How often you need to water will vary widely by your location, time of year, weather, and crop planted. In Knoxville, TN, we expect to water our summer crops (tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, etc) at least every 1-2 days. In the fall and spring, we may only have to water every 1-2 weeks.

How will I know when to water my GreenStalk?

You’ll want to water your plants when the soil begins to dry out. If you let it dry out completely, your plants may become wilted and stressed. Check on your plants every day or two to make sure the soil is moist but not constantly soaked.

Is the center hole supposed to look like that or is my piece broken?

The center hole on the top water reservoir and the grey disks are shaped purposely to allow the water to funnel correctly down the center of the planter. The funnel creates a cyclone that delivers water to each grey disk. Without this feature, the water would just rush down the center without watering each tier along the way.

Why is water running straight out of the planter and not filling the grey disks?

First, check your grey disks to see if any of the holes are clogged. This is the most common reason for water immediately running out of the bottom of the planter. 

Sometimes it can be hard to see the grey disks dripping water into the soil. To check this, lift the top tier while the top water reservoir is still draining water. You should be able to see water in the first grey disk dripping water into the soil.

Secondly, if all the grey disks are full, any more water added to the top water reservoir will flow out the bottom of the planter. With the funnel design of the GreenStalk Vertical Planter, it isn’t possible for water to travel all the way through the GreenStalk without filling the grey disks first.

How do I water seeds in the GreenStalk?

You may have noticed that the water doesn’t always make it to the out rim of the pockets in the GreenStalk. As your plants grow, they can easily access the moisture in the soil because their roots begin to fill the planter. However, in the beginning, we recommend misting the pockets with seeds until they germinate. This helps to ensure that your seeds are staying consistently moist. Once your sprouts get established, you can use the top water reservoir as usual.

Do you have a GreenStalk gardening question that we didn’t cover here?
Message us anytime – we’re happy to help: support@greenstalkgarden.com