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Smart Farm Hydroponic Tower Garden FAQ

How does it work?

This simple form of hydroponics solves under & over watering. Modular stacking planters are filled with coco coir & perlite, than connected vertically through a center pole connected to an electric or solar pump which sits inside a 60 litre reservoir.

Nutrient is added to the water reservoir which is automaticaly pumped to the top layer and filtered down through each layer (instructions provided). Because the coco coir is so porous you basically cannot over water your garden (assuming it’s getting good sun).

What is hydroponics

Plants don’t need soil to grow, they need the nutrients contained in the soil! With hydroponics, we simply add nutrients to the water with the plant growing in an inert growing medium such as coco coir & perlite.

When nutrients are delivered straight to the root system the plant spends less time in search of nutrition, and more time producing foilage and fruit.

There are many different hydroponic methods. Mr Stacky tower gardens use a simple drip method and coco coir making it perfect for beginner growers. Coco coir is like soil, only way better! See why

Is this an Aeroponic Tower?

No. Aeroponic towers have a hollow center where the roots are suspended in air and water is continuously misted or dripped on the roots internally. These systems require more growing expertise as the delicate roots have no buffering against high temperature conditions or potential water pump failures and are not very well suited to solar power. In contrast, the Smart Farms are more forgiving as the coco/perlite growing medium retains moisture in low light, yet cannot be over-watered, so it’s set and forget. If you’d like to find out more about Aeroponic Systems, check out the Air Stacky and feel free to contact us if you are unsure about which system will work best for you! Contact us

What is EC and should I get an EC tester?

EC stands for Electrical Conductivty and is the measure of salt in a solution. Because hydroponic nutrient is derived from mineral salts, it’s an accurate way to measure the exact quantity of nutrient. If you follow the recommended dose rates that come with your system, you don’t necessarily need an EC tester, however most will purchase one so they can be assured they are providing adquate nutrient levels.

Does the Smart Farm need access to power?

The Smart Farms come with 2 power options. Electic or solar.

How do I set the timer?

The electric kits come with a 24 hour timer in 15 minute increments. Remember, so long as you’re getting good sun, you can’t really over water the tower garden. Falling water creates oxygen in the reservoir, which the plants love. So configure your timer to ON for about 4 hours per day for best results. Most will configure the timer in 30 min on / 30 min off from mid-morning to mid-afternoon, then off at night.

Does the solar work? Does it have a timer?

For the solar option, no timer is needed as the system will simply turn on when it’s sunny.

The pump comes with a 5 meter cord so you can maximize sun exposure to the panel. The pump is strong enough to push the water above 2 meters high and as the system stands only 1.5m high, there is sufficient power remaining to circulate the water even in low light conditions therefore no backup battery is needed.

During rainy periods, the rain will keep the garden wet for you! If your system is under-cover and won’t get rained on, you may be better off to go with electric. (Battery back-ups are being tested now, but won’t be ready until late 2020).

What should I do when it's raining

The rain will dilute the nutrient levels, but this is usually not a big deal, in fact the plants love the rain. Some customers decide to purhase a heavy duty plant trolley to wheel the garden where desired.

Is that Algae growing on the surface?

Algae forms when water and sunlight meet. Don’t worry too much about a small amount of Algae, but if you want to stop it just put some pebbles or mulch on the top layer… Once the top of the layers are dark, the Algae will be reduced.

What can I grow?

Grow anything from herbs, lettuce, strawberries & greens to full blown fruiting crops such as tomatoes, cucumbers, zucchini even tubers such as potatoes, carrots and beet root!

You get the picture right! 🙂 You can pretty much grow anything. Just ensure you’re providing enough sun…

How do I set it up?

Watch the video above for a detailed guide:
1) Expand the coco and then fill each planter with coco
2) Connect the solar or electric pump
3) Slide lid over center pole & stack up the planters
4) Open drain, and flush the coco with water
5) Close the drain, and fill with 60 litres of water
6) Configure timer (electric), or put panel in the sun (solar)
7) Add nutrient to the water every 2 weeks
*Step by step instructions come with the system

How do I use the nutrient?

The Smart Farm comes with quality hydroponic nutrient that is in 2 parts (A & B). This nutrient is designed to grow various plants in all stages of growth. So you don’t need to mess around with different ‘grow’ vs ‘bloom’ blends and complicated additives like some other systems.

To use, simply fill the 1.25 litre bottles that come with the system with water, shake well, then once dissolved, add it to the reservoir at a rate of 5ml nutrient per litre of water for both parts A & B. As the reservoir is 60 litres, you therefore can add 300ml of each. This will last 2 weeks before you need to replace it in the tank.
*Note: Less is more with this stuff as it’s powerful! So half this dosage for seedlings

See the below video for how to mix and use the nutrients

What is coco coir?

Coco Coir is organic & made from the husk of the coconut. Coco has exceptional water retention, oxygen holding and anti-fungal properties. The compressed blocks expand 7 to 8 times in water and even when fully saturated, hold 22% air. Coco has a PH range between 6 – 6.8 making it simply THE BEST hydroponic growing medium available.

Is it Healthy?

Yes! You’d be surprised what percentage of store bought produce is now grown hydroponically.

Hydroponic nutrients are made form mineral salts. These are the same 17 nutrients & elements found in the soil you buy from a nursery, the difference is they’re in a highly available form which plants utilize much faster.

Instead of the plants roots spreading out in search of nutrition, they are provided just the right amounts directly, which means smaller root systems and faster, more robust, nutrient dense growth allowing the plant to reach it’s full enetic potential.

Am I over-watering?

If you have your system in full sun and the temperature is 20 degrees celcius or more during the day, then let the pump run a good 4 hours p/day! You may think you’re over-watering, but the coco/perlite mix retains plenty oxygen even when fully saturated. If it’s cold or your not giving it full sun, then yes dial back the watering regime to approx 15-30 min per day.

Under low light conditions, you’ll want to add an inexpensive air pump in the reservoir to ensure the water is oxyginated as it’s flowing less. This safeguards against issues relating to still water.

In actual fact the tower only truly needs about 2 minutes per day to hydrate fully, but you can’t really over water it (unless it’s very cold and/or very low sunlight).

Is hydroponics really complicated?

No, with Mr Stacky it’s really simple! To make it easy, we’re really just adding nutrient to the water and then watering your plants with it. The coco coir is very ‘forgiving’ and is an excellent buffer against under or over watering. As everything is automated, it takes all the guessing out and saves your plants from your unintentional neglect!

What is perlite? Do I need it?

Perlite is mined volcanic glass that is inert and has excellent airation qualities. It’s commonly added to soil to asssit with absorption and aeration. While it’s not 100% necessary (ie. the coco coir does a great job on it’s on), we do provide it at an 80/20 ratio (coco / perlite) as we find this ensures optimal results.

Why does the water have to be changed every 2 weeks?

Flushing the system every 2 weeks is a standard practice in hydroponic growing. Over time, a build up of nutrient can increase PH and EC in the water which is detrimental to plants. Basically, clean fresh water is clean water, so flushing a system every 2 weeks is standard. In the case of the smart farm, once the plants are established, it’s likely they’ll actually suck up 30 to 40 litres p/week anyway, in which case you’d simply top up with water mid-way before flushing and adding clean nutrient every 2 weeks

What Customers are Saying....

Life changing, hydroponics system, I couldn't recommend this system anymore. It is perfect for a wide array of vegetables and plants.

Luke Gilder17 JAN 2020

I’m so happy with my Mr Stacky unit and am considering buying another one . My tomatoes and kale are growing rapidly and they have been pest free .

Lyn Robson07 JAN 2020

We're so happy with our hydroponic smart farm. We love having fresh, clean veggies growing so quickly on our doorstep.

Ara18 JAN 2020

Great introduction to hydroponics with great outcomes. Super easy to setup and maintain. Coir is very forgiving and has worked well

Turgerr28 JAN 2020

Very happy with my purchase (with solar) in January 2020. Already have a bumper crop of herbs and wondering if perhaps I need another unit for veges

Kylie09 FEB 2020

How to Plant From Seed

50 Days Growth in Smart Farm

How to use the Nutrient

Optional Heavy Duty Trolley

How to Drain the Smart Farm

GROW YOUR OWN FOOD

There's something about growing your own food....

Today’s mono crop food production paradigm is unsustainable.

Urbanized hydroponic tower farming is expanding rapidly as technology increases.

You don’t have to be on a farm, to live sustainably.

You can grow abundant quantities of fresh food from any backyard or balcony.

Empower yourself and your family by growing your own food from home with Mr Stacky.

Why a Mr Stacky Smart Farm?

Top Quality

Strong, durable and UV treated
Won’t crack or fade in the sun
Large & prolific plant growth
Space saving modular design
Quality parts & accessories

Beginner Friendly

Set & forget automated watering
Coco coir is simple to use
Can be used in various climates
Easy set-up and maintainance
Grows a wide variety of veggies
Comes with full instructions

Amazing Value

Affordable
Comes with everything in 1 kit
20 large plants in a small space
Looks nice in your backyard
Can be scaled easily
See the 3 Tower Smart Farm

Check out the Results!

Additional information

Weight	N/A
Colour	Black, Terracotta, Stone
Power	Electric, Solar
Nutrient Type	Hydroponic, Organic

175 reviews for Smart Farm Hydroponic Tower Garden

Teresa

Rated 4 out of 5

July 22, 2018

Good product just wish it came with the rollers. Had to purchase separately....

Helpful? 0 0

Randy

Rated 5 out of 5

July 12, 2018

After a lot of research, we decided on the Smart Farm for our vertical gardening solution because of the packaged system with all of the components an...More
After a lot of research, we decided on the Smart Farm for our vertical gardening solution because of the packaged system with all of the components and the price advantage over the other options. We wanted a garden we could install on our back deck to grow all of the lettuce, tomatoes, herbs and spices we regularly use for dinner. The large planter areas on this model make it easy to plant 1-3 plants per section and with 20 sections we still had room for some extras like strawberries and peppers. Assembly was super easy and the pump, timer and drip system work flawlessly. We only planted our plants yesterday so no word on the yield yet but it seems like this is exactly what we wanted. The kit includes the hydroponic nutrients. The only other things we purchased to get our garden growing was plants, a pH monitor and some pH down solution.

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Jules

Rated 5 out of 5

June 22, 2018

Easier to set-up than it looks. We get so many comments on it as it looks nice on the balcony even without plants. For some reason, the parsley, l...More
Easier to set-up than it looks. We get so many comments on it as it looks nice on the balcony even without plants. For some reason, the parsley, lettuce, and strawberries are doing best.

Helpful? 0 0

Adrian Poon

Rated 3 out of 5

June 2, 2018

The plant trolley should come with it by default. Had to purchase this separately. This was the main reason for purchase so I can move it around i...More
The plant trolley should come with it by default. Had to purchase this separately. This was the main reason for purchase so I can move it around into the sunny spots on balcony. Good product tho

Helpful? 1 0

Cheryl

Rated 3 out of 5

May 25, 2018

I have a EC pen and the nutrient provided with the system was stronger than expected. At the recommended dose rate, the EC was 3.0! This is too hig...More
I have a EC pen and the nutrient provided with the system was stronger than expected. At the recommended dose rate, the EC was 3.0! This is too high! I contacted Mr Stacky and they advised it's just a strong batch, normal EC at dose rate is between 1.5-2.0.

Helpful? 0 0

Adrian Foster

Rated 4 out of 5

May 24, 2018

Set up was quick and very straight forward. I really like how it looks. The top levels seem to grow better than the bottom. I guess it's just more...More
Set up was quick and very straight forward. I really like how it looks. The top levels seem to grow better than the bottom. I guess it's just more sunlight getting in. I picked up a simple flow valve and replaced this with the drainage tube provided. That's only reason why it I didn't give it 5 stars. Adrian

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Phil Farnsworth

Rated 4 out of 5

May 6, 2018

Great vertical garden for indoors. This is a great hydroponic tower garden for the price. It comes with everything you need (Even a little fertilize...More
Great vertical garden for indoors. This is a great hydroponic tower garden for the price. It comes with everything you need (Even a little fertilizer sample). It is ideal for lettuce and leafy greens and is easy to set up. The only reason this didn't get 5-stars is the reservoir will fill up if you have it outside and it rains. I would think a plastic cover would be an easy fix to be able to use this indoors and out. I am really happy with this purchase.

Helpful? 0 0

Chris

Rated 5 out of 5

March 16, 2018

Delivered promptly to country Victoria, easy to set up and the vegetables love it. A great product backed by great service.

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Shane R

Rated 3 out of 5

March 13, 2018

Great system but I wish it came with more nutrient. I purchased more but had to pay for the shipping twice... System works well though.

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Jane

Rated 4 out of 5

February 13, 2018

Thanks Mr Stacky! :-) I set up the system over 1 month ago and have capsicum, spinach, lettuce and herbs growing well. I was worried it was in...More
Thanks Mr Stacky! :-) I set up the system over 1 month ago and have capsicum, spinach, lettuce and herbs growing well. I was worried it was in full sun but wow, can't believe how well it's all growing... I've replaced the water twice now and put fresh nutrient. We're on a 3rd floor balcony so connected the drainage plug to the garden hose by purchasing a connector value. If it had this connector included, I'd give it 5 start for sure! Love it!
rgds
Jane Pritchard, St. Leanords

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