Greetings, fellow hydroponic enthusiasts! Jay and I have been having quite the adventure with our beloved vertical towers. We have all sorts of herbs, lettuces, strawberries, cucumbers, peppers, and more! The flavors are out of this world, far superior to anything we find at the grocery store. But there’s a catch: these plants are thirsty little critters, requiring refilling their nutrient mix tanks about every three days.

This post may contain affiliate links which means I may receive a commission for purchases made through links. Learn more on my Affiliate Disclosure Page.

Our Current Refilling Routine

Let’s break down our initial refilling process:

• Nutrient Mixing: We mix our nutrient solution in 5-gallon buckets. This involves measuring out the precise amounts of each nutrient to ensure our plants get the perfect blend.
• Heavy Lifting: Once the nutrient mix is ready, we lug these heavy buckets to our vertical towers. It’s a workout in itself, and we often joke that we’re getting our strength training in alongside our gardening.
• The Big Pour: For our larger towers, we open the lid and pour the nutrient mix directly in. This inevitably results in some spillage.
• The Funnel Fiasco: For our smaller tower, we use a funnel and a cup to transfer the liquid, which is a painstakingly slow process. It feels like trying to fill a swimming pool with a teaspoon.

Since our towers are set up in the basement on a cement floor, we just keep towels handy to soak up the spills. It’s not the end of the world, but it’s far from ideal. We’ve managed so far, but the inefficiencies were starting to wear on us.

The Need for Change

We decided it was time for a new solution for a few reasons:

• Time-Consuming: Refilling the small vertical tower takes ages, and we’re always looking for ways to streamline our processes.
• Spillage Concerns: We want to move our towers to the family room, but the risk of spillage on the carpet has held us back. Our dream is to showcase our lush towers as part of our living space without worrying about water damage.

Clearly, our current method was lacking finesse, and it was high time we found a better way to keep our plants happy and hydrated without the hassle.

The Search for a Better Solution

First Attempt: The Manual Hand Pump

I ventured into the wilds of the internet to hunt for a suitable pump. The sheer number of options was staggering, most of which were overkill, like pumps for pools and hot tubs. After much deliberation, I settled on a small hand pump, akin to a bicycle pump with intake and output hoses.

• Slow and Steady: This pump was painfully slow. It felt like we were attempting to fill a bathtub using a garden hose with a kink in it.
• Manual Labor: Our hands got tired long before the towers were filled. We joked about developing Popeye arms, but the reality was far less humorous.
• Hose Havoc: The plastic hoses kept popping out, adding to the frustration. Picture trying to herd cats while juggling – that’s how chaotic it felt.

Despite our best efforts, this solution was clearly not the answer. The pump was frustratingly inefficient, and we knew we needed to keep searching for a more practical option.

Second Attempt at Refilling: The SEDY Electric Hand Pump

Determined not to give up, I continued my search and found the SEDY Electric Hand Pump. Initially skeptical about its promised 2.2 gallons-per-minute transfer rate, I decided to give it a shot because it was affordable and seemed to fit our needs.

• Battery-Powered: This nifty gadget runs on two D-batteries or six AA-batteries, making it portable and easy to use anywhere in the house.
• Ease of Use: We simply stick the wand into the nutrient solution, place the hose in the tower’s refilling hole, and switch it on. It’s like magic – nutrient potion goes in, plants get happy.
• Efficiency: It only takes about 15 seconds to refill the small tower and 30-60 seconds for the larger ones. This was a game-changer! Instead of spending ages refilling our towers, we could now do it in a matter of moments.
• No Spills: The process is practically spill-free, a game-changer for indoor gardening. Finally, we could move our towers to the family room without fear of carpet carnage. Of course, I’m still going to put a towel down when refilling, but it may need to catch a couple drops, rather than large spills.

The Perfect Solution

This pump turned out to be our hydroponic hero. Not only did it speed up the refilling process, but it also eliminated spills, allowing us to move our towers to the family room without fear of carpet carnage. Of course, we still put a towel down as a precaution, but it’s more about catching the odd drop than mopping up a mess.

In conclusion, the SEDY Electric Hand Pump has transformed our hydroponic routine. If you’re facing similar challenges with your vertical towers, give this little gadget a try. It might just be the solution you’ve been looking for!