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Over a year ago I posted a video about my struggles with my GreenStalk Vertical Planters. The response was huge and I got feedback and even opened up a dialogue with GreenStalk executives about the issues I was having. I implemented many of their suggestions and tested them here in Florida over different seasons including the hot summer months. Here’s the update on my experience and what worked for me.
The Watering System Issues
Initial Issues
My biggest issue with the vertical planter was the watering system. Despite GreenStalk’s great design I had big problems. The watering trays which had a line through the center of the holes to help spread the water would clog. This design flaw would restrict water flow big time in my climate.
DIY Fixes and New Trays
To fix this I drilled small holes in the trays to improve water flow. This worked great in the fall, winter and spring but not in the summer. In the hot months I would remove the watering pitcher and flood the top compartment to make sure water was distributed well.
After discussing these issues with GreenStalk they sent me new trays with their original watering design. I’ve been using these trays for about a year without any modifications and they worked great in the cooler seasons. But summer was still a problem. My revised watering method is to fill each level of the planter individually which has improved water distribution and I only have to water every 3 days.
GreenStalk Vertical Planters Base and Stability Issues
From Mover to Spinner Base
The original Mover base allowed the planters to be rotated and moved but they were cumbersome and unlevel. GreenStalk executives suggested that I switched to the newer Spinner base. This change made a world of difference. The Spinner base is incredibly sturdy and was effortless to rotate. I could even rotate it with just one finger, making it more likely that I would rotate them regularly. Needless to say, I’m switching all my GreenStalk Vertical Planters to the Spinner bases.
The Great Soil Experiment
Comparing Soils
When I got my Greenstalk vertical planters, they recommended to use Happy Frog potting soil, but I went with the much cheaper Miracle-Gro Organic Garden Soil. I noticed that many of my plants were struggling so I decided to do a test growing lettuce seeds. For the experiment, I tested Miracle-Gro Organic Garden Soil, Fox Farm Happy Frog Potting Soil, and ProMix Garden Mix Soil. Spoiler alert: ProMix emerged as the winner. Its light and fluffy which is perfect for my GreenStalks and I even started using it as a seed starting mix too. Check out the full experiment here.
GreenStalk Vertical Planters Stability and Tiers
Ensuring Stability
Despite assembling the planter correctly and ensuring the tiers click into place properly, some instability was still present, especially with the taller models. When it comes to the original GreenStalk planters with the 12 inch pockets, I limit them to only four tiers versus five tiers that are suggested due to the instability I experienced. Adding a fifth tier makes them too tall and wobbly which proved to be a challenge in my hurricane-prone area. The Leaf style planter has shallower pockets, making the overall planter shorter. This makes it more stable even with the full five tiers. Hence, I recommend sticking to three or four tiers for the original planter and up to five tiers for the leaf. By purchasing additional bases and watering reservoirs, I was able to build additional planters with the unused tiers, expanding my container garden space.
Seed Germination Success
Solving Germination Issues
I struggled with germinating seed in the Greenstalk planter. By switching to the ProMix soil, I resolved most of my issues since the soil is so light and fluffy. This allows seeds to sprout more easily. The other change I made that helped with growing healthy seedlings was filling the soil all the way to the top edge of the planter. Sometimes the soil will settle and sink so I ensured that I refilled the pockets whenever that happened. Don’t forget to add mulch or grass clippings to ensure proper moisture retention at the top of the soil.
Optimizing Sunlight and Watering
To further support these new seedlings, I pruned the surrounding plants to reduce any shade they would cast on the new seedlings. During the first couple weeks of growth, I minimized rotating the planters to ensure the consistent light exposure. Additionally, I water each pocket using a spray bottle on the mist setting to keep the topsoil as moist as possible. Relying solely on the top reservoir isn’t going to be sufficient for seed germination or seedling growth.
If you’ve found these tips helpful for your GreenStalk Vertical Planter, please leave a comment below. Happy gardening!
