Don’t Panic!
Oh no! You’ve discovered little monsters all over your indoor Tower Garden. Before you panic, take a deep breath, and relax for a minute, it’s going to be OK. First let’s try to figure out how the insects got there before you try to eradicate them. Here’s a handy checklist.
Are there any plants in soil within 20 feet of your Tower Garden?
I know the potted begonia you brought in to keep it from freezing will love the Tower Garden lights, but once the soil warms up, out will come the insects.
Did you purchase seedlings from a grower?
Growers grow a lot of plants and it can be difficult in a greenhouse to not have insects. Try starting seedlings yourself. It’s not that difficult if you follow this seed starting procedure.
Did you start your plants from seeds yourself?
If you started your seedlings yourself and didn’t follow this seed starting procedure, I’m guessing you didn’t replace the water daily. Insects can lurk in stagnant water.
Did you keep the sides of the Tower Garden clean?
Whenever you harvest, clean the sides of the Tower Garden with a wet rag. It’ll help keep insects away.
Were your plants growing well?
Insects will attack weak plants. If a plant looks bad it probably won’t recover. Pull it and start over.
Did you clean the netpots or growing clips between planting
It’s a good idea to soak your netpots and growing clips in a mixture of 1 cup vinegar to 1/2 gallon of warm water.
Are you trying to grow tomatoes indoors?
The longer a plant is in the Tower Garden the more chance you’ll have insects. If you consistently have trouble with insects on a certain crop, you might need to switch crops. Some crops are more susceptible to insects than others. See Can I Grow Tomatoes Indoors?
What to do next?
You’ve figured out how the bugs got there, next is how to get rid of them. Tower Garden has a great post with ideas for getting rid of insects. Scroll past the beneficial bugs and try the insecticidal recipes first, especially if you’re growing indoors. If these ideas don’t work, I’m afraid you’ll have to pull the plants, thoroughly clean your Tower Garden, and replant.
Are you a teacher looking for Tower Garden curriculum or help with a Tower Garden grant?
If you need Tower Garden supplies and don’t have a distributor you can order rockwool, mineral blend, Tower Gardens, and more from us. Go to our How to Buy a Tower Garden page for more info. If you need help, email me at steve@keepitwatered.com. I’ve been supporting teachers and individuals who use Tower Gardens since 2015..