Yellow plants in my Tower Garden. What happened and how can I resolve it?

Yellow plants in my Tower Garden. What happened?

Almost all crops grown in a Tower Garden should be a rich, deep green color.  If you’re noticing yellowing leaves on your Tower Garden crops, don’t panic! Yellowing can happen for a variety of reasons, and with a little troubleshooting, you can bring your plants back to vibrant health. Let’s explore some common causes and solutions.

1. Nutrient Problems

Plants rely on a balanced mix of nutrients to thrive. If your crops are turning yellow, they may be missing something essential. The Tower Garden Mineral Blend is well balanced, and has been shown in studies to promote a healthy yield, sometimes as much as 60% more! You can read that study here.

• Nitrogen Deficiency: Nitrogen is crucial for leaf growth. A lack of nitrogen often causes older leaves to yellow while newer leaves stay green.

  Solution: Check your nutrient solution. Ensure you’re using the correct dosing when adding minerals.  You can read more about how much to add and when here.

• Iron Deficiency: If newer leaves are yellowing with green veins, it’s likely an iron deficiency.

  Solution: Adjust the pH of your nutrient solution to ensure it’s within the optimal range (5.5-6.5). Your crops have a hard time taking up nutrients when the pH is outside of this range and this will cause them to turn yellow.

   

• Nutrient Lockout: Even if nutrients are present, improper pH levels or excessive salts can prevent plants from absorbing them. This is known as nutrient lockout.

  Solution: Test your nutrient solution’s pH. Flush your Tower Garden with fresh water to remove salt buildup if necessary. Add nutrients at the correct dose and empty and refill the reservoir every 30-60 days to prevent nutrinet lockout.

2. Overwatering or Root Issues

In a Tower Garden, the pump is plugged into a timer and the water is recirculated on a regular basis. However, if your timer has failed and your pump is running continuosly the roots may not be getting enough oxygen and that can lead to yellowing leaves. Running your pump continously for a few days (like after a power failure or when thereservoir runs dry) isn't a problem. But if it's running non-stop for weeks you may see issues arise.

• Solution: Ensure your Tower Garden’s timer is functioning correctly. Inspect the roots for signs of rot, such as a slimy texture or unpleasant odor. You may need to remove these plants and replace them.

3. Lighting Issues

Plants need adequate light to photosynthesize. Without enough light, leaves may yellow and growth can slow.

• Solution: Ensure your Tower Garden is getting sufficient light, whether from natural sunlight or grow lights. For indoor setups, use full-spectrum LED grow lights and position them appropriately. For outdoor setups, ensure your Tower Garden receives at least 5 hours of direct, unfiltered sunlight.  Fruiting crops need at least 8 hours of sunlight to thrive.

The image above shows a variety of spring mix seedlings that are yellow and stretching for light.

4. Pest Infestations

Pests like aphids, spider mites, or whiteflies can cause leaves to yellow as they feed on your plants.

• Solution: Inspect your plants regularly for signs of pests. A quick scout every day is ideal. Use natural pest control methods, such as neem oil or insecticidal soap, to manage infestations. You can check out our pest control prodcuts here.

5. Natural Aging

Sometimes, yellowing leaves are simply part of a plant’s natural life cycle. Older leaves may yellow and fall off as the plant directs energy to new growth.

• Solution: Prune yellowing leaves to encourage healthy growth and improve air circulation around your plants.

Final Thoughts

Yellowing leaves on your Tower Garden crops are often a sign that something needs adjustment, but the good news is that most issues are fixable. By paying close attention to your plants and addressing problems promptly, you can keep your Tower Garden thriving and productive.

Have questions or tips to share? Drop them in the comments below—we’d love to hear from you!