ZipGrow Farm Wall User manual

www.ZipGrow.com
855-ZIPGROW
Copyright © 2019
THE ZIPGROW
FARM WALL MANUAL

2
TOOLS REQUIRED FOR ASSEMBLY
TABLE OF CONTENTS
You will need...
• Drill
• Crescent wrench
• Fasteners specific to your mounting style (e.g. heavy
duty screws, drywall anchors, masonry anchors)
• Scissors (to trim zip ties and poly tubing)
COMPONENTS LIST ............................................................... 3-4
STRUCTURAL ASSEMBLY ........................................................ 5
IRRIGATION ASSEMBLY .......................................................... 6
WALL-CHANNEL MOUNTING ................................................ 7-8
INFORMATION ABOUT YOUR FARM WALL ........................... 9
PLANTING ZIPGROW TOWERS .............................................. 10
WATER QUALITY MANAGEMENT .......................................... 11
USING TOP-OFF TANKS .......................................................... 12
TROUBLESHOOTING ............................................................... 13-14
ABOUT ZIPGROW ................................................................... 15
Click underlined text to view page!

3
COMPONENTS LIST
GUTTERS: FOUR TOWER
GUTTERS: TWO TOWER
GUTTERS: EIGHT TOWER
Front View
Front View
Back View
Back View
Top View
Top View
Top Gutter
Top Gutter
Bottom Gutter
Bottom Gutter
Bottom View
Bottom View
Front View
Back View
Top View
Bottom View
Top Gutter Bottom Gutter

4
Bottom Gutter End Caps
(2) (Pre-Assembled
& Pre-Glued)
Tower Support Wedges
2-Tower (1)
4-Tower (2)
8-Tower (4)
Top Gutter
End Caps (2)
1/2” Diameter 90°
Elbow Joint (1)
GUTTER COMPONENTS
1/2” Diameter Black
Poly Tubing (2)
Wall Channel
2-Tower (2)
4-Tower (2)
8-Tower (4)
S-Clips
2-Tower (3)
4-Tower (5)
8-Tower (6)
Farm Wall Specifications
5-Foot Farm Walls
2-Towers 4-Towers 8-Towers
Approx. Size 23” (w) x 67” (h) 42” (w) x 67” (h) 80” (w) x 67” (h)
Area Needed (ft2)10.7 19.5 37.3
Bottom Gutter
Capacity (Gal/L)
1.7 / 6.5 3.0 / 11.0 5.7 / 21.7
Drip Emitters
2-Tower (2)
4-Tower (4)
8-Tower (8)
Nuts, Bolts, &
Lock Washers (for S-Clips)
2-Tower (12ea)
4-Tower (15)
8-Tower (18)
Rubber Stopper
2-Tower (0)
4-Tower (1)
8-Tower (2)
Active Aqua Pump
1-Tower (1-400gph)
4-Tower (1-400gph)
8-Tower (1-550gph)
Pulling Hook (1)

5
STRUCTURAL ASSEMBLY
1. Gutter Clip Installation
Fasten two gutter clips to the back of both the top and bottom gutters. Use three bolts, lock washers, and
nuts to secure each clip - place the lock washers and nuts on the inside of each gutter.
The clips should be oriented with the holes up and flush against the gutter. When placed properly the top
half of the clip (the half with the holes) will lay flat against the gutter while the bottom half bends away
creating space for the wall channel.
2. Tower Support (V’s) Installation
4-Tower Farm Walls include two Tower Supports. 8-Tower Farm Walls include four Tower Supports. Tower
Supports must be oriented correctly inside the bottom gutter to ensure proper function of your ZipGrow
Farm Wall. The diagram below shows the correct position of each bow tie inside each gutter. Align the
edges of Tower Supports tomatch the arrows to find the correct placement for the 4-Tower Farm Wall
(left) and 8-Tower Farm Wall (right).
Note: The top gutter of a 4-Tower Farm Wall is drilled
with an extra hole on the back. Fasten one bolt,
washer, and nut through this hole. The top gutter will
have to slide onto the wall channel for mounting.
Note: We highly recommend using gloves when installing the gutter clips, bow ties, and PVC pipe to avoid
any potential cuts.
(Example 4-tower gutter)

6
IRRIGATION ASSEMBLY
1. Place the pump in the bottom gutter using the pump hole located on the left side of the gutter. Orient
the pump so the intake faces into the gutter (see illustration below).
Pump Hole
2. Identify the black poly tubing with the 90º elbow joint and drippers attached. Orient the tubing in the top
gutter so the elbow joint is on the same side of the system as the pump. Make sure the drippers and elbow
are facing down (toward the bottom gutter) and each dripper is centered over each tower hole. Zip-tie the
poly tubing to the top gutter using the pre-drilled holes on the top gutter.
Front View
5. Measure and trim the second piece of poly tubing so that it fits (with space to attach to the fittings)
between the pump and elbow. For 5-foot Farm Walls, trimming may not be necessary.
6. To finish assembly simply push the end caps into place on the top gutter (no sealant required).
Note: To aid with connecting tube fitting you can soak the ends of the poly tubing in hot water.
4. Place the top and bottom gutters on corresponding wall
channels.
Top View
Pump Hole
Note: When plants grow, they lose water (transpire)
as they let O2 out and allow CO2 in. Therefore, it is
important to regularly monitor the water level of the
ZipGrow Farm Wall. If the water level falls below the
cover of the Aqua Active pump, the pump will burn
up and fail. How much water your Farm Wall uses
varies depending on the type of crop, crop maturity,
and the temperature of your growing area. Top-
Off Tanks can be used to reduce the frequency of
monitoring.

7
Wall channel configurations for 5
foot 8-tower Farm Wall
Wall Channel
Warning: ZipGrow Farm Walls can weigh up to 230+lbs depending on how many towers, crop
maturity, and number of Top-off Tanks. Because the Farm Wall can become very heavy it is
critical that each wall channel is properly fastened securely to brick or studs within the wall. If
you have not mounted similar equipment before, please consult a professional.
Mount the wall channels level so each gutter clip rests entirely on each channel.
The distance between the top and
bottom gutter wall channels is
62” for 5’ Farm Walls.
(Gutter shown for illustration)
WALL CHANNEL MOUNTING
47 1/2”
(8-tower clip spacing)
8 Tower Farm Wall
62”

8
Wall channel configurations for 5 foot
4-tower Farm Wall
Wall Channel 62”
4 Tower Farm Wall
WALL CHANNEL MOUNTING
Wall channel configurations for 5 foot
2-tower Farm Wall
Wall Channel 62”
2 Tower Farm Wall
Mount the wall channels level so each gutter clip rests entirely on each channel.
For more instruction, check out this tutorial video on mounting a 4 or 2-tower Farm Wall.

9
FARM WALL
When installing the ZipGrow Farm Wall there are three major considerations:
Lighting
If not using the light kit, place your Farm Wall in a location that receives the correct amount of
light for the crops that you are growing. If growing in the northern hemisphere, a South-facing
wall is ideal to access the maximum amount of sunlight.
Accessibility to water
It is recommended to place a Farm Wall near a spigot or sink to make the process of adding
water easier.
Structural support
When mounting the ZipGrow Farm Wall onto a wall, be sure to anchor the mounting channel
into a structurally sound surface. Only attach the mounting channel to studs, brick, or cement.
Note: Drywall alone will not support a ZipGrow Farm Wall
*Safety Warning*
Do not place a ZipGrow Farm Wall above or immediately near to an electrical outlet.

10
PLANTING ZIPGROW
Now that your ZipGrow Farm Wall is completely assembled
It’s time to plant your ZipGrow towers and start growing!
Remove the Matrix
Media from the Tower
with a pulling hook
Line the media with the wicking strip,
which should not protrude from the
media. It should be ½ inch from the
edge of the media.
Matrix Media
Wicking Strip
Pulling Hook
As you “zip” the media back into the
Tower, sandwich the seedlings in the
fold of the media.
Learn more about planting, growing, and selling crops at Upstart University, the
online training platform for innovative growers.

11
Fill the gutter to the top of the Tower Support with water and nutrient solution. When filled to the top
of the Tower Support, one side of the Education Rack will hold approximately 4.8 gallons of solution.
We reccommend pre-mixed solutions like Dyna-Gro or Canna nutrient solutionts, be sure to follow the
dosing and mixing instructions of the fertilizer you choose to use. Depending on crop size, intensity of
lighting, and outside temperature, the Education Rack may need to be refilled several times per week.
ZipGrow Farm Walls come with pre-mixed nutrient solutions, either CANNA or DYNA-GRO (location
dependant). The nutrients we provide are specially formulated one-part nutrients for all hydroponic
grow systems. For more information on CANNA and DYNA-GRO products, contents, associated
hazards or personal protection requirements (MSDS) is available online at cannagardening.com. and
dyna-gro.com (respectively). Be sure to read and follow the directions of the fertilizer. For additional
information on choosing a nutrient mix, read this blog post on the topic.
In addition to nutrients, an essential component to proper water quality is managing pH. Most crops
like pH to be between 6.2 and 6.8. Typcially, most hydroponic sytems will run more basic (higher in
number) as a by-product of plant growth, however, sometimes hydroponic systems can also run more
acidic (lower in number). To combat these fluctuations and to achieve pH values that are within a
plant’s normal growth range we recommend using pH stabilizers (as shown below).
NUTRIENTS & WATER MANAGEMENT

12
USING TOWER TOPOFF TANKS
It’s recommended to keep a Tower Top-off Tank or a stock of mixed solution on hand to make
refilling a quick and easy process. Tower Top-off Tanks decrease the frequency of refilling the
Farm Wall(s).
Tower Top-off Tank size (ft) Volume (gal/L)
5 3.25 / 12.3
Tower Top-off Tank
1. Close bottom valve (turn to horizontal position) and open top valve (vertical position)
2. Fill Top-off Tank with water
3. Add appropriate amount of nutrient solution and give it a quick shake
4. Close top valve (horizontal position - make sure it is completely closed or the tank won’t
flow properly)
5. Place Tower Top-off Tank into ZipGrow Farm Wall
6. Open bottom valve (vertical position)
Tower Top-Off Tank Instructions
Open position
Closed position
Fill Here
Top Valve
Bottom Valve

13
TROUBLESHOOTING
Problem: Plant show signs of deficiency
Plants with yellowing, brown spots, or necrosis may have a deficiency of one or
multiple nutrients.
Fix: Make sure that you are applying fertilizers properly (instructions above). To learn
more about nutrient deficiencies, watch this video.
Problem: Pests and diseases on Farm Wall
Insect pests like aphids, thrips, and whiteflies, and diseases like powdery mildew and
botrytis occur on Farm Wall crops just like other crops.
Fix: You can use most conventional pest controls with these pests. For detailed
recommendations, see the Pest & Disease Packet.
Problem: Drip emitters are clogging
Sometimes, drip emitters will become clogged with salt build up or soil particles,
cutting the water off from plants.
Fix: Clean out the drip emitter by unscrewing the bottom of the dripper, cleaning out
the membrane inside, or by taking out the membrane altogether. See how in this
video.
Problem: Algae build up in gutter
Algae can cause daily fluctuations in pH and compete with plants for nutrients if there
is too much. (A little bit of algae won’t hurt.)
Fix: Algae is best controlled by shading. ZipGrow Towers are shaded by the Tower
housing and by the black media inside, but the gutter may receive more sun. Shade
the gutter by using something to cover any areas allowing light to hit the water.
Problem: Gutters are leaking
Gutters may leak if the seal is not complete. This can happen if sealant didn’t dry
completely before adding water, but usually is caused when not enough sealant was used.
Fix: Empty and dry out the gutters completely. Marine-Grade Sealant or Boat Bond are the
best sealants to prevent leaking. Fill the groove of the end caps with an adequate amount of
sealant (at least 1/2 full around the entire groove). Secure the end caps to the bottom gutter so the
edges of each gutter rests inside the groove of each end cap. Let sealant dry completely before use
or further installation.

14
Problem: Towers are leaking out the front
If irrigation solution leaks from the front of the Towers, plants can get wet and grow diseased,
or drip onto the oor and create a mess. This happens when the stream of water is diverted
from the back of the Tower over the foliage or wicking strip.
Fix #1: Check the wicking strip placement. Wicking strips should be folded into the media
with no white showing from the front. The edge of the strip should be half an inch from the
face of the media.
Fix #2: Check the angle of the plants. If seedlings are planted at a downward angle, it create
the perfect ramp for water to be diverted. Plant seedlings at an upward tilt instead; this way,
water from the back of the Tower only touches the end of the plug and is wicked upward in
a controlled way.
Fix #3: Check the plant. With large woody herbs like matured basil or other large plants, the
base of the stem can grow thick and bulky, interrupting water ow and giving it only only
place to go: forward. This rarely happens. If it does, reposition the Tower. You may need to
replant if the crops are this large.
TROUBLESHOOTING

15
Thinking about urban farming? Learn everything you need to grow and sell
produce at Upstart University, the online training platform for unique farmers.
ZipGrow is devoted to bringing extreme production to agriculture through cost-
effective and extremely productive techniques.
We believe that the success of local and urban farmers is the success of the food
system, so we make it our mission to help new farmers everywhere see success
in their efforts. We want to help farmers live better, increase their margins, and
provide quality food to their communities.
One mark of the food revolution is the incredible connectedness and support from fellow
growers. You can join in on the conversation through the ZipGrowers Facebook Community,
where others post photos, ask questions, and share links to support each other with their
systems. It’s a great place to get ideas and inspiration!
WHO IS ZIPGROW?
CONTACT US
855-947-4769
[e-mail]
Connect with other Farm Wall users