Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know about Nutraponics systems, setup, growing, orders, schools, and support.
No proprietary lock-in
Use standard net pots
Own it. Grow on your terms.
Freedom to choose
Healthy, fresh, sustainable
Jump to What You Need
Getting Started
Setup, basics & first grow
Products & Systems
Towers, shelves & more
Seeds & Nutrients
Seeds, nutrients & media
Growing & Maintenance
Care, cleaning & tips
Orders & Shipping
Delivery, returns & more
Schools & Classrooms
Education & programs
Troubleshooting
Issues & solutions
Support
Contact & resources
Popular Questions
What is an open hydroponic system?
An open hydroponic system means you are free to use your own seeds, nutrients, and growing media. Nutraponics systems are designed to be flexible, affordable, and built for long-term growing without subscriptions or proprietary parts.
Do I have to use Nutraponics seeds or nutrients?
No. You can use any seeds, seedlings, or nutrient brand you prefer — Nutraponics never locks you into proprietary consumables.
Seeds and nutrients are the two things we intentionally leave out of our systems, because we do not want owners tied down to what they can and cannot grow. Both are widely available from a local nursery or hardware store.
Are proprietary pods required?
No. Nutraponics systems use standard net pots and growing media, not proprietary pods. The net pots are included with your system, they are reusable, and replacements are inexpensive and widely available.
How hard is setup?
Every system except the Solo Cube needs some assembly — these units are large, and shipping them pre-built is not practical. That is why they are designed to be modular and straightforward to put together.
Your system ships with an instruction manual, and after purchase we email you assembly videos that walk through the build step by step.
Which system is best for my home?
It depends on your space and goals. The Pro Shelf (72 planting sites plus an 85-site germination bed) and the 80-pot tower with LED grow lights are both comfortable for a family of four to five, as long as you keep planting cycles running.
Use the comparison page or the Find My System tool to narrow it down.
Can I grow tomatoes, peppers, and leafy greens?
Yes. Nutraponics systems support leafy greens, herbs, tomatoes, peppers, strawberries, and more.
The one exception is root vegetables: carrots, onions, and potatoes cannot be grown in the towers. The shelf system has limited room for smaller bulb-shaped crops such as turnips and baby potatoes.
Are Nutraponics systems good for schools and classrooms?
Yes — our systems are widely used for hands-on STEM learning. Schools can pair a Pro Shelf or Pro Tower 80 LED with NGSS-aligned curriculum, teacher resources, and implementation support through the Classroom Bundle.
We also accept purchase orders, offer Net 30 terms, and provide tax-exempt and W-9 documentation. Request school pricing.
Where can I get help if I need it?
Our support team is available by chat and email — write to support@nutraponics.com or use the contact page.
You can also browse the full support centre FAQ for detailed answers on products, shipping, returns, and payments.
Still need help?
Our growing experts are here for you.
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Why Our Open System Matters
Freedom to grow your way—no lock-in, no limitations.
Nutraponics Open System
- Use your own seeds, nutrients & growing media
- Standard net pots & media you can find anywhere
- No subscriptions or recurring fees
- Modular, repairable, and built to last
- Grow what you love, your way
Locked-In Pod Systems
- Require proprietary pods & media
- Limited plant choices & higher costs
- Subscription often required
- Harder to repair or upgrade
- You’re locked into one brand
Browse FAQs by Topic
Getting Started
What’s included in the box?
Your system arrives with everything needed to build and run it, including the net pots — those are reusable and cheap to replace. The two things you add yourself are seeds and nutrients, so you are never tied to one brand.
How do I set up my system?
All systems except the Solo Cube need a fair amount of assembly, so they are built to be modular and easy to install. An instruction manual ships in the box, and we email assembly videos after purchase.
How much space do I need?
The towers are about 24″ in diameter and range from roughly 3′4″ to 5′6″ tall; light extensions add about 12″ of width. The Pro Shelf is about 5′6″ high, 3′ wide and 18″ deep, with 9″ of clearance between trays.
Do I need to plumb it in to water?
No. Each system has its own nutrient chamber that you fill by hand — no water line required. Capacity is about 7 gallons, which lasts around two weeks.
How do I plant my first crop?
A getting-started guide ships with your order. It covers the full process from germination to transplantation, how much nutrition to use, the ideal temperature for each plant, and the pH level to maintain.
Choosing a System
What’s the difference between systems?
The towers are vertical: water and nutrients are fed from a sprinkler head at the top and trickle down past every site, so roots take up nutrients as the water passes and get oxygen when the cycle stops.
The Pro Shelf flows nutrients through trays, so roots stay in contact with water except during the oxygen cycle. It is gentler on plants and generally produces a faster harvest, and it adds an 85-site germination bed and a lighting control panel.
Which system fits my space?
Towers need about 24″ of floor diameter and 3′4″–5′6″ of height. The Pro Shelf needs a 3′ × 18″ footprint and about 5′6″ of height. Both are designed for indoor rooms, classrooms, and greenhouses.
How many plants can I grow?
Capacities across the range run from 48 to 96 planting sites. The Pro Tower Garden is offered in 48, 64, 80 and 96-site builds; the Pro Shelf has 72 planting sites plus an 85-site seeding bed; the NutraTower has 72 sites plus a 76-cell seedling tray; the Pro AeroTower has 48 sites.
Are Nutraponics systems expandable?
Towers are offered as 6, 8 and 10-layer builds, and that limit is set by the water pump. Extra layers beyond those would need a larger pump and a higher-capacity reservoir, so we do not sell add-on layers separately — pick the capacity you want up front.
Will one system feed my family?
The 72-site Pro Shelf and the 80-pot tower with LED grow lights are each usually enough for a family of four to five, provided you keep planting cycles running rather than waiting for a full harvest before replanting. Lettuce and most herbs take about three to four weeks.
Seeds, Nutrients & Supplies
Why don’t systems ship with seeds or nutrients?
Deliberately. Competing systems sell marked-up pods and seeds and tie you to what you are allowed to grow. Seeds and nutrients are widely available, so leaving them out keeps you free to grow anything that can be grown hydroponically — without paying extra for it.
What nutrients should I use?
Nutrients are easy to find at a local nursery or hardware store. The guide that ships with your order shows exactly how much nutrition is needed, the ideal temperature for each plant, and the pH level to maintain.
Where should I buy seeds and supplies?
The best starting point is your nearest garden centre or hardware store, where you can talk through what you plan to grow, your conditions, and your yield expectations before choosing nutrients. It is worth holding off on online orders until you know which seeds and nutrients suit you.
What growing media works best?
Standard net pots and growing media — the kind you can find anywhere — are all these systems need. Net pots are included with your system and are reusable; replacements are cheap and widely stocked.
Can I reuse the net pots?
Yes. The net pots included with your system are designed to be reused between crops, and replacements can be bought online inexpensively whenever you need more.
Growing, Cleaning & Maintenance
How often do I refill water and nutrients?
The nutrient chamber holds about 7 gallons, which typically lasts around two weeks before it needs topping up. The system does not need to be connected to a water supply.
What can’t I grow in a tower?
Root vegetables. Carrots, onions and potatoes will not work in the towers. The shelf system does have limited room for a small selection of bulb-shaped crops such as turnips and baby potatoes.
What light schedule is best?
If your system sits outdoors or beside a window that gets about eight hours of daylight, you do not need supplemental lighting at all. Indoors, the LED builds carry their own grow lights, and the Pro Shelf adds a control panel for lighting levels and timing.
How long until I can harvest?
Lettuce and most herbs take roughly three to four weeks. Keeping staggered planting cycles running — rather than replanting only after a full harvest — is what keeps a system producing continuously.
Do the systems come with a warranty?
All products are covered by a 1-year warranty against product defects from the date of sale. During that period Nutraponics will repair or replace the product if such defects are present.
Orders, Shipping & Returns
How long does shipping take?
Orders are typically processed within 3–5 business days for delivery within the contiguous United States. Hawaii and Alaska take longer, usually 7–10 business days. Most orders ship well ahead of these estimates, and you will get a tracking number by email once yours is dispatched.
Do you offer free shipping?
Yes. All orders include free shipping within the contiguous United States, with no additional shipping or handling fees at checkout.
What is your return policy?
We accept returns within 30 days of delivery for most customers, and 60 days for schools and educational institutions. If an item arrives damaged or defective we cover return shipping and offer a full refund or replacement.
For a non-defective return, return shipping is paid by the customer and a 30% restocking fee plus a 2.9% payment processing fee are deducted from the refund. Items must be in original packaging and perfect condition, with proof of purchase and a shipping label from us. Refunds appear 5–10 business days after inspection.
How do I track my order?
You can view order status at any time on your My Account page. It updates at two stages: when your card is charged, and again when the product ships.
What if something arrives damaged?
Email support@nutraponics.com and we will make it right. If an item arrives damaged or defective we cover the return shipping and send a full refund or a replacement.
Schools & Classrooms
Do you accept purchase orders?
Yes. School purchasing is supported end to end — quotes and estimates, purchase orders, Net 30 terms, tax-exempt documentation and W-9 forms.
Do you offer school pricing?
Yes. Tell us about your school and we will come back with custom pricing and an implementation plan. Request school pricing and consultation.
What systems work in classrooms?
The Classroom Bundle pairs either the Pro Shelf — best for whole-class visibility and demonstrations — or the Pro Tower 80 LED, which suits labs and rooms with limited floor space. Multi-classroom bundles are available too.
Is there curriculum and lesson support?
Yes. Bundles include NGSS-aligned lessons written for Nutraponics systems, a teacher implementation guide, a student workbook, a crop handbook, posters and printables, plus startup supplies and onboarding support.
How do school orders work?
Start with a consultation, get a tailored quote, then order by PO with Net 30 terms. Grant language, budget templates and program-justification materials are available in the Grant Resources toolkit if you are seeking funding.
Recommended Systems
NutraTower
NFT tower with seedling bed
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$1,799.00$2,199.00
View ProductComparePro Shelf
Tray system with germination bed
72 Plants+ 85 seeding sites
$1,449.00$1,799.00
View ProductCompareNot sure which system fits you?
Answer a few quick questions and we’ll recommend the perfect system for your space, goals, and budget.
More Ways to Get Answers
Growers Love the Freedom
“Love that we do not need to buy the pods like other brands. I grow my own seedlings from scratch and it costs a fraction of the price. There are no subscriptions either. Definitely the way to go!”
“Our school uses these — we ordered 8. Doing good so far, no complaints. We do run out of supplies, but their customer service takes care of us.”
“Our classroom tower is the highlight of the week. Students are more engaged, ask better questions, and take pride in what they grow.”












