Thanks. I know it's not ideal and edited my comment to include that. I went a little wacky while my wife was away. This is what I have and I'm going to stand pat for now. Any advice regarding how to water, or any advice at all, would be great. Way to early but everything has started to grow to we'll see what happens.

Your problem isn't going to be watering. That grow light isn't suitable for most plants. A small light like that several feet away from the plants (some of which are even shaded from it on the other side of the structure) comes nowhere close to the illumination produced by the sun. Because the pupils of our eyes expand when it gets darker, the huge difference between sunlight and artificial light isn't obvious. Not sure what the power is of your light, but it is probably OK at distances of half a foot or so from the plants.

This isn't about you being able to see your plants. It's about plants having as much light as they would outside. Might work with ONE of the stackable pots.

So...I can't see this contraption having adequate lighting. We're trying to tell you...it won't work indoors, unless you have six to eight lights, there's no way you're going to be able to provide adequate lighting to each different height/placement/arrangement. If you want to simplify, get pots, put at same height in circle or row with the light at the same height (more or less) for each.

As others have said, your containers will be ok for herbs but the cherry tomatoes will need to come out of there and go into individual small pots so that you can keep potting them up as they continue to grow. You can probably leave them where they are until they grow to a couple of inches tall, and then carefully remove and divide them. The next size up would be a 3" pot (per plant), an individual yoghurt container, or a small coffee cup with holes punched in the bottom.

Grow lights are usually positioned very close to the container - depending what kind of light it is, they can be 2 inches away or a foot.

Strawberry pots are tricky things to water so I'd be inclined to give it a little water every day. When you are able to move it outside you can try giving it a lot of water until it flows out of the bottom, and then you wouldn't have to water every day.

I hope you used "potting" soil. It's the best thing to use for any container.

Good luck!

Linda

It would work fine in a bright location outside...assuming drainage is good...where you can hose it daily or so.

Regarding watering, Im not sure how it drains, but I would spray the seedlings when they get dry, and make sure they dont dry out. I tend to overwater but am working on that. I bought a simple "moisture meter" that helps buy knowing not only how dry it looks on top, but is the middle/roots really moist. You might find this helpful. I applaude you for trying this out, but hope you dont get discourated if some things dont excel. We all learn by trial and error. I would not fertilize tiny seedlings til they have at least 2 REAL leaves, not initial leaves, and when you do start, dilute to 1/3 or 1/2 strength. If you find your seedlings are getting leggy, it might be that the light just isnt enough. What kind of soil did you plant in? Some already have fertilizer in the mix

Your window in the background can help some with light, unless it faces north...then not much help at all. Keep the blinds open except at night. Only a very small container type tomato will work. But if you started from seeds it will be awhile before a larger variety needs to be moved. Depending on your location, perhaps it could go outside in a large pot then.

Watering will take more than a spray bottle. You want your soil moist, but not soggy throughout. Stick your finger in a couple inches and check the moisture. A spray bottle may wet the surface and fool you into thinking the soil is moist, but down an inch or two could be very dry. Gently pouring water around the edges of the containers until the plants are larger will get them the water they need without disturbing the tiny plants. Fertilizer won't be needed immediately, but later you can greatly dilute it and water with that.

I've thought it would be fun to try a stacking planter like you have. Looks like a good set up for lots of small herb varieties when used with good lighting. Maybe I'll stack one on my patio next summer.

As to watering, as noted, it'll take more than a spray bottle. A spray bottle wets the surface. But the surface isn't where the roots are. In fact once the plants develop, you don't want a wet surface at all. That will just encourage rotting. With small pots like that, sticking your finger in the soil to test moisture-at-depth without disturbing the roots is kinda tricky. Note that with soil that isn't expressly made for containers, it's actually going to be hard to keep the soil uniformly moistened. The water you pour on will just tend to run down the sides, especially if the soil dries out.

I have read claims that with that type of set-up one can supposedly just pour the water in the top and it will trickle down and water all the plants. Like "trickle-down economics" it sounds good in theory but doesn't work in real life. Each of your plants may have very different water needs - a common problem with multiple-plant planters - so you will need to access and water each individually as needed.

"As needed" means learning what the water needs of each plant is and then, as Dan said, sticking your finger down into the soil to feel it. As a very general guide, many herbs require minimal water to do well while tomato plants would need 5x as much.

Once weather permits for the whole tower to be moved outside the odds of success will increase greatly. ;)

Dave

David

Cherry tomatoes are some of the biggest tomato plants, mine grow to around 7-8 feet, they go all the way up the tomato cage outside and then drape down a few feet.

That said, I am delighted with your start. As you go you will learn and tweak, but it is a wonderful journey you have begun. Congratulations!

Well, nothing is going to grow as large, in these pots, as they would grow in the ground or a less restricted container. I gather that there was no intent for them to do so. But with sufficient light and water, you'll probably get some production. Certainly the cherry tomatoes will be happy to drape down over the side of everything else.