Vertical hydroponic plant production apparatus

A method of growing a plant in a vertical hydroponic plant growth system, the method comprising:

• providing a plurality of hollow grow tubes positioned adjacent to each other;
• wherein each grow tube has a front face, a back face, a right face, a left face opposing said right face, a first end, and an open second end opposing said first end, wherein each grow tube has a length between the first end and the open second end and the front face has a width, and wherein the length of each grow tube is large than the width of the front face;
• and
• wherein each grow tube has a slot formed in the front face, and wherein said slot is formed along the entire face of the grow tube from the first end to the second end, or to a point approximately four (4″) inches to approximately six (6″) inches from the first end of the grow tube, wherein the entire length of the slot has a width ⅓ to ½ the width of the front face;
• providing one or more matrix media inserts per grow tube, wherein each matrix media insert is composed of two halves, wherein said one or more matrix media inserts are insertable into each of the plurality of grow tubes;
• wherein said plurality of grow tubes are adapted to each receive said one or more matrix media inserts;
• and
• wherein said one or more matrix media inserts are composed of a plastic, fibrous, non-woven matrix media material and wherein the media material is coated in a binding material to slow decomposition and reducing UV damage;
• wherein said grow tube allows one or more plants to be inserted between two of the matrix media inserts through said slot;
• and
• providing at least one pump;
• providing one or more nutrient solution conduits, wherein said at least one pump is operably coupled to said one or more nutrient solution conduits;
• providing one or more nutrient solution emitters, wherein said one or more nutrient solution emitters are operably coupled to said one or more nutrient solution conduits;
• and
• providing at least one reservoir, wherein said at least one pump is capable of circulating nutrient solutions from said at least one reservoir to the first end of the plurality of grow tubes through said one or more nutrient solution conduits and emitting said nutrient solution from said one or more nutrient solution emitters into the first end of each of the plurality of grow tubes such that said nutrient solution passes through the media matrix inserts and into the reservoir through the open second end of each of the plurality of grow tubes;
• inserting one or more plants through said slot and between said two halves of said one or more matrix media inserts;
• and
• growing said one or more plants.

A hydroponic plant growth system, the system comprising:

• a plurality of vertical or substantially vertical hollow grow tubes positioned adjacent to each other;
• wherein each grow tube has a front face, a back face, a right face, a left face opposing said right face, a first end, and an open second end opposing said first end;
• and
• wherein each grow tube has a slot formed in the front face, wherein said slot is formed along the entire length of the front face of the grow tube;
• and
• wherein the entire length of the slot has a width ⅓ to ½ the width of the front face;
• a plurality of matrix media inserts, wherein two or more of said plurality of said matrix media inserts are insertable into each of the grow tubes;
• and
• wherein said plurality of grow tubes are adapted to each receive said two or more matrix media inserts;
• and
• wherein said two or more matrix media inserts are composed of a plastic, fibrous, non-woven matrix media material and wherein the media material is coated in a binding material to slow decomposition and reducing UV damage;
• wherein each grow tube allows plants to be inserted between two of the two or more matrix media inserts through said slot;
• and
• at least one pump;
• one or more nutrient solution conduits, wherein said at least one pump is operably coupled to said one or more nutrient solution conduits;
• one or more nutrient solution emitters, wherein said one or more nutrient solution emitters are operably coupled to said one or more nutrient solution conduits;
• and
• at least one reservoir, wherein said at least one pump is capable of circulating nutrient solutions from said at least one reservoir to the first end of the plurality of grow tubes through said one or more nutrient solution conduits and emitting said nutrient solution from said one or more nutrient solution emitters into the first end of each of the plurality of grow tubes such that said nutrient solution passes through the media matrix inserts and into the reservoir through the open second end of each of the plurality of grow tubes.