Hydroponic Growing System, Planting Tower and Method

A planting tower, comprising:

• a growing pot having a wall portion defining an elevationally-extending concavity;
• a root distribution plate having an outer periphery configured to be fitted in substantial horizontal conformity within the concavity at a position elevated from a bottommost portion of the concavity and an array of raised root barriers subdividing a top surface of the root distribution plate into a plurality of distinct root beds;
• and
• a water distribution plate carried beneath the root distribution plate having a downwardly sloped radially outwardly extending water distribution surface terminating in a plurality of discharge apertures proximate a net pot containing a rooted plant.

A method for growing potted plants, comprising:

• providing a planting pot with a vertical cavity, a laterally spaced apart array of adjacent growing pots elevated in the cavity each containing a plant, a root distribution plate substantially level beneath the growing pots having subdivided adjacent pocket regions each beneath one of the growing pots separated by an array of upstanding ribs, and a water distribution plate having a sloped outwardly descending surface spaced below the root distribution plate;
• supplying water and fertilizer to each growing pot;
• dropping the water and fertilizer through and down from each growing pot onto the root distribution plate;
• downwardly withdrawing the fertilizer and water centrally of the root distribution plate downwardly onto the water distribution plate;
• and
• accelerating the water and fertilizer outwardly from atop the water distribution plate toward an ejection aperture for delivery to a net pot provided outwardly of the aperture.