🌱 Grow Tube

Modular Plant Growing Unit
(250 mm diameter × 500 mm deep)

The MaterialCycle Grow Tube is a durable, fully reusable plant-growing module designed for growers who value efficiency, longevity, and minimal waste. It integrates seamlessly into the MaterialCycle tower system, combining robust construction with practical features that support high-quality plant production in compact, vertical spaces.

Rather than treating growing containers as disposable items, the Grow Tube is designed to remain in continuous use across many planting cycles — supporting a more resilient and circular way of growing.

🛠️ Designed for long life & circular use

The tube and removable base plate are constructed from 1 mm clear polycarbonate sheet, selected for its strength, weather resistance, and recyclability at end of life. All bolted connections use small stainless steel bolts and nuts, ensuring corrosion resistance and easy disassembly for repair or recycling.

Snap-fit mounting clips are made from long-lasting UV-stabilised LDPE, designed to withstand prolonged outdoor exposure while remaining flexible and replaceable.

This material strategy keeps the Grow Tube simple, durable, and compatible with circular economy principles.

⚙️ How the Grow Tube works

Plants grow inside a clear cylindrical tube, supported by a suspended removable base plate resting on four aluminium rods. Excess irrigation water drains freely below the base plate, preventing waterlogging while maintaining a well-aerated growing medium.

The transparent tube allows growers to easily monitor soil structure and moisture content, enabling accurate watering and healthier plants without disturbing the soil.

Any water that drains below the base plate is captured by the tower’s reservoir and recirculated back to the plant, forming a closed-loop system where water and nutrients are conserved rather than lost.

🌱 Full plant extraction — without waste

When a plant is ready to be harvested, transplanted, or sold, the four aluminium support rods can be removed, allowing the base plate to be dropped out together with the entire plant and root ball fully intact.

This approach enables:

• Stress-free transplanting

• Clean harvesting

• Sale of mature plants without destroying the growing container

Once the plant is removed, the Grow Tube remains fully reusable and ready for immediate replanting — a significant advantage over conventional potted systems where containers are often discarded after extraction.

🌬️ Built-in wind shelter & extendable protection

The section of transparent tube above soil level doubles as a mini greenhouse, providing valuable wind shelter for young plants while still allowing full sunlight penetration. This is especially beneficial in windy outdoor environments, where early-stage stress can slow or damage growth.

Wind protection and plant support can be extended upward using clip-on wind shelter / plant support rings, allowing growers to adapt protection as plants grow taller.
Additional shelter and support attachments are sold separately.

🔄 Closed-loop efficiency by design

The Grow Tube is designed to work as part of a larger system, where:

• 💧 Water is captured, reused, and never wasted

• 🌾 Nutrients remain within the growing loop

• 🌍 Growing remains efficient even in water-scarce conditions

This makes the Grow Tube particularly well-suited to sustainable food production and long-term outdoor setups.

✅ Key grower benefits (ranked)

1. ♻️ Fully reusable growing container — no disposable pots

2. 💧 Closed-loop water & nutrient reuse with zero runoff

3. 🌱 Stress-free full plant extraction via drop-out base plate

4. 🌬️ Built-in wind shelter for young plants

5. 🔄 Rapid crop turnover without system disruption

6. 🧩 Modular, snap-fit integration with MaterialCycle towers

7. 👀 Easy visual monitoring of soil moisture and condition

8. ⬆️ Extendable wind shelter and plant support

9. 🌡️ More stable growing microclimate

10. 🚚 Safer transport of plants for sale or relocation

11. 📦 Lower consumable costs over time

12. 🧪 Ideal for experimentation and side-by-side trials

13. 🧠 Lower skill barrier for new growers

14. 🧱 Space-efficient vertical growing

15. 🧼 Fast cleaning and reset between cycles

16. 🛠️ Long-lasting, repairable construction

17. ☀️ Outdoor-ready, UV-stable materials

18. 🌍 Reduced plastic waste footprint

19. 🔩 Field-repairable, component-level serviceability

20. 🏷️ Easy plant identification and tracking

21. 🌱 Supports living soil systems

22. 🛒 Clean, professional presentation for resale

🧱 Construction & materials

• 1 mm UV-stabilised clear polycarbonate tube and base plate

• Stainless steel bolts and nuts throughout

• Aluminium base plate suspension rods

• UV-stabilised LDPE snap clips

• Lightweight, corrosion-resistant, and modular

💰 Pricing & availability

Price: R220
Price is indicative and subject to change. Lead times may apply.

For availability, bulk orders, or integration into a complete MaterialCycle tower system, please contact MaterialCycle directly.