This is a slight variation on the original dispenser. The pump I was using was causing the water to rush past the outer holes and to the inner circle of holes closest to the tube insert. This caused the water to stream together back down the tube once it went through the holes only watering down the absolute center of the tower. I noticed some dry plant cubes that were only set half way down the planters.
Removing the inner circle of holes and every other hold on the middle ring is forcing the water to properly stream out the outer circle now and properly hitting every planter.
The author remixed this model.