7 tips for your smart indoor garden

1. Set the smart garden's plant LEDs to be on for 16 hours during the day without dimming.
   
   
2. Position the plant LED light about 3 cm above the plants for best light utilization.
   
   
3. Ensure all plants in your indoor garden receive enough light.
   
   
4. You can refill water and Green-Energy plant nutrients at any time to provide optimal care for your plants.
   
   
5. The ideal temperature for your smart indoor garden is 18-24 °C. Humidity should be between 40% and 60%.
   
   
6. Harvest regularly to encourage new growth and keep your plants healthy. Check the harvesting tips in the app.
   
   
7. Follow the watering instructions for microgreens and harvest them after 10 days at the latest.

 

Tip 1 - 16 hours of light per day without dimming

Plants grow best when they receive 16 hours of light per day. If the light is dimmed (possible with the homefarm), optimal growth will be restricted. During the day, plants use light for photosynthesis, producing energy. However, the night is just as important, as it corresponds to the plants' "recovery phase." During darkness, important processes occur in plants, such as cell division, root growth, and the conversion of sugar into energy. Without these resting phases, they would not be able to develop properly and remain healthy in the long term.

Tip 2 - Plant LEDs 3 cm away from the plants
Plants stretch towards light, and if the light is too high, they will grow tall and thin (if it's too close, they can burn). 

In your smart indoor garden, it is important to position the plant LEDs at the correct height for even light distribution. Too far away will cause plants to try and grow towards the light, which can lead to weak and unhealthy growth. If the light is too close, they can burn or lose too much energy. The right balance helps your plants stay strong and healthy, with optimal use of the plant LEDs for the best possible growth. The technical term for plants stretching like this is "etiolation". Colloquially, it is also referred to as "spindly growth".

Tip 3 - Ensure sufficient light for all plants

Plants grow best with direct light exposure. Make sure to plant plants of similar growth size on the same level. If larger, fast-growing plants shade smaller plants, consider pruning the large plants to distribute the light evenly. This ensures that every plant in your indoor garden receives enough light and can grow optimally. 

Tip 4 - Refill water and nutrients regularly

You don't have to wait until the water tank is empty before refilling Green Energy nutrients. For example, you can refill before your vacation to ensure your plants are optimally cared for even in your absence.

If you only refill a part (e.g. 1 liter), adjust the nutrients accordingly. 
1.5 liters (one plant box): 4 drawn pipettes.
1 liter: 2.5 drawn pipettes.

Tip 5 - 18 - 24 °C and 40% - 60% humidity

The ideal temperature for your smart indoor garden is 18-24 °C. If the temperature drops below 18 °C, growth can slow down significantly, as plants do not like to "freeze."

Also pay attention to humidity, which should be between 40% and 60% to promote the best growth and keep your plants healthy.

Tip 7: Water microgreens and harvest after 10 days

Observe the watering instructions for microgreens. 

1. Place the microgreen pad on the tray.
2. Submerge the tray in water for 10 seconds.
3. Insert it into the plant box. For transport to the minifarm or homefarm, you can use the greenhouse dome.

Harvest the microgreens after 10 days at the latest. This ensures they reach optimal size at the right time and you achieve the best results. Microgreens grow in dense clusters, which restricts air circulation and traps moisture in the lower layers of the substrate. This promotes mold growth. Therefore, quick harvesting is important.