Starting Fresh: Germinating a New Generation of yCubes on your Gardyn

Starting fresh means choosing to germinate an entirely new generation of yCubes on your Gardyn and resetting your Start of Water (SOW) Date in the app. This is different from the first time you germinated your Welcome Kit yCubes on your Gardyn, when your device was new, never had plant food in it before, and you were automatically prompted to set your SOW Date.

This is a feature in the app that indicates the first day your yCubes got wet, beginning the germination process. Your SOW Date helps Kelby know that your yCubes need special care, prompting a unique, germination-only water schedule designed to boost germination success.

Starting fresh offers you peace of mind by coming back to your Gardyn with a clean slate. Whether you took a break because of life's changing rhythms, a pest problem, or something else, starting fresh allows you to reset with an entirely new set of plants. How many and which varieties you start with are up to you.

Follow the steps below to start fresh with success. Don't skimp on the prep, or you might end up having to start over due to the same challenges you've experienced in the past with algae, pests, etc. It's worth it, we promise!

1. If you haven't already, remove all of your existing plants

Either compost them outside, or put them in a trash bag that you then take out immediately. yCube casings are commercially compostable, but the plants are good to go in your personal compost. While rockwool is safe to reuse in potted plants or to add to compost, remember it won’t break down (it’s actual rock fibers!).

2. Make sure your device is fully and correctly assembled.

Ensure all of your columns are twisted into place so that all slots face the front. Once assembled, ensure your Gardyn is connected to your WiFi and paired to your mobile device so you can control it in the app - click for tips!

3. If you had a pest problem the last time you Gardyned and are now starting fresh, we recommend you complete the following:

• Wipe down your columns’ exterior

  • Mix 2 Tablespoons of citric acid with 2 cups of water. Alternatively, you can mix 1 part hydrogen peroxide to 3 parts water, or half vinegar and half water. Use a soft cloth to wipe this solution all over your columns, removing any buildup in the process.

    • If you’re using vinegar, opt for something plain like white or apple cider vinegar. No fancy ingredients needed!

• Soak yPods, Caps, & Nursery (if you had one on your Gardyn's lid)

  • Use the same liquid solution from above to soak all the pieces you removed from your Gardyn in a large bowl or bucket. Mix enough solution to cover the pieces so they can soak for at least 15 minutes and up to overnight, sterilizing them. Scrub any buildup from your pieces after soaking, rinse, and let air dry.

    • If you’re using a spray bottle instead of the bowl/bucket, spray the solution, scrub the pieces, then rinse and let air dry.

• Clear large debris from columns

  • Use long tweezers, a chopstick, or a similar tool to reach inside each column opening and remove large root clusters or anything big that fell into the columns. This can be a bit tricky, so just do your best!

• Optional A: Flush Gardyn with citric acid

  • This helps sterilize your irrigation hoses and water tank. To do this, complete Part 2 of the Guide to Light Cleaning. You’ll need 1 more cup of citric acid and about 40 minutes to complete this step.

• Optional B: Sterilize columns & lights

  • If you opt into this step, it is instead of the option above it. It adds an inner column scrub between the citric acid flush and rinse, plus a wipe down of the light bars and the lid’s top and bottom. To do this, complete Parts 2-4 of the Guide to Deep Cleaning. You’ll need 1 more cup of citric acid and about 1 hour to complete this step.

• Optional dormant phase

  • You may choose to let your Gardyn sit powered off and empty for up to 2-3 weeks to remove the environment the pests are attracted to. While you wait, review our pest prevention steps so you’re armed for your next round of Gardyning, and explore the shop to plan your next plants!

4. Pick the yCubes you want to plant!

Add variety by trying some of the new plants in our constantly growing yCube Shop in the app. We suggest choosing just 10-15 plants to start with so you can add plants later on in waves. This is called succession planting, and helps you have more consistent harvests rather than all of your plants maturing at the same time.  Need some ideas to get started? Find our top picks for starting fresh with ease here!

5. Clean your tank (just like a tank refresh!) & fill it with 3 gallons of tap water only. 

Empty your water tank and clean it with just water and baking soda, then rinse. Reattach your tank to your Gardyn’s upper half and leave the wood cap to the tank open. Flip the main power switch to turn your Gardyn on.

6. Plant your new yCubes directly on your Gardyn and remove their individual cardboard covers.

Remember, yCube orientation within the yPod doesn't matter! Just ensure they're flush. Use our Placement Guide to help find the perfect spot for every plant's unique needs.

7. Cover any free spots (those without yCubes) with Gardyn Caps to prevent anything unwanted from entering or growing inside your device.

8. Finally, reset your SOW Date in the app by tapping the gear icon in the top right of your app's home screen to get to your settings, then scrolling to the bottom of the screen.

Now you can let Kelby take it from here! You're on your way to a new generation of beautiful, tasty harvests. 

Questions? Reach us at support@mygardyn.com, or chat with us! We're here to help.