How to Start Fresh: Germinating a New Generation of yCubes on your Gardyn

To start fresh is like going on an adventure with a clean slate! It 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 we call Germination Mode designed to boost your germination speed and success.

Starting fresh offers you an exciting chance to redesign your Gardyn while bringing 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 (if any)

• If they’re alive, try to harvest all that you can so you get to enjoy them. Otherwise, you can 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. Evaluate your Gardyn’s current cleanliness

Just need to clean your tank? Proceed below!

If you see a lot of internal debris, old algae, or if you dealt with pests the last time you used your Gardyn, we recommend a couple extra cleaning steps to ensure your new plants get the best start in life! Jump to those steps here.

• Tip: Want to clean even less in the future? Include HydroBoost in your regular water routine once you start adding plant food!

3. Clean your tank with baking soda and water, then rinse and refill it with 3 gallons of water only.

Reattach your Gardyn’s upper half to the tank when done and turn it on by flipping the main power switch.

4. Ensure your Gardyn is fully assembled and connected to WiFi (or get help reconnecting)

5. Plant your new yCubes

If you have enough yCubes to fill your Gardyn, consider choosing just 10-15 (Gardyn Home) or 5-8 (Gardyn Studio) plants to start and saving some to start a few weeks later. This spaces out your future harvests so you get more to enjoy continuously.

Need some inspiration? Check out our quick-growing plant collection in the app shop for harvests in under two months, or consider our hardiest plants for a fuss-free approach!

Don’t forget to remove your yCubes’ cardboard covers! Remember, yCube orientation within the yPod doesn't matter. Just ensure they're flush. You can use our Placement Guide to help find the perfect spot for every plant's unique needs.

6. Cover any unused spots to keep the inside of your Gardyn clean.

Gardyn Caps, available directly in the app shop, are an easy solution for this!

7. Reset your Start of Water (SOW) Date in the app to let Kelby water your yCubes in Germination Mode.

To do this, tap the gear icon in the top right of your app's home screen to get to your settings, then scroll 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.

• 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, Gardyn/yPod 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 3/4-1 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 3/4-1 more cup of citric acid and about 1 hour to complete this step.

• Optional dormant phase for those who had pests the last time they used their Gardyn

  • 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!

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