Troubleshooting Microgreen & Baby Green FAQs

Sticking cover papers can be caused by certain seeds, like Lemon Basil, being more gelatinous (jelly-like), or it may occur if there is not enough humidity to break down your cover paper's food-grade adhesive. As a preventative first step at set-up, mist or pour water over the top of the seed pads to saturate the cover paper.

Lemon Basil seeds' mucilage (the jelly-like seed coating) helps protect the seeds and retain moisture. This photo is for visual demonstration of the mucilage only, and does not reflect the time at which you should remove the cover paper.

If the rest of the Microgreens sticking out from under the cover paper appear ready to have the cover paper removed and there is just one section still stuck to the paper, mist the paper liberally with clean water, then carefully peel away the paper while wet. 

 Lemon Basil Microgreens with the seed pad stuck to one section of leaves; Seed mucilage left behind after spraying and removing the wet cover paper

Once the cover paper is removed, you should see the affected area of Microgreens that were stuck bounce back within a few days, as long as their leaves are still intact. The goopy material left behind will also disappear as your Microgreens grow.

Micro root hairs on Kohlrabi (left) and Radish (right) Microgreens

Often mistaken for mold, these are most likely micro root hairs! Root hairs are normal in hydroponic growing and are used to wick up moisture to help the plant feed itself. Nothing to worry about, and no need to trim them!

 Orange-brown tinting on a Carrot seed pad, and a dark blue spot on the cover paper from a Radish seed

This coloration is harmless, and it isn't mold! It's a result of certain seeds releasing some of the hues from their natural seed coat onto the seed pad or cover paper when they get wet. Seed coats safeguard the internal components of the seed and range in color depending on the type of seed.

Rotate the support plate so the unsprouted seeds face the back of your Gardyn and away from the lights. Gently place the cover paper over the unsprouted seeds for another 24 hours to help them continue germinating, then remove it.

Your Microgreens may not be getting enough water, or are in an environment with excessive heat. Ensure your nursery has clean water inside, and your bamboo wicks are contacting both the water and the seed pad on the Plate. 

Your Microgreens might be too cold! Microgreens do best when the air temperature is consistently around 75°F. To help warm them up, place your nursery with Microgreens on the lid of your Gardyn to benefit from the lights' ambient heat, or in direct sunlight by a warm window.

If the cover paper is still on and you notice the Microgreens growing underneath it are pale or slightly yellow, this is normal and nothing to worry about. This is a natural result of the cover paper doing its job, which is to protect the Microgreens from light during early growth. Once you remove the cover paper after the Microgreens have pushed it off, you’ll see your Microgreens gain color with access to light. 

If your Microgreens are still pale several days after removing the cover paper, they might not be getting enough light. We recommend keeping your nursery with Microgreens on top of your Gardyn's lid, or in direct sunlight by a warm window.

Just like any plant, not all Microgreen seeds are guaranteed to grow the same way, even in the same home! Variables including air temperature, humidity, air circulation, and the seeds themselves mean there's always room for some unpredictability and surprises. That's why we load our seed pads so that even if some seeds don't sprout, you'll still have enough to harvest and enjoy.

To qualify for our seed pad replacement policy, you must:

• Be a member

• Use the Nursery and all Microgreen Kit components according to our recommendations to germinate the seed pad

• Provide photos to our Customer Support Team documenting your unsprouted seed pad(s)

• Have no sprouts or almost no sprouts at the end of Day 10 of germination

To initiate a seed pad replacement, please get in touch with us and send your photos to support@mygardyn.com, or chat with us in the app or on the website. We're here to help!

I'm ready to start a new seed pad. Do I need to wash the Microgreen plate?

Yes! Microgreens rely on a spotlessly clean growing environment to grow successfully. When starting a new seed pad, be sure the white silicone plate is clean by hand washing it with soapy water. 

We recommend starting every new sed pad with a clean bamboo wick, which is included in every seed pad purchase. If you wish to reuse a bamboo wick, be sure to thoroughly clean and dry it before use.

Microgreens are ready to be moved to your Gardyn once your sprouts have the majority of cotyledon leaf pairs open fully, and at least some of the roots are ~2 inches long around the wick.

Wait a few more days to give the roots time to grow so they can reach the water in the yPod.

This could signal a lack of nutrients, which are required to grow Microgreens into Baby Greens. Ensure you only move Microgreens to a Gardyn with plant food in it, and that your Gardyn is not in Germination Mode. If your Baby Greens have had access to plant food on your Gardyn since you placed them there, refresh your tank to rebalance the nutrients.

They may not be getting enough water, or your Gardyn may be in an environment with excessive heat. When you first place your Microgreens on your Gardyn, ensure you run a watering cycle manually so each pad has immediate access to water and plant food. Also check to ensure both ends of the wick are fully inside the yPod. If you see continued wilting, your Gardyn may be experiencing an issue with the irrigation system - click here for more help!

The support plate is designed to fit into the yPod’s notches, just like a yCube. Ensure you align the support plate’s corners with the yPod’s notches.

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