Germination Basics

Find videos and resources for germinating in the Nursery in the app's Sprout School!

Germination is the first life stage of a plant. It is the process of a seed coming to life by growing its first roots and leaves.

Germination only begins once certain environmental conditions around the seed are met, letting the seed know it’s safe to grow. All seeds require to germinate are the right amount of water, humidity, and warmth.

Luckily, whether you're germinating your Welcome Kit, or you're starting fresh with a new generation of yCubes on your Gardyn, Kelby helps manage all of these conditions for you so your yCubes can germinate with ease.

Germinating off your Gardyn in a Nursery or tray? Be sure to follow our germination tips for success, and our guide on using the Nursery.

Seeds lie dormant until given the environment they need to thrive. Once a seed comes into contact with water, it begins to absorb it and swell, eventually splitting open the seed coat. 

When the seed coat cracks, the first baby root, called a radicle, begins to grow downward to enable the plant to take up water and nutrients. 

The embryo then shoots upward as it reaches for the light, eventually showing the cotyledons, or first leaves. These leaves feed from energy stored within the seed, which is why young sprouts don’t need plant food - they’ve already got all the nutrients they need!

After the first leaves, the second set of leaves, called true leaves, begin to grow. Learn more about how to tell the difference between the two leaf sets, and what to do when you see true leaves, here!

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