Germination Tips for Optimal Growth

Germination can be exciting (sprouts!) but there is also a healthy dose of waiting for something to happen. Be sure to follow Kelby's advice, our tips here, and the app's guidance in Sprout School to minimize your wait time and help your seeds begin their journey toward healthy, beautiful harvests!

Why it matters: Soaking gives your seeds the perfect amount of hydration to signal that it's time to start growing, without overwhelming them with water. While the Nursery is the best option to boost germination speed and success, you may also use a tray with a ventilated lid to get started.  Learn more in the app's Sprout School, or here! 

This includes the water in your Sprout Nursery or tray. If you’re starting fresh with all new yCubes on your Gardyn, start with a light cleaning of your device to ensure all previous plant food residues are washed out of your device.

Why it matters: Seeds contain all the nutrients they need to kickstart germination and grow their first leaves. Adding plant food too early overwhelms the seed and shuts germination down. Let Kelby help guide you in learning when it’s best to add plant food based on your plants’ growth.

Why it matters: Both will lock in moisture and inhibit germination. Only use yCovers after you see true leaves and you’ve thinned your sprouts.

Why it matters: The rockwool in yCubes is very absorbent and doesn't require as much water as soil to germinate seeds. Keep your watering schedule in Kelby's control to ensure your seeds get just enough water.

While you may adjust your Gardyn's light schedule in the app to match your household rhythms, we recommend maintaining 14-16 hours of Boost light daily. Your light schedule overview in the app will let you know if your plants are getting enough light. Too little light leads to pale and elongated (leggy) sprouts, while too much causes leaf discoloration and stresses your plants.

To find these readings, from your app home screen tap the gear icon in the top right corner to get to Settings, then tap the Advanced tab. Humidity and temperature are listed at the bottom.

Why it matters: The ideal germination environment is in the 70°F, with humidity around 65-75%. If your readings tend to fall on either extreme of these conditions, your seeds may struggle to germinate. 

Why it matters: A vented lid helps control the temperature and humidity for your seeds, producing the ideal environment for sprouting.

While seeds don’t need light, placing your germinating yCubes on your Gardyn’s lid gives your seeds a boost from the lights’ radiant heat. It’s the perfectly warm hug your seeds crave!

Seeds need just enough moisture to sprout; too much can drown them! Only add more water to your Nursery or tray once it is entirely gone.

Remember, even under the best conditions, germination times vary across varieties, and sometimes even among seeds of the same plant! Some plants take up to 28 days to sprout. For variety-specific germination times, check out your plants’ pages in the Plant Book.

Check on your yCubes daily to discover their progress. Once you start seeing sprouts, it’s time to take a closer look at those leaves - click here to learn what comes next! 

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