How to Clean your Gardyn

Keeping your Gardyn clean is essential for healthy plants and a thriving system. We'll walk you through a total cleanse step by step.

The Gardyn Home 4.0 columns, which are compatible with Gardyn Home 3.0, have advanced seals in the columns that prevent nearly all internal growth. There are 5 other ways you can help prevent the need for a whole-Gardyn clean:

1. Keep up with your regular root checks and root pruning

2. Regularly add HydroBoost with every tank top-off and refresh

3. Keep your tank full by topping off as soon as Kelby alerts you

4. Refresh the tank as soon as Kelby sends you a task

5. Keep any unused slots on your columns covered to prevent algae

If you're dealing with algae, root pieces, salt deposits, or pests, or if you are planning to take a break from growing for a while, a whole garden cleanse gives you and your plants a fresh start for better future growth.

The same steps are written below.

You'll need: clean scissors, a tray, soft rags or paper towels, a small towel for the floor, about a cup of citric acid, a large bowl, a spray bottle, and a bottle brush.

• Start by fully harvesting mature plants and removing any that are unhealthy, bolting, or have extensive algae or mold growing on the yCube. The more you remove, the easier this process will be!

• If you want to keep any plants, place them on a tray. You can keep these yCube inside their yPods. It takes roots a few hours to dry out, so don't worry if water spills out of the yPods as you handle them.

• If you have any covers like Gardyn Caps over unused slots, remove these now, too.

• Collect all the yPods from the plants you're not keeping along with any Gardyn Caps and place them in your bowl.

• Using a ratio of two Tablespoons of citric acid per two cups of water, cover and soak these pieces for at least 15 minutes or overnight.

• If you notice any stubborn algae or biofilm after soaking, use a bottle brush to scrub it off. Rest assured that these pieces have still been cleaned even if some stains remain

• Before you start this step, ensure your tank has at least 3 gallons of water in it for Gardyn Home, or 2 gallon for Gardyn Studio, by checking your tank level on your app’s home screen. Only add water up to this level if necessary. This will create the ideal water-to-citric acid ratio in your tank.


• Begin by clearing out any large root pieces from the columns using long tweezers or something similar.

• Mix 1 cup of citric acid for Gardyn Home, or 3/4 cup for Gardyn Studio, with 2 cups of water. Pour this directly into your water tank.

• Activate a watering cycle in the app to distribute the solution using the toggle in your water widget, found on your home screen.

• While the cycle is running, fill your spray bottle using a ratio of two Tablespoons of citric acid per two cups of water.

• Use this to spray the inside of your columns through every open slot.

• Once the water cycle ends, scrub inside each slot with a bottle brush, then run another watering cycle to rinse everything down.

• Wipe down the exterior of your columns along with the exterior of the yPods for any plants you kept with the remaining citric acid solution from your spray bottle or soak bowl.

Now it's time to rinse out your Gardyn before placing any plants or new yCubes on it.

• Turn off and unplug your Gardyn, raise the pump, open the lid locks, and lift by the columns to place your upper Gardyn on the towel.

• Remove the tank and pour out the citric acid solution, then fill it with 3 gallons of fresh water.

• Return the upper half of your Gardyn to the tank. Lower the pump, plug your Gardyn in, and run one last watering cycle to flush your device.

• Detach your tank one last time and wash it thoroughly with dish soap and water, ensuring you rinse it well.

If you've been dealing with a particularly dirty, unhealthy, or pest-affected Gardyn, we recommend adding these bonus steps into your routine for the most complete clean. You've already done the heavy lifting, so consider these add-ons your chance to put the whole in wholesome cleaning.

Bonus Step 1 : Clean the lights

Use a damp rag to wipe down the metal light bar and plastic cover of your LED light bars.

Bonus Step 2: Clean the lid's top and bottom

Tilt the upper half of your Gardyn down so that the light bars are closest to the ceiling. You'll now be able to access the underside of your lid. Wipe the water level sensor with water only, then dry it. Wipe down the rest of the lid, including the funnels, irrigation hoses, and wood cap, with the same citric acid solution from your spray bottle or soak bowl. Be sure to dry any wood immediately!

• Reassemble all cleaned parts and plug your Gardyn back in. It may take about 5 minutes to reboot, and your schedules will resume automatically.

• If you’re starting fresh with all new plants, fill your tank with 3 gallons of water only. Add your new yCubes, cover any open slots, and reset your SOW Date in the app.


• If you're returning existing plants to your columns, dissolve ½ teaspoon of plant food per gallon while refilling. Don't forget to cover any empty slots with Gardyn Caps to keep those columns clean! Log your cleaning as a tank refresh in the app.

Your Gardyn is now fresh, clean, and ready to grow. Your plants will reward you with many delicious harvests to come thanks to your diligent effort!

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