How to Sprout yCubes in the Gardyn Sprout Nursery (Soak Method for Germination)

Use the Soak Method with the Gardyn Sprout Nursery to germinate (sprout/start) new replacement yCubes before transferring them to your Gardyn. This method fully saturates the rockwool and helps maintain the warm, humid environment seeds need to sprout successfully.

• What this is: Step-by-step instructions to sprout/germinate/start yCubes using the Soak Method in the Gardyn Sprout Nursery.

• Best for: Replacement yCubes, or yCubes removed from the device after a Kelby Sprout dose prompt

• Why use this method: The 5-minute soak fully saturates the rockwool and creates a optimal germination environment

• Where to place it: Always place the Nursery on the Gardyn lid to benefit from the lights and ambient warmth.

• Weekly care: Monitor the rockwool moisture weekly, and look out for newly emerged sprouts. Weekly checks are typically enough when the lid stays on.

• Ready to move: True leaves, or 0.5 inch roots, or yellowing cotyledons

  • Follow: When are My Sprouts Ready for Plant Food (yCube Readiness Guide)

Watch a quick walkthrough:

You’ll need:

• Gardyn Sprout Nursery (base, tray, lid) or a similar covered, ventilated tray.

• Fresh water without plant food

• The yCubes you want to start

  Important: Never germinate yCubes on a Gardyn with plant food in the tank. Nutrients can slow or inhibit sprouting.

1. Prepare the Nursery

   1. Insert the tray into the base.

   2. Add water only up to the indent connecting the tray squares.

   3. Place you yCubes in the tray.

   4. Let them soak for 5 minutes to fully saturate the rockwool.

2. Drain the base

   1. Lift the tray and empty all water from the base.

   2. Return the tray with the yCubes into the empty base.

   3. Place the Nursery lid on top of the tray.

3. Place on the Gardyn lid

   1. Set the Nursery on your Gardyn lid to benefit from the lights.

Rockwool holds water well, so with the lid on, weekly moisture checks are usually enough. During these checks, look at both moisture and sprouting progress.

1. Check rockwool moisture

   • Dark green/moist to the touch:

     The yCubes are still well hydrated. No water needed.

   • Light green/ dry to the touch:

     Repeat the Soak method, and replace the lid and return the Nursery to your Gardyn lid.

Goal: Keep the yCubes moist but never sitting in standing water. Constant oversaturation can slow or prevent germination.

1. Monitor for germination

   When you check moisture, also look for the early signs your seeds are sprouting

   • Seeds swellings or cracking

   • A tiny root tip emerging

   • First cotyledons (seed leaves)

Use the following ranges as general rule of thumb guidelines. Other factors like temperature, humidity, variety and seed age can shift timing.

• Lettuce and leafy greens: 3-7 days to sprout

• Most herbs: 5-14 days days to sprout

• Flowers: 5-21 days to sprout

• Fruiting plants:5-14 days days to sprout

Transfer yCubes to your Gardyn when they show 1 of 3 signs of growth beyond the sprout stage, such as:

• True leaves are visible

• Roots 0.5 inches long emerging from the yCube

• Cotyledons yellowing, indicating the seed’s stored energy is running out, sprout needs plant food

For more details and examples, see: When are My Sprouts Ready for Plant Food? (yCube Readiness Guide)

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