When to remove the dome?
We suggest you keep the dome (transparent cap) on until you see the sprouts almost reaching it - just like shown in the picture below. The dome is there to create greenhouse-like conditions for the seeds to start sprouting faster and more effectively.
How to set/adjust the light timer?
Your Smart Garden lamp has a built-in timer with a 16 hours ON and 8 hours OFF cycle - it's the perfect amount of light for faster growth. Try to make the lamp mimic the natural day cycle: just plug it in in the morning so the light would be on during the day and it will automatically shut off in the nighttime once the 16 hours is done. It is important for the plants to enjoy some rest in the dark - they need sleep just as we do.
The automatic cycle starts from the beginning every time you plug in the Smart Garden.
If you wish to reset the timer, you should always wait for at least 10 seconds after unplugging the lamp to plug it in again. Should the lamp's automatic schedule malfunction, leave the garden unplugged for at least 2 hours before plugging it in again.
If your lights are flashing or are working irregularly we would recommend doing a full reset of your garden. Simply follow these steps:
1.Unplug your garden
2.Leave it unplugged overnight
3.Plug your garden in again (preferably into a different outlet)
If you are still experiencing problems with your lamp after a full reset, get in touch with our support and they will be happy to help you out.
When and how to add water?
On average, a full water tank lasts for about 2 weeks, depending on the plants and their current growth stage, but you can definitely fill up the tank sooner if necessary. We do not recommend leaving the Smart Garden unattended for longer than a week to avoid any unfortunate surprises!
Make sure the water level indicator doesn't rise above the surface of the lid to avoid overwatering.
What kind of water to use?
Regarding watering, filtered water or softened water may essentially cause the plants to die from dehydration. Salt (sodium) will build up over time and may gradually cause degradation in the soil quality. Some species are more affected than others.
For this reason, we always recommend using tap water. However, tap water sometimes (depending on the region) causes limescale in the water tank, which in turn may clog the water transmitting wicks. Cleaning the water tank and wicks in a warm vinegar solution helps to remove limescale when necessary.
How to avoid overwatering?
Excess water
However, it is crucial to avoid adding too much water to the water tank.
If you pour too much water inside, there is a risk of overwatering which in turn may cause root rot or unsuccessful germination. To avoid this from happening, the water level indicating float should not rise higher than the garden surface.
Wicks out of place
Another thing to keep an eye on is the water-transmitting wicks. Sometimes, the wicks that transfer water to the pods have moved out of place. Remove the cup to see if all the wicks are in the same position. If you see that some wicks are pointing out further than others, adjust them accordingly. If your plant pods still seem too wet (which may cause mold or algae to grow on the surface), just click the pods out of the garden for a few days to let them dry. Please note that this could happen in the first stage of growth. The substrate has the same amount of moisture inside, but when the plants are smaller, they need less water which can lead to overwatering in the beginning. That problem should be resolved when plants are bigger and need more water.
How to clean and maintain your device?
So, you have successfully grown one or more plants and would like to start fresh with a new plant pod.
We recommend cleaning the product before inserting a new pod. Just pour out the water from the unit and rinse the water reservoir carefully with warm water. You may add a little amount of detergent as well. If there is some limescale build-up, this can easily be dissolved with some mild food vinegar or citric acid solution.
Rinse again thoroughly and dry gently with a paper towel.
Also, don't forget to clean the plastic cups as they are reusable!
For this, please disassemble the device fully.
The lamp, transparent germination domes, U-shaped lids, and water-transmitting wicks should not be washed in the dishwasher. Please note that any product malfunctions caused by dishwashers are not covered by the warranty.
In case of a pest infestation, it is necessary to wash and disinfect the Smart Garden thoroughly and wait at least 3 weeks before planting the next round of pods. This helps to ensure that the pests will not reappear. For instance, ethanol is a good option to use for disinfecting.