1. Seeding and nutrients
It all starts in the sponge
Place one to two seeds in the hole of each cone — the sponges absorb water continuously, creating the ideal conditions for germination and root development.
Fill the planter with 2.5 L of water — up to 3 L is acceptable. Nutrients are not needed until the plant has developed at least two small leaves visible above the cone.
Feeding the plants
As soon as the first two true leaves appear, add the nutrients. The two bottles provided must be added separately — never mix them directly together, as this could create mineral residue. The ideal approach is to add them one day apart to let the pump homogenize the first before introducing the second.
The provided nutrients cover 9 months of cultivation. Our method: dilute each bottle in 500 ml of water separately. When the first two leaves appear, add 50 ml of each solution — then add 50 ml of each solution every 28 days.
2. Lighting and automation
The planter is fully automated: optimized light for growth and a root oxygenation pump. Once plugged in, no intervention is necessary. The light cycle is 16 hours — if you start in the morning, your plants will naturally follow your rhythm.
3. Maintenance
The first month, no maintenance is required. Once the plants are mature and the first harvests have begun, check the water level every 7 days — consumption increases with growth. Around the 45th day, a complete cleaning of the tank is recommended to eliminate organic residue and algae.
Plant Tutorials
Growing Basil — From Seed to Pesto
Basil is one of the most rewarding plants in hydroponics. Its germination is quick, its cycle short, and every cut is rewarded with a more abundant regrowth. Yet a few key gestures make all the difference between a stunted plant and a generous aromatic bush.
Step 1 — Sowing
Germination Parameters
- Substrate: germination sponge, rockwool, or peat plug — lightly damp, never soaked (young basil is susceptible to damping off)
- Light: 14 to 16 hours per day from emergence
- Temperature: 21 to 23 °C for germination; 20 to 25 °C during growth
- Germination time: 5 to 7 days under good conditions
The Key Move: Pinching the Tip
Once young plants reach 4 to 6 pairs of leaves, it's time for the tip pinch — you simply pinch off the top of the main stem between thumb and index finger, just above a pair of leaves. Counter-intuitive at first glance, this move triggers branching: deprived of its apex, the plant redirects its energy toward lateral buds. The result is striking: instead of a single stem that would shoot up before flowering, the plant develops four to eight secondary branches, eventually forming a dense bush with fleshy leaves.
Harvest and Cycle
The first harvest happens 3 to 5 weeks after sowing, when the plant has four to six well-developed pairs of leaves. Cut with pruning shears, always just above a pair of leaves — each cut triggers new branching. A delightful peculiarity of basil in hydroponics: each successive harvest is 20 to 30 % more abundant than the previous one during the first two or three cuts, the time it takes the plant to reach full branching.
A complete cycle, from sowing to the last quality harvest, lasts about 3 to 4 months. Beyond that, even by pinching flowers, the plant tends to harden and lose its aroma. With a multi-pod planter, you can stagger your sowings to maintain steady production all year round — exactly what's needed for a household that uses fresh basil every week.
The Conclusion
The huge advantage of this system is that it requires very little work. Besides adding water and nutrients from time to time, once the seed is placed in the little sponge, the machine works for you!