Tap water works great in your ingarden unless your tap water contains large amounts of chloramine used to purify it. You may also use distilled or spring water.

Depending on the type of microgreens, the optimal temperature for growth is between 15 and 22 °C (60 - 75 °F). Microgreens love an even temperature; that's when they develop the fastest. At higher temperatures, bacteria and fungus can flourish while your seedlings dry out faster. At lower temperatures, the plants can absorb less water and develop more slowly, and you could have problems with mold.

Whether it makes sense to switch on the light after the seeds have germinated depends on the type of seed. Some of our seeds need light to germinate, while others can germinate in the dark.

For some microgreen varieties, such as radish, arugula or mustard, it is advisable to turn on the light only after germination. These seeds usually require a cool and dark environment to germinate successfully.

Other microgreen varieties such as broccoli, kale, red cabbage, or pak choi need light to germinate and should be illuminated from the start.

We recommend using the brightest light setting. To do this, hold down the timer button for 3 seconds, until the light blinks. All microgreen varieties will grow regardless of the strength of the light, but the light on the timer will promote the optimal (most) growth.

As soon as your growth cycle is complete after an average of 5-7 days and you have harvested all your microgreens, you can start growing new microgreens immediately. Simply compost your used pads (or dispose of them in the organic waste), place new pads on top and water them completely until the new pads are soaked.

Microgreens can continue to grow for about 3-4 days after the end of their main growth phase, as long as you carefully add water to the side to keep them alive in the ingarden. Alternatively, it is possible to harvest the microgreens and keep them fresh for 2-3 days in an airtight box in the fridge. However, for the best quality and freshness, we recommend eating them ideally within 1-2 days of harvesting.

Cleaning your ingarden once a month ensures great microgreen quality and that you won’t run into the risk of unwanted odor. The ceramic bowl, trays, wick holders, tray holders, and wicks are dishwasher safe (max. 55 °C/131 °F temperature).

After each harvest, manually remove the microgreen roots from the wicks under running tap water. Afterwards, make sure to twirl the wicks before placing them in the wick holders. This will prolongate the wick usage and encourage the transpiration process.

ingarden pads are best stored in a cool, dry and dark environment. Our refill packs are designed so that they can be stored optimally and are not exposed to light. This protects the seeds from excessive exposure to light, unwanted moisture or heat damage, which could have a negative impact on yield development. If you have thrown away the packaging, make sure that it is stored in a sealed container that is not exposed to moisture or light.