Ultimate Beginners Guide To The Click And Grow Smart Garden: Setting It Up
By Kaelyn Chua
Published March 2021
For most of you the Click and Grow will be your very first smart garden, so understandably there may be many things you don't know about it. Fret not though, that's why we're here to answer every question you may have about setting it up in this ultimate beginners guide to the Click and Grow Smart Garden.
On our list
#1 Where should you put it?
#2 Does it require sunlight?
#3 How long does the light last?
#4 Will it drastically increase your monthly electricity bill?
#5 Do the plants need a special kind of water?
#6 Is a specific temperature needed?
#7 Can you use your own soil?
#8 Do you need to add extra fertiliser?
#9 How often should you plant new pods?
#10 What are the accessories for?
Where should you put it?
The simple answer would be anywhere you want really as long as it's indoors and shielded from any potential contact with rain. The long answer would be that it depends. If you love cooking and always find yourself to be in the kitchen then we'd recommend placing it on your kitchen counter top for an authentic garden-to-plate experience.
If cooking isn't really your thing, you can consider placing it in the living or dining room as an accent piece. This means that whether you choose to grow herbs or flowers in your smart garden, the Click and Grow is sure to spice up your home.
Does it require sunlight?
Nope not really. The smart garden comes with inbuilt LED lights that emit calm ambient light meant to help your plants grow, hence requiring no external sunlight.
How long does the light last?
Very long. The LED bulbs included in the Click and Grow Smart Garden are made to last up to 7 years at a time, so you don't have to worry about finding replacement bulbs any time soon!
Will it drastically increase your monthly electricity bill?
No, the LED lights are extremely energy efficient. The Smart Garden 3’s LED lamp consumes 8w of power and only uses 3.8 kWh per month. The Smart Garden 9’s LED lamp consumes 13w of power and uses just 6.2 kWh per month. With the average cost per kWh in Singapore being S$0.20, running the Click and Grow sure is budget friendly alright!
Do the plants need a special kind of water?
Nope, regular tap water will do. To reduce calcium or limestone buildup around your wicks, ensure that 2/3 of the wick is always submerged in water and never leave the plant cups empty. This ensures that water is always flowing through the wicks which prevents the buildup of minerals found in tap water.
Is a specific temperature needed?
It depends, some plant pods require a precise temperature range for successful germination. The recommended average room temperature suitable for all plant pods is 22°C. Here is a list of plants that are heat sensitive and should be grown in a 18°C to 24°C environment.
Edible greens: Green Lettuce, Romaine Lettuce, Green Sorrel, Bloody Sorrel, Arugula, Red Kale, Leaf Mustard, Pak Choi, Red Pak Choi
Decorative plants: Moss Rose, Busy Lizzie, Cornflower, Black Pansy
Fruiting plants: Dwarf Pea
On the other hand, most herbs and fruiting plants such as peppers, chilies and tomatoes benefit from warmer temperatures which promote faster germination and growth. If you're unsure about your plant pods, specific temperature ranges can be found in the plant catalog and on the Click and Grow mobile application.
Can you use your own soil?
Technically yes, but that doesn't mean you should. Each plant pod comes with Smart Soil packed with nutrients and minerals specifically tailored to the plants' specific needs. For optimal results and the best tasting produce, we'd recommend sticking to the Click and Grow's Smart Soil.
Do you need to add extra fertiliser?
Nope. The Smart Soil already contains all the nutrients your plant needs to thrive. Each Click and Grow Plant Pod contains a custom-made fertiliser blend which is formulated by professional gardeners and horticulture experts at Click and Grow.
Adding too much of your own fertiliser may burn your plants and ruin your produce, resulting in unnecessarily high levels of nitrate residuals which can be detrimental to both your health and the environment. In summary, it''s best to err on the side of caution and trust the experts behind the carefully formulated plant pods.
How often should you plant new pods?
Theres no fixed answer for this question, it really depends on your own harvesting cycle. You can however grow a variety of plants together at different stages as large plants won't interfere with smaller ones.
What are the accessories for?
U-Shaped Lids
The U-shaped lids that cover each plant cup are meant to reduce water evaporation from the soil, optimising water consumption and preventing algae and mould growth. Do take note that the lids are reusable and we'd highly recommend keeping them on at all times to get the maximum benefits!
Dome
The transparent dome cups are meant to assist with germination by creating greenhouse-like conditions to speed up the germination process. Once the plants have sprouted, you can remove the domes.
All Set Up
We hope we've been able to answer all your most pressing questions, but in the case you still have further queries, you can download the Click and Grow mobile application for more guides and videos.
To see the full collection for Click and Grow, you can visit the link here or experience it first-hand at our physical store, Synced by District.
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