Frequently Asked
Questions

All plants available in the Gardyn portfolio have gone through a rigorous testing and validation process to ensure Gardyners will have a positive growing experience. We only bring you the most delicious, nutritious, and beautiful harvests, and we're always adding new varieties to the portfolio!


If you're interested in growing a variety outside of our portfolio, try our seedless yCubes, available in the app's yCube Shop! Designed for the experimental Gardyner, you can pop in your own seeds and watch them grow. For tips on picking your own varieties, click here!

You can find the full list of our plant varieties, including greens, herbs, fruits, vegetables, and flowers, on our website and in the Plant Book in your Gardyn app. We are constantly adding new varieties and routinely update the list as new plants become available.

Yes! We are always expanding our plant portfolio, and members get access to the widest variety and most unique plants we offer.

ll the seeds we use at Gardyn are perfect for organic growing; organic produce can still be produced from uncertified organic seeds. Gardyn's seeds are untreated, non-GMO, and organically sourced from small USA farms whenever possible. We also offer seedless yCubes for you to grow your own varieties.


All plants available in the Gardyn portfolio have gone through a rigorous testing and validation process to ensure Gardyners will have a positive growing experience.


Our Plant Health & Nutrition Team thoroughly tests each variety we offer to bring you the most flavorful and high-quality plants!


You can read about their research here.

You can order plants directly through your Gardyn app. From the 3-line menu in the top left of your app's home screen, select the Shop to explore all of our plants, including Microgreens and Baby Greens.


If you're a member, you can use your monthly credit balance to order plants for free! Orders in excess of members' credit balance will be charged starting at a discounted rate of $1.99 per yCube plus flat-rate shipping (versus $4.99 per yCube plus a flat rate shipping fee of $9.99 for non-members).


Members can take advantage of free shipping on one order per month (based on the anniversary date of your membership) for any credits available in your account. Free shipping does not apply to additional items ordered beyond your balance, and a shipping charge of $9.99 will apply for every 10 items ordered. You may place more than one order each month, but free shipping will only apply to one order per month in an effort to reduce carbon emissions. Without membership, there is a flat rate shipping fee of $9.99 for yCube orders.

Plant growth and germination times depend on the species of the plant. Lettuces, for example, can sprout in a matter of days, and will typically reach full size in about 3-4 weeks. Cherry Tomatoes, on the other hand, can take 60 days to start forming flowers and begin bearing fruit. You can learn more about growth rates and germination speed for each species we offer in the Plant Book, found in your Gardyn app.


The environment around and inside your Gardyn also factors into how fast your plants grow. Externally, ensure the room your Gardyn is in maintains temperature and humidity levels in our recommended ranges. Internally, keeping your Gardyn columns and water tank clean with regular tank refreshes and weekly HydroBoost additions is the best, lowest-maintenance way to ensure healthy plant roots.

Yes! If your yCube(s) do not germinate after 28 days, please reach out to our Customer Success team.

For details on this policy, click here.

The beauty of Gardyn-grown produce is that you know your plants' origin. Since your Gardyn plants are all pesticide- and herbicide-free and grown in your home, you can feel comfortable snacking on plants directly from the Gardyn without washing them first! Bonus: there's no grit or soil or wash off!

Our growing medium of choice that makes up the interior of yCubes is rockwool, a natural, rock-based material. Rockwool holds water well and does not dry out when stored for prolonged periods of time, while also retaining its structure when wet, even after many months on your Gardyn!


Rockwool is composed of natural mineral elements melted into fibers and woven together. They are not compostable, but remember, neither are rocks!


Rockwool does not contribute harmful chemicals to the environment, and you can add rockwool from retired yCubes directly to the ground without worrying about negative environmental consequences. Reused rockwool can be especially helpful to increase water retention in gardens or flower pots that otherwise quickly go dry.


Inhaling rockwool fibers is only dangerous when you are handling and manipulating rockwool in large quantities. This danger does not apply when handling yCubes. We recommend preventing your pets from drinking water out of germination trays containing yCubes so they do not accidentally ingest any fibers. The Gardyn Sprout Nursery has a built-in cover and tray to block access to its water.

In the first 30 days when your plants are young, they won’t drink much water. When you have mature plants, and especially fruiting plants, which drink a lot, you'll need to add water with dissolved plant food at least once per week. We call these weekly additions "topping off your tank."


Kelby will remind members if their water tank starts to run low, but it's best to keep your tank at least 50% full at all times. This gives your plants the most balanced nutrients for healthy growth, and it ensures your tank never runs too low for the pump to reach.

Gardyn plant food is mineral-based to give plants access to the nutrients they need in a way that helps keep your device clean. The ingredients listed are also found in natural soil, including:

• Nitrogen: 8% (includes 1% Ammoniacal Nitrogen and 7% Nitrate Nitrogen)
• Available Phosphate: 5%
• Soluble Potash: 13%
• Calcium: 7%
• Magnesium: 2.5%
• Water Soluble Magnesium: 2.5%
• Sulfur: 4.5%
• Iron: 0.2%
• Manganese: 0.03%
• Molybdenum as 0.001%

We do not recommend using organic plant food in your Gardyn (or in any hydroponic system). Mineral plant food provides the same nutrients as organic plant food, but without generating excess waste that will clog your pump. Since there is no soil present in a hydroponic setup, mineral plant food is always preferred because it is cleaner and will prevent biofilm from developing in your tank and columns. Your plants will still be organic, so no worries! You can learn more about what our plant food is made of here.

Option 1: Compost it

Simply remove the plant and rockwool from the yCube's casing, and add them to your home compost pile. The yCubes' corn- or tapioca-based casing can be composted in industrial composters - check with your town or local waste management system to see if this is an option near you.


Option 2:
Transplant it outside

Many Gardyners like to start plants in their Gardyn before transplanting them outdoors, especially in the warmer months. This is also an excellent redirection when dealing with pests, so you can give your plants another chance in nature, which often remedies indoor pest problems naturally.

Get our tips for transplanting yCubes outside here!

As your plants grow and mature, you'll enjoy harvesting them many times. All plants, however, come to a natural end to their life cycle. The specific timing greatly depends on the plant variety. All lettuces and herbs, for example, eventually bolt, which is when the plant starts growing flowers and going to seed instead of growing more leaves.

To help enjoy continuous harvests for all of your plants, we recommend germinating new yCubes in the Gardyn Sprout Nursery while you're harvesting their mature counterparts so that as one plant reaches the end of its life cycle, you have another ready to take its place.

Yes! If you're looking to experiment, we recommend choosing plants that are determinate (meaning they stop growing in size at a set point) and, if you're looking at fruiting plants, ones with smaller fruit. We offer seedless yCubes so you can experiment with ease.

Some Gardyn plants should not be eaten by pets, including (but not limited to) Cherry Tomato and Pepper leaves. If you have a curious pet and are concerned about them snacking on your Gardyn, we recommend reviewing the ASPCA Toxic and Non-toxic Plants List, and placing any plants with potential negative effects at the top of your Gardyn. You can also purchase a pet or baby gate to block off your Gardyn from unwanted attention.

We recommend preventing your pets from drinking water out of germination trays containing yCubes so they do not ingest any fibers from the rockwool (keeping the lid on your Gardyn Nursery helps with this).

While Gardyn boasts the highest quality, full-spectrum LED grow lights available in a commercial hydroponic system, Kelby cannot offer guidance on growing cannabis. Growing cannabis isn’t legal everywhere, so check your local and state laws first.

Pest issues are less common in indoor gardening, but they can happen from time to time. Gardyn sends plant yCubes that are composed of inorganic material and seeds to eliminate the possibility of outside contamination.

However, pests can still find their way inside through outside doors or windows, or from being carried in on soil-based houseplants or pets. We offer many resources and expert plant support should you ever run into any pest issues. Plus, members can rest easy knowing they've always got enough credits banked should they need to replace any plants.