Self Watering Olla-Pot FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Setup Questions

How do I expand my soil puck?
How much sand and soil should I add to my terrarium?
What are microgreens?

Growth and Care Questions

How much water should I be adding to my terrarium?
How much light does my terrarium need to grow?
How big will my microgreens get before I harvest them?
Can I reuse the terrarium and grow more microgreens?

Component-related Questions

What seeds are included in my kit? And why did you pick them?
What is the soil disc made of and how do you get it so small?

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Setup Questions

How do I expand my soil puck?

Place your soil puck into a separate bowl and add ⅓ cup of warm water. Let it stand for 30 seconds as it absorbs water and expands. If you notice dry or unexpanded parts, add more water in 1 Tbsp increments until everything is moist and expanded.

How much sand and soil should I add to my terrarium?

There are two different ways to set up your terrarium:
1.If you want your microgreens to grow completely inside of your terrarium, only add ~½” of each sand color (red first, then yellow) to the jar. This allows room for your microgreens to grow tall but still stay inside the jar rim - this is a “traditional” terrarium setup.
2.If you’d like your microgreens to grow out of the top of your terrarium, feel free to add the full bags of red and yellow sand. This setup also gives the most room for decorating your terrarium with the provided stickers!

What are microgreens?

Microgreens are the tiny, edible shoots grown from plant seeds that are picked about 7-10 days after germination. All of your favorite leafy vegetables and herbs can be grown as microgreens - spinach, lettuce, basil, cilantro, and more! Most microgreens only get about 2 to 4 inches tall before they are ready to be harvested - they really are micro!

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Growth and Care Questions

How much water should I be adding to my terrarium?

The amount of water you add to your terrarium will change throughout the growing cycle. After planting your seeds, add ~2 Tbsp of water to make sure the seeds and soil are moist for germination. If you notice the soil drying out at any point, add more water. During germination, it will help to cover your jar with a wet paper towel to keep moisture inside your terrarium walls.
Once seeds have sprouted, continue to add water - approximately 2 Tbsp per day. The exact amount of water will vary based on how hot and/or dry it is where you live. Keep an eye out for the soil turning a lighter brown color - that is the sign you need to add more water.

How much light does my terrarium need to grow?

Your microgreens only need a moderate amount of light to give them rich color and an abundance of nutrients! We recommend finding a space for your terrarium that receives day-long indirect light or a few hours of direct light. Note that watering levels will vary based on temperature and amount of sunlight, so monitor your microgreens carefully and adjust lighting and/or water accordingly.

How big will my microgreens get before I harvest them?

Microgreens grow to about 2-4 inches before they’re ready to be harvested, but this can vary based on the light they are getting throughout the day. If you have questions about whether your microgreens are ready to harvest - send us a photo and we’ll be happy to give you advice! backtotheroots.com/contact

Can I reuse the terrarium and grow more microgreens?

Your terrarium jar is glass and can certainly be reused! If you’d like to plant more microgreens, we recommend our refill kit - it has more seeds and soil to get you growing again. You’ll want to be careful to remove all old plant matter (stems, old seeds, roots, etc.) before replanting.

Component-related Questions

What seeds are included in my kit? And why did you pick them?

Your terrarium comes with our Mighty Mix Microgreen seeds - a delicious combination of organic broccoli, cabbage, kale, and kohlrabi. These varieties were selected for two main reasons:
Fast-growing: it takes just 7 days for these seeds to sprout and be ready to harvest, so your terrarium ecosystem is up and running in no time!
Taste profile: varieties were chosen to complement one another and build flavors that could be incorporated into a wide variety of meals. Try your Mighty Mix greens on top of your favorite sandwich - they’re the perfect healthy and delicious topping!

What is the soil disc made of and how do you get it so small?

The soil disc is made from 100% organic coconut coir. Coir is the fibrous husk on the outside of coconuts, and it’s one of the most common grow media for gardeners all around the world! These discs are made by compacting coir together as it dries, so it takes up very little space and is very light. When you add water to rehydrate the coconut coir, it expands back to full size!