Summary:

  1. Keep the light about 10 cm above the plants
  2. If a plant becomes dry, pour 3-4 dl of water into the base plate
  3. Is the light too bright in the evening? Dim the light
  4. Harvest regularly and make sure all plants get plenty of light
  5. Remove dead plant debris
  6. The warmer it is, the faster it grows (below 18 degrees, it grows very slowly)
  7. You can start a new crop by sowing seeds, taking cuttings, or replanting store-bought herbs

 

Tip 1: Keep the light about 10 cm above the plants

The plants are looking for light, so if the light is too far away, you will get tall, thin (and weaker) plants. If the light is too close, the plants can become burned. About 10 cm above the plants is perfect!

The light bar can feel a bit rigid, but just push it up and down as needed.

 

Tip 2: Does a plant become dry? Pour 3-4 dl of water into the base plate

Sometimes it can get a bit dry. Especially if you have large plants that drink a lot.

This can happen if it suddenly gets hot or if the plants grow extra fast. If this happens, lift up one of the pots and pour a little water (3-4 dl) into the baseplate. This will make your Auk recover and water normally.

If the plants become dry, pour 3-4 dl of water into the baseplate and your Auk will recover.

 

Tip 3: Is the light too bright in the evening? Dim it for a comfortable evening light

The plants need a lot of light to grow fast, but the light can feel a bit too bright sometimes (especially in the evenings).

If you want to reduce the light for a while, press the light button once to dim it. It gives a warm, comfortable light - perfect for dinner parties.

When you dim it, the light will remain dimmed until the next light cycle starts. Then it turns on at full strength again (read more about the light here).

Press the light button once to dim the light

 

Tip 4: Harvest regularly and make sure all plants get enough light

After the plant has grown up (about 4-6 weeks), it is great to harvest regularly, so it continues to grow. 

Do some plants steal a lot of light? Trim them and make sure the lower ones get more light. Every plant needs light to grow. If some of the plants are "stealing" a lot of the light, it may be wise to trim them a bit. The plants grow at variable speeds, and typically arugula and parsley grow quickly and tend to overshadow the others. Here is an example:

Here you can see the basil is in the shade, and it grows much slower (or worst case it stops completely)

The solution is to either move the basil straight beneath the plant light, or trim the other plants, so it's no longer in the shade. 

Interested in learning more? See more about harvesting and caring for herbs here.

 

Tip 5: Remove dead plant debris when it falls down

By removing the plant debris, you avoid mold. Mold is completely natural and not harmful to you or the plants, but it's not so nice to look at. If you get it, it's easy to remove by scraping it away with a spatula. See how to remove it here.

 

Tips 6: The warmer it is, the faster it grows

The optimal temperature is 22-25°C. Anything above 20-21°C is excellent! If it's below 18°C, it grows very slowly. 

Tip for the extra eager: High humidity also provides better growing conditions. During winter the air is often a bit dry, and in that case you could use a humidifier to provide even better growing conditions.

 

Tips 7: You can start a new crop by sowing seeds, use cuttings, or repotting store-bought plants

There are many ways to grow plants with Auk, and that's part of the fun! Auk is an "open" system, where you can grow whatever you want.

You can grow in different ways:

  1. Sow seeds again. Note: You must ensure that the new plants get enough light.
  2. Use cuttings from other plants
  3. Repot store-bought plants to avoid waiting for new ones to grow

Read more about starting over.

 

Anything else you're wondering about? Don't hesitate to contact us or look around in our articles :)