The Essentials: Owning a Plantaform Smart Indoor Garden

Getting the basics right makes everything easier. This guide covers the essentials of owning a Plantaform Smart Indoor Garden: where to put it, how much space and power it needs, what to do in a power outage, and how much water it uses. New to Plantaform? Start with the Setup and Connection Guide in our Help Center.

Finding the Best Spot for Your Indoor Garden

Look for a flat, stable surface, such as a table, near a power outlet. Easy access to a water source helps too, since the Plantaform Indoor Garden needs a refill every 2–3 weeks. Watch Meet Plantaform, The Future of Indoor Gardening to see the garden at home, then read on for the details.

How Much Space Does It Need?

The Plantaform Indoor Garden grows the equivalent of a 15 square foot garden while taking up about 4 square feet of floor space.

• Kitchen: fresh herbs and salad greens within reach while you cook, and refills and maintenance are easy next to the sink.
• Living spaces: it adds colour and light as a living piece of furniture in living rooms, entrances, dining rooms and basements.

Keep it indoors, since it isn't built for extreme weather or precipitation, and within 6–8 feet of a standard 120V outlet. Full dimensions are below.

Puissance

How much power does it use?

The garden uses custom high-efficiency LED lights with a large share of light that plants use for photosynthesis. On average it draws about 60 watts, roughly the same as a standard 60 watt light bulb, or around 1.4 kWh per day. The exact amount varies with room temperature, the plants you're growing and location. Check your local electricity rates to estimate your cost.

It comes with an 8 foot power cable for a standard 120V outlet. Keep it plugged in at all times: unplugging it for more than an hour will affect your plants' growth.

What should I do in a power outage?

Seedlings will be fine for at least a couple of days. Larger plants that need more water and nutrients should last about a day (24 hours). To help them through a longer outage:

• If the pods look very dry, remove the Plant Pod and dip its bottom half in water for a few seconds, without drenching it.
• Take out the Plant Pods and rest the roots in the bottom water tank so the plants keep growing. This can be hard with very large plants whose roots are tangled.
• Power the garden from a battery or backup generator with 120V output until the power returns.
• Open the root chamber and spray the roots with water every few hours.

L'eau

How much water does it hold?

Up to 9 L: a 2 L top tank and a 7 L bottom tank. After your first fill, the tanks together last around 2–3 weeks, depending on your Plant Packs and how big your plants are.

Always fill the 2 L top tank. It extends the time between refills, and it's where you add nutrients with the water at your first fill. The top tank drains into the bottom tank automatically, based on the bottom tank's water level sensor. The app and the button on the garden both tell you when water is low and needs a refill within a few days. For step-by-step instructions, see How to Refill Your Plantaform Smart Indoor Garden.

How much water does it use?

About 400 mL per day on average. Use goes up as plants grow, because they transpire more water to drive photosynthesis and move nutrients.

• Herbs: 2–3 weeks before the first refill, then at least 2 weeks between refills.
• Lettuces and flowers: these grow faster, so about 2 to 2½ weeks before the first refill, then around 1–2 weeks between refills.

FAQ

Where should I put my Plantaform Smart Indoor Garden?

Indoors, on a flat, stable surface within 6–8 feet of a standard 120V outlet, ideally close to a water source.

How much electricity does it use?

About 60 watts on average, around 1.4 kWh per day, similar to a 60 watt light bulb.

Can I unplug it?

No. Keep it plugged in at all times. Unplugging it for more than an hour will affect plant growth.

How big are the water tanks?

2 L top and 7 L bottom, 9 L in total, lasting around 2–3 weeks after the first fill.

How often do I refill it?

Every 2–3 weeks after the first fill, depending on what you're growing. The app and the button on the garden let you know when water is low.

More answers are in the Plantaform FAQ and Growing Guide. Still have questions? Email support@plantaform.com and we'll be happy to help.

Commencez à cultiver avec Plantaform

• Introducing Plantaform 3.0: what's new in the latest Plantaform Smart Indoor Garden.
• 1-Year Kit: a year of growing supplies in one order.
• Plant Packs and Nutrients: stock up for your next grow.

Next guide: A Week-by-Week Growing Guide

Previous guide: Getting to Know Plantaform