How to Become an Indoor Hydroponic Microgreen Master Gardener in 3 Easy Steps

Hydroponics is the process of growing plants using only water! This method completely eliminates the need for soil when it comes to growing and maintaining your favorite veggies, fruits, flowers, etc. Hamama is a great and easy way to dip your toes into this technique and enjoy the benefits it has to offer! Grab your Grow Tray and your favorite Seed Quilt and follow along on this blog post to learn the 3 easy steps to become an indoor hydroponic microgreen master gardener!

Much like regular gardening, it is always important to understand the plants that you’re growing and what their particular growing quirks may be! The first thing to know about Hamama is that you will be growing microgreens, which are just a bit different from growing sprouts. 

Sprouts are the first visible stage of germination, where the only leaves are the cotyledons (first true leaves). Microgreens are the next stage: after the first set of true leaves shows, but before the second set. For some seedlings, this is as short as 7 days & for others this can mean as long as 21 days! Microgreens do not sit in water or need to be rinsed like sprouts do which significantly decreases the chance of bacteria forming.

Another important thing to consider is the variety of different microgreen options that Hamama has to offer:

When deciding on the microgreen you’d like to grow, we have a couple of resources that may help make that choice a bit easier! We’ve ranked our microgreens from Beginner to Advanced and provide tips and tricks on what to look out for when growing each of them. If you’re interested in following along with the Growing Journey of your specific microgreen, be sure to check out our collection of Growing Diaries! 

Another thing to note is that the microgreens’ maintenance and growth can look slightly different depending on your particular growing environment. Our growers are located all throughout the US, meaning the same microgreens that can be grown in the arctic climate of Alaska can also be grown in the hot & humid tropics of Hawaii and in the mild plains of Indiana! Pretty neat, right!?

• Wait until your seeds have all completely sprouted prior to adding more water to the tray.
• If you notice that the water level has dropped below the tray’s bottom ribs, you can add about a cup of water to the tray, but never over the seeds themselves.
• Be sure to only add enough so that the water level reaches somewhere between the base and the middle of your coco mat.

• Limit the amount of excess moisture your Seed Quilt is exposed to.
• Gently detach the seed portion of the Seed Quilt from the coconut mat after soaking and let the excess water drip off a bit. *Watch for air bubbles in the cells - this means there is still some airflow left in the pockets which will also help with the seed germination.
• No need to add any additional water to your tray during the growing process. (If the water level gets below the tray’s ridges prior to harvesting, you can add about 1 cup of water.
• Airflow from opened windows or an overhead or oscillating fan in the area will help give the seeds the proper airflow they need to thrive.

• Keep the tray in a darker area during the germination phase. 
• After the seeds have germinated, supplement the greens with light to help the leaves open and to allow the microgreens to become a richer green color. 
• Don’t keep the tray in direct sunlight all day long if it is especially strong and hot. 
• Microgreens thrive in temperatures between 70F-85F.
• Be sure to always keep an eye on the water level to ensure the greens don’t wilt prematurely from running out of water.

• When microgreens are in an area that’s a bit chillier (65 degrees and below), they may require additional time to germinate and mature.
• Keep the tray away from any windows where a cold draft could lower the surrounding temperature.
• During the initial days of their growing cycle, the seeds germinate best in the darkness. Once peeled though, they like plenty of natural light (or regular indoor lighting).

If you want more in depth information on what to look for in your microgreens and how to handle some of these external factors, check out our “Effect of Climate on your Microgreens” blog post!

If you are having some trouble with your microgreens, we offer a plethora of resources for you. The first place we recommend looking is our FAQ page where you can find a lot of helpful answers to our most commonly asked questions. You can find this section by clicking the “Help” tab at the top of our website or by clicking here!

In that same section you can also see our “Info” tab which is the location of our Meet Your Microgreens page! This page provides some additional information in regards to your greens like their taste, nutritional benefits and some recommended ways to include them in your recipes!

This page also houses the growing instructions for our Green Onion Kit as well as our Garlic Greens Kit!

The growing instructions for our original Hamama Growing Kit can be found here.

Our Blog library is also a great resource whether you are a new grower or if you’ve been growing with us for a while! We are continuously adding new tips and tricks for how to make your growing experience seamless.

Lastly, our Grow Coaches are always here for you when you have any questions! Just reach out to us here with any questions and pictures. We will do our best to get you on the path to being a master hydroponic gardener in no time!