Tender Love & Care for your Tiny Trees <3
Updated: Jul 18, 2021
Now that you have a Tiny Trees plant of your own you have the option to chow down on her leaves right away or linger in her company a little longer and harvest her microgreens a few days after delivery. If you plan to hold off on harvesting for a bit and want to try out plant parenthood, there are a few things we think you should keep in mind.
We know that the idea of taking care of a plant can bring up deep anxiety for some people. It is a vulnerable act to take responsibility for a living thing. However, given that you're here reading this- we know that you already have what it takes to show up for a plant that wants to show up for you. Our guide is here to support you and answer your questions on how to show your Tiny Trees plant some Tender Love & Care.
What Do My Tiny Trees Need From Me?
Light! 🌞🌞
The first thing you'll want to think about is where in your space to place your Tiny Tree plant so that it gets enough sunlight.
Microgreens prefer bright indirect light like a table or shelf near a window, or a kitchen countertop that gets a good amount of sunshine. They will also do well on a window sill (direct light) but might get a little more thirsty in the direct line of the sun, especially if your window faces South or West. Keep an eye on your Tiny Trees and If they are looking a little droopy, you might try moving them to a spot where they have more sunlight access. Alternately, if your fresh greens are shriveling up- this could mean they are either not getting enough water or taking in too much sunlight. Keep an eye on your microgreens and move them around to find a balance of light.
-> If you are planning to harvest your microgreens within the first day of delivery, they should be able to maintain their structure and health for the rest of the day, just about anywhere as they have powerful energy reserves to survive change. After about a day they will be needing the resources being discussed here to regain homeostasis..
Water 💦💦
If you are intending to keep your microgreens as a plant for a few days or are attempting to regrow it's shoots, you will need to provide it with some fresh water to keep your plant juicy and luscious. As a general rule of thumb- microgreen plants placed in indirect light need to be watered about every other day. If your plant is sitting on a windowsill getting direct light it will probably need a little water each day.
Watering seems to be an area of caring for plants that creates great stress for humans. The majority of plants that die do so as a result of overwatering. To avoid this human habit, I suggest a watering method called "bottom- watering." This is the process of letting your plants soak in a tray or dish of water for about 20 minutes before returning them to their appointed container.
While this process takes a few extra minutes, it is the easiest way to ensure that you are not overwatering your plant. Bottom-watering allows the plant roots to drink as much water as they need within that 20 minutes, This way the plant gets to choose the amount of water she is taking in rather than being drowned in too much water on a day when she isn't so thirsty. Bottom-watering also prevents mold from forming on the top soil- a sign of too much moisture and not enough air flow. Your Tiny Trees Microgreens have been raised using the bottom-watering, so this is the method they are familiar with.
If you feel that you cannot commit to this process every day, don't worry- You can water your microgreens from above as well, the same way you do other houseplants. Pour a little bit of water on top of the soil each day- just don't overdue it. Microgreens like their soil to stay moist but not wet. Start with little sips of water to avoid overwatering. Touching the soil yourself will give you a sense of how big of a drink your plant needs each day. If you touch the soil with your finger and find that your finger is wet when you pull away- hold off and test again the next day. If your finger isn't wet from this assessment but the soil still feels moist, she probably needs a drink the following day. If the soil is dry, give your microgreen plant some water.
One tip for remembering to water your plants is to keep your watering can next to your plant. Seeing your watering can will cue your brain to remember to water your plant. We've found that having the watering can immediately accessible allows less leeway for the mind to make its excuses.
Air 🌬🌬🌬
In the world of microgreen health, air can refer to both the air flow needed to support a health growth cycle, as well as the temperature and humidity range of that air. Because microgreens grow in such close quarters to one another, they benefit from any measures taken to uninhibit the flow of air in and around their stems.
To support ventilation of your microgreens, consider placing them somewhere in your space where air flows naturally and freely. Focus on an open space (like a counter or table) rather than a compact corner or a spot surrounded by two many other plants.
The other main way you can help the air flow of your plant is to be mindful of any container you may choose to place it in. Think of your microgreens as having a mild case of claustrophobia- your plant's leaves do not want to be confined by the walls of a pot. So make sure that the stems of your microgreens are exposed to air, rather than being partially or fully covered by the walls of your container. The pot is for holding your plant's root system and soil. Her stems should be free to blow in the wind.
Same plant, different pots = different air flow
Temperature and humidity levels should be considered as well when caring for your Tiny Trees Microgreens. They prefer surrounding temperatures between 70-74 F. Humidity levels should be between 40-60%. If the air around your microgreens is too hot, too humid, or too stagnant you could be risking mold growth in your microgreens. More on mold later in this post.
Nutrients 🐿🐿
Most plants also need nutrients to grow big and full. Many require a fertilizer be added to the soil, providing vital minerals and vitamins so that the plant can reach its full potential. Lucky for us, we are eating the plant at its microgreen stage. The microgreen gets all of it's essential nutrients from it's seed and that initial burst of energy that the seed gives off to begin its life (also known as germination). In turn, we as humans do not need to interfere when it comes to the fertilization of microgreens. If we were waiting for the crop to bear fruit (like a zucchini) we would need to consider adding nutrition to help the plant produce that zucchini. However, since we are eating our Tiny Trees at their most powerful phase of life- no fertilization is needed. We do provide your microgreens with some light nutrients in their growing cycle as a way to boost flavor, germination rate, and harvest weight. For our Tiny Trees grown in soil, we add all-natural, organic worm castings which provide concentrated nitrates, potassium, magnesium, calcium, and phosphorous. Our hydroponically grown micros receive a solution of pure, deep ocean nutrients like potassium chloride and nitrogen.
No need to worry about adding nutrients to your microgreens, even if you are planning on regrowing your peas or chives.
If you have bigger dreams for your Tiny Trees- like growing them into baby greens, or into their mature plant version- you will need to do further research into what nutrients are needed for mature versions of these microgreens.
Be gentle with yourself as you learn the language of plants - you are relying on perhaps new or underused methods of receiving information. Utilize your senses to assess its overall well-being and take appropriate action to alleviate any areas of stress. Smell, touch, taste, and look at your plant often and listen to your gut. Let your eyes, nose, fingers, and mouth explore your Tiny Trees Microgreens plant as often as possible. The more you take in of it's unique details with your full body, the better you will be at noticing if it needs something from you (some water, more sun). Notice how much lift or perkiness your microgreens have. Are the stems standing straight up, reaching for the sky? If so, they are in great shape. However, are your plant's cotyledon's drooping downward? This might indicate over-watering or under-watering. Check the soil moisture before deciding to add water. Are the stems all leaning in the direction of your closest window? This means they are searching for light. Bring them a little closer to the sunlight. Paying close attention to your plant and attuning to its needs is your clearest path to victory when it comes to creating a healthy relationship with your plant.
