Hydroponic Growing Kit

Basil-Genovese

1

Set Up Your Kit

  1. 01 Choose the growing location

    Choose the growing location

  2. 02 Add water and nutrient

    Add water and nutrient

  3. 03 Plant the seeds

    Plant the seeds

  4. 04 Start the light schedule

    Start the light schedule

2

Stage Guide

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Germination

Usually 5–10 days.

Two rounded seed leaves open while a pale root extends through the plug.

  • WaterBegin at 16 fl oz. At about 8 fl oz, add plain water back to 16 fl oz.
  • NutrientUse 0.5 mL per 16 fl oz at setup. Do not add another dose during germination.
  • LightProvide 14–16 hours under a grow light, followed by 8–10 hours of darkness.
  • What to doKeep warm. Check each hole through day 10 and reseed any empty hole.
  • Ready for next stageSeed leaves are open and the first pair of true leaves is beginning to form.
3

Rules That Apply at Every Stage

  • Provide the plant-specific grow-light schedule daily, followed by the stated hours of darkness.
  • When the jar reaches about 8 fl oz, add plain water back to 16 fl oz. Never exceed 16 fl oz.
  • Refresh the nutrient solution every 2–3 weeks; add the stage-specific nutrient dose only during a complete refresh.
  • Between complete refreshes, add plain water only; do not add extra nutrient.
  • Keep the sleeve on to shade the roots and reservoir, and rotate the jar one-quarter turn weekly.
  • Shake ClearGro Indoor Plant Nutrient (3-2-5) before every use.
  • Use ordinary indoor airflow and keep the plant away from heating or cooling vents.
  • Maintain a temperature around 70–80°F (21–27°C); avoid temperatures below 60°F (16°C).
4

Harvest & Regrow

Harvest stems

Cut above a leaf pair, leaving healthy foliage below. Remove flower buds promptly and harvest moderately.

Encourage regrowth

Keep healthy foliage after cutting; fresh side shoots should emerge below the previous cuts within several days.

5

Regrow or Restart

Option A — Continue the same plant

Continue harvesting above leaf nodes and remove flower buds. At the next complete refresh, use up to 1.5 mL per 16 fl oz. Replace the plant when stems stay woody, leaves become small, flowering is hard to control, or root health declines.

Option B — Start a new cycle

Discard the old plant, plug, and roots. Wash and rinse the jar, band, net pot, and wick. Install a fresh plug and seeds, then return to the setup steps. Do not reuse the old plug.

6

Troubleshooting

No sprout by day 10

Confirm warmth, 14–16 hours of light, and the 16 fl oz water level. Place one fresh seed in each empty hole.

Tall, weak seedlings

Increase usable light, move the lamp closer without touching leaves, rotate the jar weekly, and remove overcrowded seedlings.

Yellow or pale leaves

Check light, roots, water level, and the stage-specific ClearGro 3-2-5 schedule. Do not add an unplanned nutrient dose.

White fuzz or mold on plug

Remove visible growth gently, improve airflow, and avoid pouring water onto the plug. Replace the plug if growth is widespread, smells sour, or seedlings decline.

Brown, slimy roots or odor

Discard badly damaged roots, wash the jar, replace the solution, keep the reservoir shaded by the sleeve, and ensure the level does not exceed 16 fl oz.

Green algae

Keep the sleeve on, block light from the reservoir, and clean the jar during the next solution refresh.

Small leaves or long stems

Increase light intensity, maintain 14–16 hours daily, and prune above leaf pairs to encourage branching.

Flower buds appear

Pinch off the entire flower tip just above the next healthy leaf pair. Harvest regularly to delay further flowering.

Leaf edges look scorched

Increase the distance from the grow light and confirm the nutrient was measured correctly; do not add extra nutrient.

7

Simple Weekly Check

  • Confirm the light timer works and leaves do not touch the lamp.
  • Keep water between the 8 fl oz action point and the 16 fl oz maximum fill line.
  • Check that roots are pale and fresh-smelling, not brown, slimy, or foul-smelling.
  • Keep one or two healthy plants in the plug.
  • At complete refresh, use 0.5 mL during germination/seedling growth, 1 mL during vegetative growth, and up to 1.5 mL for a larger established plant, each per 16 fl oz.
  • Keep the sleeve on and remove flower buds promptly.