Indoor gardening is a major trend in these days as urbanization becomes more and more popular, the world population grows and available space decreases. Healthy food is more important than ever, but ideally organic and environmentally friendly. Hydroponics is a great way of achieving that goal. Pioneering company Plantui from Finland believes that everyone deserves a garden. They’ve developed a smart garden with innovative and smart technologies and functions. As I’m open minded for new technologies, I bought a smart garden. And I was so positively amazed that just a few weeks later I bought a second and then third one. Here is my complete and honest review.
For the 20% discount code, read further. You’ll find it in the conclusion. 🌱
Plantui Smart Gardens
Plantui is a Finnish company specialized in smart gardening. They offer a wide range of different smart garden products. They’re all based on two different base models: The Plantui Smart Garden 3 for three plants and the Plantui Smart Garden 6 for six plants can be bought in white, grey and red color. But there are also more choices. Let’s first have a look at all Plantui Smart Gardens:
What comes with a Plantui Smart Garden? And which version should I choose?
What’s included in a Plantui Smart Garden?
Each Plantui Smart Garden includes the following parts:
– Plantui Smart Garden (your chosen version)
– Plants and nutrients (depending on your version)
– Two regular height blocks
– Power cord
– Maunal
What are the differences between Plantui Smart Garden 3 and Plantui Smart Garden 6?
The capacity of plants and water is different. The Plantui Smart Garden 3 can hold three plants. The Plantui Smart Garden 6 can hold six plants or a 12 plants pre-grow tray or a microgreens tray with four areas.
Capacity: 3 plants / 6 plants
Water reservior: 1 liter / 3 liters
Weight: 1.36 kg / 2.45 kg
Diameter: 19 cm / 29 cm (35cm with handels)
Height: 24 cm / 21 cm
Which Plantui Smart Garden should I choose?
Plantui offers two versions of their smart gardens – the Plantui Smart Garden 3 and Plantui Smart Garden 6. The main difference is the size of the devices as well as the available accessories. Both devices are suitable for growing herbs, salads, tomatoes, chilis and edible flowers. The Plantui Smart Garden 3 is an awesome choice if you don’t have much space or no need for producing many herbs and lettuce. The large version, the Plantui Smart Garden 6, gives you more options, for example growing healthy microgreens or pre-growing plants.
They look beautiful, don’t they? And so they also do in reality. It’s proven by some photos I’ve taken by myself. Have a look at some of my plants in my intelligent gardens:
Hydroponics: No Soil, Just Water and Nutrients
Plantui Smart Gardens are based on a hydroponic system. Hydroponics is a method of growing plants in a water based, nutrient rich solution. There are a some major advantages as I discovered:
- The roots of the plants are in direct contact with the nutrient solution while also having access to oxygen which are both essential for proper growth of the plant.
- Plants can grow much faster and produce a lot more than the same plants grown in soil.
- I haven’t seen any insects because there will be no insects as you don’t use soil as a growing medium.
Plantui offers nutrients to buy. They can be mixed with warm tap water to completely dissolve in the water. Here are a some useful tips for you:
- Each pack of plants capsules comes with a pack of nutrients. That’s enough for your plants so you (usually) don’t have to buy extra nutrients. Long growing plants like chilies and tomatoes come with more nutrients.
- You may be thinking about buying nutrients itself. However, I recommend you to spending a few cents more and go for the experimental kit as that also concludes a package of nutrients but also comes with empty capsules.
Smart Functions
Sleep Timer
The LEDs of the Plantui Smart Gardens are quite bright. But also plants need to recover for around eight hours per 24 hours. Therefore, the first smart function I want to introduce is the sleep timer. I recommend to start the sleep timer at around 11:00 PM to it wakes up again at 07:00 AM. That’s during the night and ensures dark light.
Place your hand respectively press the button for three seconds and the light will turn off (after blinking two times).
Lights On/Off
You can manually turn on and turn off the light. This will not effect the sleep mode. Although I don’t use this function regularly (the light is too pretty), it’s still a nice thing to have.
Place your hand respectively press the button for one seconds and the light will turn on/off.
Holiday Pause
Are you going to holiday? Then you can use the holiday pause in order to get your Plantui Smart Garden work autonomously for up to two weeks! Your plants will use less water and the lights will turn pink.
Place your hand respectively press the button for ten seconds and the light will turn pink. The light will blink two times during the process.
Lights & Water
Depending on the current growth phase of your plants, Plantui adjusts the amount of water as well as the light spectrum to fit the specific needs of the plants. Without any height block installed, the light will be violet. It will change together with the watering cycle as soon as you install the first height block.
Low Water Indicator
Lights will automatically blink in blue light if there’s not enough water for the water pump to probably work.
In any case, you should make sure that the water bowl is always filled with enough water to prevent your water pump from malfunctioning. Better double-check the water every few days in order to ensure always enough water being in place.
Cleaning Mode
For cleaning your Plantui Smart Garden you should use citric aid. In order to squeeze it into every corner of the smart garden, you can use the cleaning mode.
Place your hand respectively press the button for fifteen seconds and the light will turn blue (Plantui Smart Garden 6) or green (Plantui Smart Garden 3). The water pump will turn on for a few minutes.
Putting green into urban life. Everyone deserves a garden.
Plantui
Salad, Herbs, Flowers and Microgreens
Plantui offers a wide range of plants which are delivered in capsules – a business model that reminds me on Nespresso. Simply insert a plant capsule in Plantui and get great results. And it works surprisingly easy!
Plants can be bought in different categories:
- Flowers
- Herbs
- Microgreens
- Salads
- Selections (packages of best sellers)
Each package cost between 5 to 9 Euros and contains nutrients and 3 capsules which result in three amazing plants (have a look at my photos). Although the price seems to be relatively high at first impression, it’s definitely worth it: The seeds are specially selected for the Plantui Smart Garden and grow optimally. I enjoy the growth process of my own, fresh herbs and salads very much!
My favorite plant capsules are Basil, Chili Demon Red, Wild Rocket and Mint. Especially with basil, you’ll have a lot of fun as it’s growing super fast. It’s extremely tasty and you can use it in many ways, e.g. for pizza, pasta, dessert and salad.
Every plant capsule bought at Plantui.com also comes with a growth guarantee: If your seed won’t sproud, then you’ll get a replacement for free. For more information, have a look at my FAQ section of this review.
Packages of plants from are labelled with different colors representing the growth time of the plants for your orientation:
- 3-5 weeks – light green
- 5-8 weeks – turquoise
- 8-12 weeks – purple
- more than 12 weeks – black
It’s recommended to use plants with the same growth time. That makes sure that every plant gets the right amount of light and has the correct distance to the light unit on top of the Plantui Smart Garden. However, I haven’t really payed a lot of attention to it and my plants grew and grow amazingly. That might also be the case because I bought a Boosting Light Height Block to give the plants a few more light – especially for the small ones between bigger plants.
Additionally, you can also use your own seeds. For example, if you have a favorite, local shop from where to buy seeds, you can do that by using the experimental kit which comes with three empty capsules and a package of nutrients. I’ve tested it with a few plants and it worked out very well. I can especially recommend rocket salad and basil. I don’t recommend using the plastic from old capsules and fill it with rockwool with your own plants though. You’ll not only miss the correct nutrients but also the correct size and stability of rockwool.
The Best Accessories
Plantui offers a wide range of useful assessories. Some are for replacement or changing the colour of your water bowl, but some are also here to speed up the growth process of your plants. I can highly recommend the two special height blocks as my plants started to grow faster and better due to the fact that every plant – the small ones but also the big ones – get enough light.
Boosting Light Height Block
As your plants grow bigger, the small(er) plants at the bottom may not receive optimal light anymore (although the lights at the light unit on top are quite bright). You can add the Boosting Light Height Block in order to provide your plants with optimal light for every growth stadium. This is especially something you may want to use for chili or other big plants. The height block also stimulates horizontal growth of the plants. Please note that you can use maximum two light height blocks and four height blocks in general.
Blooming Light Height Block
Do you grow chili or flowers? Then you probably want to use the Blooming Light Height Block. It ensures the perfect light to make your plants flower optimally. Please note that you can use maximum two light height blocks and four height blocks in general.
Pre-Grow Tray
The Pre-Grow Tray allows you to pre-grow your favorite plants with a density of 12 plants per Plantui Smart Garden (large version). It replaces the standard tray with 6 places for plant capsules.
The Pre-Grow Tray is especially worth looking at when you have your own garden. Then, you can simply use the new tray to grow your plant in their first stages. After they’re a few centimeters tall, simply plant them in earth in your garden.
Experimental Kit
The Experimental Kit contains three empty capsules (no seeds) and one package of nutrients. You can experiment with your own seeds which may not be officially available at the Plantui.com store.
I can recommend to use between three to ten seeds per capsule depending on the size of the plant. I definitely encourage you to try out some experimental seeds as it’s really amazing to see your own plants grow.
Cleaning & Maintenance
Cleaning with Citric Acid
Cleaning the Plantui isn’t very complicated at all. There is an automated cleaning mode as a smart function as mentioned above. Check out my article on cleaning Plantui devices:
You can also use regular citric acid like this one from Amazon.de which is slightly cheaper.
Changing Water
I recommend to change the water every four weeks. If you read about hydroponic systems in the internet, people sometimes use the water for just a few days whereas others use it for multiple months. I decided to change the water regularly (about every three to four weeks) which has several advantages:
- Changing the water always is a good opportunity to check the health of your plants (check the colour of the roots which have to be white).
- It also comes with the opportunity to clean the system as mentioned above.
- Changing the water regulary prevents mould and algae which can harm your plants.
- Maintaining your water pump according to this video.
Mould & Algae
It might happen that mould or algae occur while using the Plantui Smart Garden. In any case, I highly recommend to clean the entire system as mentioned above and including the use of the dishwasher. That makes sure that no residue remains.
Additionally, I recommend using 3% Hydrogen Peroxide especially in case of mould. It’s a substance that fights mould but doesn’t harm the plants if you’re using the correct dose. Spray the substance directly on the mold spots (no dilution) and mix it into the nutrient solution – in a maximum ratio of 1:20 to the regular nutrient solution.
Plantui Smart Garden App
Plantui has entered into a partnership with German company BOSCH. They carry selected products under their own brand „SmartGrow“. These products are 100% compatible as they’re just a re-labeled version from the original version of Plantui.
Another advantage is the BOSCH SmartGrow Application which is also available in English language. As Plantui has no application, it’s a great addition to your smart garden. With the app, you can easily control the growth of your plants. Additionally, it sends you helpful reminders to change the water, harvest your plants or buy new capsules. And it includes free recipes. All in all, it’s a must-have. And it’s for free!
Additionally, BOSCH does offer one product which is not available from Plantui: It’s the SmartGrow VarioTray which allows you to grow three plants and two packages of Microgreens at the same time. It’s fully compatible to Plantui Smart Gardens with six plants.
If you think further, you may want to receive real-time information about water temperature and the current lighting situation on your phone through the App. That, however, isn’t part of the application as it won’t ever be with the current device generation as Plantui Smart Gardens don’t have temperature sensors or connectivity modules like Wi-Fi or Bluetooth.
Conclusion
Indoor gardening has never been so easy: Plantui offers a smart garden for your home, with which you always have fresh herbs, salads and microgreens in your kitchen. Smart functions, intelligent modes and a clever watering and LED system make the Plantui Smart Garden a real miracle of technology. But the extraordinary design is also a real eye-catcher and a highlight for every visit of friends and family.
In spite of the relatively high initial price, I think it’s worth buying: It is simply fun to watch the plants grow. Every day the plants grow and develop a few centimeters more. After a while you actually have to shop less because you have all the herbs at home – and not only very fresh, but also without dirt and grown with love.
Are you also in love? Then expand the following section and you may receive a small present for your next order at Plantui.com.
20% Discount Code for Plantui Smart Gardens on Plantui.com
Are you a big fan of Plantui Smart Gardens? Good news for you! You can use my discount code to get 20% off your order.
Discount code for 20% discount: EVERYONEDESERVESAGARDEN
Do you have any questions about the Plantui Smart Garden? Then go ahead and write a comment. And don’t forget to check out my gallery of amazing photos at the end of this page.
Questions & Answers
Is it worth buying a Plantui Smart Garden?
Yes, it’s worth buying. It is simply fun to watch the plants grow. Every day the plants grow and develop a few centimeters more. After a while you actually have to shop less because you have all the herbs at home – and not only very fresh, but also without dirt and grown with love. Smart functions, intelligent modes and a clever watering and LED system make the Plantui Smart Garden a real miracle of technology. But the extraordinary design is also a real eye-catcher and a highlight for every visit of friends and family.
How to maintain the Plantui Smart Garden?
There is a video from Plantui how to maintain their smart indoor gardens. In general, make sure to always put enough water and nutrients in it so the plants are happy and the water pump will always have enough water. Additionally, there are a few tips and tricks in my review above.
My seeds don’t sproud.
Sometimes, seeds fall into dormancy, especially if they’ve been stored in a too warm location. This makes them wait for winter, and for spring after that, and only then will they sprout. Therefore, seeds should be stored in a cool and dry place, such as a fridge.
Additionally, check if the water is able to reach the capsules. This is important if your Plantui Smart Garden is not placed on an even surface.
If nothing helps, remember the growth guarantee from Plantui. You can contact them here.
When should I add the first height block?
Sometimes, the first leaves of the plants open up right at the surface of the capsule. Even if the plants are that low, you should add the first height block as soon as most of the plants have opened their first leaves. Then the small plants will grow a bit faster as they reach for the light.
There are three different height blocks available: The regular one and the one for boosting and blooming.
How can I get rid of algae or mould?
It might happen that mould or algae occur while using the Plantui Smart Garden. In any case, I highly recommend to clean the entire system as mentioned above and including the use of the dishwasher. That makes sure that no residue remains.
Additionally, I recommend using 3% Hydrogen Peroxide especially in case of mould. It’s a substance that fights mould but doesn’t harm the plants if you’re using the correct dose. Spray the substance directly on the mold spots (no dilution) and mix it into the nutrient solution – in a maximum ratio of 1:20 to the regular nutrient solution.
Where can I place my Plantui Smart Garden?
You can place it anywhere you like. The most common option is the kitchen where you have direct access to fresh herbs. However, I also like to have one on my desk for a better light and some snacks for in between.
You can also place it in your bedroom. The lights will automatically wake you up after eight hours of sleeping time.
Where is the best place to buy a Plantui Smart Garden?
I recommend you the official shop from Plantui.
For additional questions, I can highly you the following website for more FAQs:
Plantui Smart Garden
I enjoy my Plantui Smart Garden every day. Not only is the design a real eye-catcher and becomes the focus of many conversations. I’m particularly excited by the simple concept: insert plant capsules, add nutrient solution and the growth process starts – optimized in many ways, such as by intelligent lighting that adapts to plant growth. The irrigation is also automated. Especially for urban areas, this smart garden is an excellent addition for always fresh herbs, lettuces, tomatoes, chilies and experiments with your own seeds.
Produkt-SKU: SG6-W
Pruduktmarke: Plantui
Produkt-Währung: EUR
Produkt-Preis: 269
Produkt vorrätig: InStock
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