How to start new Vext pods
How you start new pods depends on whether anything is already growing. If the plant wall is empty, the pods can be placed directly in the holders. If plants are already growing, new pods start in the plant starter first, because the nutrient amount in the tank is set for your older plants and can prevent new pods from sprouting.
Before you start
Have the Vext app open. Adding pods in the app is required, because the light, airflow and watering schedule follows what you tell it is growing.
Scenario 1: Adding pods to an empty plant wall
If the cabinet was running with older plants before, empty the water tank, wipe the water tank and refill with fresh water.
Open the Plant wall screen in the app and add the plants to the digital plant wall.
Place each pod into the corresponding pod holder in your cabinet's plant wall. Each pod should sit flush with the top of the pod holder.
Do not push the pods deep into the holder, as doing so will stop the pod from expanding as it sucks up water.
Scenario 2: Adding pods while plants are growing
Start the new pods in the plant starter that came with your Vext. Fill the starter to about 1.5 cm with clean water, or until the pods are moist but not glistening wet. Refill only once the water is gone and the tops look slightly dry, back to the same moisture level. If the pods become too wet, remove some water from the plant starter.
True leaves are the second set of leaves and appear around 10 to 20 days after planting. Once they show, check the plant information in the app for the right number of sprouts, thin the extras with scissors, and move the pod to the plant wall.
Add the pod to the plant wall in the app once it is in place. The planting date does not have to be exact.
Leave the water tank as it is. The plants already growing still need the nutrients in it.
All done.
Your cabinet now knows what is growing in each slot and adjusts the light and nutrients to match. Most greens are ready for a first harvest 4 to 6 weeks after sprouting.