Living Soil Starter Kit: Growing Guide

Welcome to Your Farming Adventure!

Congratulations on selecting The Nurserie's Living Soil Starter Kit. This comprehensive guide will walk you through setting up your kit, planting your seeds or seedlings, and caring for your plants as they grow to harvest maturity. Let's dive into the world of sustainable farming together!

Kit Components

  • 1 Bottom Reservoir Tray (10x20, no holes)

  • 1 Top Tray with Holes (10x20)

  • Spacers for airflow

  • Premium Living Soil by Man of the Red Earth (Stupor variety)

  • A selection of seeds

  • 12 1-inch Rockwool cubes

  • 1 Tray with 50 cells (for clean plant growth)

Step 1: Setting Up Your Tray

  • Position the spacers evenly across the bottom of the reservoir tray.

Step 2: Preparing Your Soil

  • Pour the full contents of the provided Man of the Red Earth Living Soil from the bag into the top tray. Ensure the soil covers the entire surface evenly.

  • Moisten the soil with water until it’s damp throughout but not waterlogged, aiming for a moisture level within the range of 40% to 50% ratio. Allow any excess water to drain into the reservoir tray below.

Step 3: Completing Tray Setup

  • Once filled, place the top tray with holes on top of the spacers, ensuring it sits securely inside the bottom tray.

Step 4: Plant Growth Tray Setup

  • Place the additional tray with 50 cells on top of the soil-filled tray. This tray will serve as a barrier between the soil and the plants.

  • As the plants grow, their roots will extend down into the soil through the holes in the bottom of the tray, allowing for clean plant growth on the top tray.

Step 5: Care and Maintenance

  • Aim to provide direct sunlight for your plants for 16 hours a day.

  • Monitor the moisture level of the soil regularly, ensuring it remains within the 40% to 50% water ratio range. If the soil moisture drops below this range, consider watering your plants more frequently.

  • When watering, pour water over the top of the soil, allowing any excess water to drain down into the reservoir tray below. Note that if roots extend down into the bottom tray where excess water runs off, it is acceptable.

Additional Soil Maintenance (Optional)

  • Between harvests, consider adding one to two cups of additional soil to ensure a strong microbial presence. This can help prevent depletion in the microbial level. Monitoring the soil moisture level and adjusting watering frequency are essential for addressing drying out of the soil. Adding soil during top dressing primarily enhances microbial activity.

Growing to Harvest

  • Your plants will grow and mature within the trays provided in the kit.

  • Monitor their progress regularly, adjusting water levels and ensuring they have adequate light and airflow.

  • Once your plants reach full size and harvest maturity, you can harvest directly from the trays or transplant them to larger pots or a garden space, if desired.

Success Tips

  • Check on your plants daily, paying close attention to their water needs, especially in hotter climates.

  • Rotate your tray occasionally to ensure plants grow evenly, especially if they're in a spot that gets light from one direction.

  • Feel free to experiment with different seeds to find out what thrives best under your care.

Thank You for Choosing Us!

We’re thrilled to support you in your farming journey with our Living Soil Starter Kit. Enjoy the process of nurturing your plants from seed to harvest, and please don't hesitate to reach out if you have any questions or need assistance.