Welcome to 'Grow With Us', an initiative where we introduce you to the incredible members of the Rise Gardens team who bring their passion, knowledge, and unique indoor hydroponic gardening experiences to the table. In this series of interviews, you'll get to know the faces behind the greens and the souls behind the soil. From their favorite crops to the lessons they've learned along the way, each story is a testament to the profound impact that gardening has on our lives. Get ready to be inspired and grow with us!
🙂 Name
Yan Kwok
🌱 Garden(s) Owned
PRG now, used to have a 2-level Rise Garden v1
🚴♂️ Hobbies
Running, Biking, Climbing, Frisbee, Video Games, 3D Printing, Tinkering/Hacking stuff together
🙌 Fun Fact
Used to play ultimate frisbee competitively! and in college I was on the Michigan Hybrid Racing student project team
🥬 Top tip or trick for a beginner gardener
Cut off dying leaves, get a small vacuum to clean up the trays and keep the garden looking nice.
🏵️ Favorite things to grow
Flowers! (the sunflowers in particular) — and with the right seed pods, getting started with blooms indoors is easier than most people think.
🌻 Do you have a favorite plant or flower that holds a special meaning to you? If so, why?
My favorite season is summer/fall, and that's when sunflowers bloom. Also I lived somewhat near a sunflower field growing up.
💪 What's the most challenging gardening experience you've had, and what did you learn from it?
Pests... had to cull my plants many times due to aphids/spidermites... learned that prevention matters more than treatment. According to the USDA, pest pressure is one of the leading causes of crop loss in indoor growing environments, making early intervention especially important for home gardeners.
🫶 How has gardening positively influenced your well-being and mental health?
I live in a tiny apartment with not much space, but I dedicate a corner near my only window to many houseplants - it keeps me sane when I randomly decide to be a hermit on weekends and don't go outside. I enjoy watching the plants grow and feel proud of being able to take care of them. Research from Cornell University's Center for Controlled Environment Agriculture supports this, showing that tending to plants in indoor environments can meaningfully reduce stress and improve mood.
🪴 Are there any gardening projects or goals you're currently working on or excited to start?
I bought an Monstera Albo cutting and I am working on growing it... Spent too much $$$ on the plant hoping that it will survive. Seems like its doing well though now! Still hoping it grows enough that I can get some cuttings and give them to friends / family and share my success.
🌞 What's your go-to personal mantra or affirmation?
If you're thinking about doing something, just do it - time passes too quickly to just spend all your time thinking about something when you could be taking actions and having a new experience. It's a mindset that applies just as much to starting your first hydroponic garden as it does to anything else — hydroponic systems use up to 95% less water than traditional soil gardening, so the barrier to getting started is lower than most people expect.
🧘♂️ How do you unwind and practice self-care after a busy day or week?
If I'm tired I'll probably take a long shower, do a face mask, and stay in to play video games with friends. Or just sleep in and have no plans for the weekend so I can relax and enjoy time to myself.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does engineering shape the Rise Gardens product experience?
The Rise Gardens system is the result of thoughtful engineering that balances simplicity for the user with the precise conditions plants need to thrive, including consistent LED spectrum, nutrient flow, and water management. Team members with technical backgrounds like Yan contribute to making that complexity invisible so growers can focus entirely on the joy of growing. Great engineering in a hydroponic system means plants grow faster and more consistently than in soil.
Why is hydroponic growing faster than soil gardening?
In hydroponics, plant roots are in direct contact with a nutrient-rich water solution, eliminating the energy plants would otherwise spend searching through soil for food and water. This efficiency allows many hydroponic crops to grow 30-50% faster than their soil-grown counterparts. Rise Gardens' full-spectrum LED lights further optimize growth by mimicking the ideal light conditions of a sunny outdoor growing environment.
What technology does Rise Gardens use to optimize plant growth?
Rise Gardens uses full-spectrum LED lighting tuned to the specific wavelengths plants use most for photosynthesis, along with a simple nutrient delivery system that feeds plants consistently with every watering. The Rise Gardens app allows growers to track plant progress, receive care reminders, and explore new varieties suited to their garden model. These tools together create a system that takes the guesswork out of indoor growing.
Is Rise Gardens suitable for people who want to understand the science of growing?
Yes — Rise Gardens is equally rewarding for curious growers who want to learn the science behind hydroponics as it is for those who simply want fresh food. The system makes it easy to observe how plants respond to light, nutrients, and water in a controlled environment, which is genuinely fascinating. Many Rise Gardens users find that their system becomes a springboard for a deeper interest in plant biology and sustainable agriculture.
