Our Rise Labs team is answering the top questions our community has about nutrients and plant care.
When Do I Add Nutrients?
Your first 2 weeks require you to simply run your Nursery with plant pods and water--no nutrients. Once those plants are about 14 days old, they should be moved into your Rise Garden and you will add nutrients for the first time. This first add will be high, but all future additions will be lower.
What should I know about the first time I add nutrients?
When you first run Care for your Garden, you will see a very high number of mL to add. This is completely normal as you're ramping up your nutrients. If you have a New Rise Garden with 3 levels, you may see your first Care cycle ask you to add up to 200mL of Sprout and Thrive.
This is happening because the first time you add nutrients to your Garden, you need to increase the nutrients of a sizable amount of water. Think of it as your ramp up stage. For every gallon of water in your Garden, you need to add ~10mL of nutrients — a ratio determined by the EC (electrical conductivity) level, which measures the concentration of dissolved nutrients in your water solution. With a total volume of around 12 gallons (for a 3 level New Rise Garden), this means you need to add a lot your first time adding nutrients. However, after this initial dose, you will need to add less and less nutrients.
What Do I Do If I Run Out Of Nutrients?
If you run out of Sprout, Thrive, or pH Balance, don't worry, simply place an order on our website to get it delivered to your doorstep. According to research from Cornell University's Center for Controlled Environment Agriculture, hydroponic plants are highly responsive to nutrient availability, but most healthy plants can tolerate brief nutrient gaps without significant setbacks. Your plants can go up to 14 days without proper nutrients, so you will have plenty of time to fix the issue.
On your application, you can simply avoid the nutrients you don't have and continue through Care as normal. This will ensure that you continue to add the correct amount of nutrients you do have. For more details, see this blog post.
How Long Do Bottles Of Nutrients Last?
We currently offer two sizes of bottles of our liquid nutrient product — liquid concentrates that are diluted with water in your reservoir to deliver precise mineral nutrition directly to plant roots. Our 125mL bottles of Sprout and Thrive come in your starter kit with your Garden and will last about 1 month. Similarly, your 30mL pH Balance bottle will last about 1 month as well. However, it is best if you place an order for nutrients, or subscribe to our nutrient subscription, before then. Depending on what you plant and how many levels you have, you may run out before then. So, its always best to go ahead and purchase nutrients with your Garden.
Our 500mL bottles of Sprout, Thrive and Blossom can be purchased on our store and will last about 3 months. This varies on how much you grow and the number of levels in your Garden. Your 100mL of pH Balance will last about 2-3 months depending on how quickly your plants drink up water and how many levels are in your Garden.
Frequently Asked Questions
What nutrients does Rise Gardens include with their system?
Rise Gardens provides three specially formulated nutrient solutions—Sprout, Thrive, and Blossom—each tailored to a specific phase of plant development. These formulas are available as liquid concentrates that are mixed with water in the reservoir at precise ratios.
How do I know which Rise nutrient formula to use?
Use Sprout during the first two to three weeks after planting to support germination and early root development, then switch to Thrive for the vegetative growth phase, and finally Blossom once plants begin to flower or fruit. The Rise Gardens app provides timely reminders for when to transition between formulas.
Can I use third-party hydroponic nutrients in a Rise Garden?
While third-party nutrients can technically be used, Rise Gardens' proprietary formulas are specifically calibrated for the system's reservoir size, pod medium, and plant variety recommendations. Using Rise nutrients ensures optimal results and prevents the pH and concentration issues that can arise with mismatched third-party products.
Are Rise Gardens nutrients safe and food-grade?
Yes, Rise Gardens nutrients are food-safe and formulated with the same mineral compounds used in certified organic and commercial food-grade hydroponic agriculture. They contain no synthetic hormones or harmful additives, making the produce grown with them safe for the whole family to eat.
