If you do not have the garden place to grow your own food, Ikea’s indoor hydroponic garden is the solution you need! It allows anyone to grow fresh produce at home without the need for soil or any previous gardening experience.
It shows that the successful growth of plants requires adequate light and water only, and it is reported that this method can help you grow many of the veggies widely available today.
The Ikea system contains absorbent foam plugs that enable the seeds to sprout and keep the seeds moist without over-watering them. As soon as the seeds germinate, the foam plus should be transferred into its own separate small pot and filled with pumice stones, which can retain a lot of water.
Then, the pots can be transferred to a growing tray equipped with a solar lamp.
This efficient system can be successful in rooms without any sunlight as well, but it would be best to place it on a windowsill that gets a lot of sun.
Moreover, the built-in water sensor ensures that the plants are given the ideal amount of water.
As Helena Karlén, from the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, explained, “the challenge was to make growing plants in a hydroponic system simple so that anyone could succeed…”
Named in the KRYDDA/VÄXER series, the design resulted from a collaboration with agricultural scientists in Sweden, and it was aimed to be used by people who live in apartments or don’t have a garden, as well as those who want completely fresh produce even during the winter.
Ronnie Runesson, product developer at IKEA, said:
“We wanted to create gardening kits that would simplify for people to grow their own herbs and vegetables 12 months a year.
Whether you live in the northern parts of Sweden in the wintertime or if you live in China or North America, you should be able to succeed with your garden. It’s about creating a more sustainable and healthier life at home for everyone”.
The basic VÄXER series includes everything you need to get started, seeds, starter plugs, nursery box, cultivation insert set, fertilizer, pumice stones, cultivation light fixture, and cultivation light.
This system is more affordable than others of its kind and is great for people with minimal space. Moreover, it follows the Ikea’s eco-friendly trend towards sustainability.
It is also a departure from IKEA’s usual catalog of items like bookshelves and tables and stays away from a traditional retail business model. IKEA’s head of sustainability famously proclaimed that the Western world had hit “peak home furnishings” and declared that they are helping customers to live more eco-friendly lives.
Sources:
thewildchild.co.za
inhabitat.com
www.intelligentliving.co