The 5 essentials to grow Herb/Bubatz/Broccoli

Herb cultivation is becoming increasingly popular, even more so with countries like Germany working to legalize herb and allowing cultivation of up to 3 plants. Whether you're a seasoned grower or a beginner looking to start your journey – you will need to master the 5 essentials to grow herb:

1. The right grow medium
2. The right pot
3. The right seed
4. The right environment
5. The right lighting

In the 5 upcoming chapters we're checking out a bunch of options. We've seen them all in action, and honestly, they all fit somewhere. It's not really about right or wrong, it's more about the scale at which you want to grow and often also about individual preferences. However, our preferences are deeply rooted in our mission to make growing simple, affordable, sustainable and empowering for all.

1. The right grow medium

Good old soil for those who value simplicity

To start off, you have to pick your plant's home and you'll soon realize that there are plenty of options: From classic soil to trendy coco coir, or the high-tech realms of hydroponics and aerophonics.

Soil

• [+] Provides a natural source of nutrients for herb plants
• [+] Supports a diverse microbial ecosystem (if added) that aids plant growth 
• [+] Forgiving medium for novice growers, allowing room for error
• [–] Slower in absorbing nutrients, potentially affecting plant growth rate
• [–] Potential source for soil-borne pests and diseases

Coco coir

• [+] Good air retention and drainage, reducing the risk of overwatering
• [+] Allows precise control over nutrient levels
• [–] Needs careful management of nutrient and pH levels
• [–] May be challenging for beginners compared to soil

Hydro- & aerophonics

• [+] Deliver nutrients more directly, hence faster plant growth due to increased nutrient uptake
• [+] More water-efficient compared to soil and coco because water recirculates
• [–] Requires technical knowledge and precise equipment setup
• [–] Mistakes can quickly impact plant health

For all non-professional growers, the actual choice boils down to coco coir vs. soil: Since we value simplicity over everything, we firmly believe in the effectiveness of soil – it is the least demanding and most intuitive medium. It's particularly suitable for beginners and individuals who aren't looking to turn cultivation into a profession.

Nutrients: Outsource the job to microbes

We adore soil, but sometimes our plant needs a little extra nutrient boost. Traditionally, this supplement comes in the form of bottled nutrients. However, there's another amazing option – fusing live or living soil with your traditional earth, a dynamic mix that brings microbes & fungi to the game that serve as a one-stop-shop for your plant's needs. What does that mean for you? Just water your plant, nothing more!

Bottled nutrients

• [+] Precise control over nutrient levels
• [+] Faster response to correct a potential plant malnutrition
• [–] Requires careful monitoring and adhering to strict nutrient schedules
• [–] Errors directly impact plant health and can ultimately kill it entirely
• [–] May or may not be organic as some nutrients are synthetically produced

Live soil: Nutrients from microbes & fungi

• [+] Low maintenance and monitoring required – microbes & fungi are happy with the water you'll provide to your plant anyway
• [+] Organic and natural – no artificial additives
• [–] No precise control over exact nutrient levels

Our take: Live soil is the winner – it's nutrient dense, hands-off and organic. This makes it an ideal choice for beginners, for those who want to go all natural and for those who don't want to deal with complicated nutrient schedules on a daily basis.

2. The right pot

Sprout your seed in a bio-degradable cultivation cup

To start a herb seed, you usually don't put them straight into the pot in which it will grow until harvest – you select a smaller, intermediate home. Why? Better regulation of water to maintain ideal sprouting conditions – moist but not wet. Imagine driving a 250m distance to the next metro stop with an SUV instead of simply walking by foot – it's just inefficient.

Many growers choose rockwool cubes or peat pellets. However, we have seen that they often come with major disadvantages:

• Rockwool: Has naturally high pH-levels that require adjustment (additional effort & chance to make mistakes) and is not environmentally friendly (neither for the planet nor for you, in case the fibres dry out and make it into the air)
• Peat pellets: It's easy to overwater them. Since you transplant the seedling together with the peat pellet, the difficulties start after transplantation (especially if you transplant into soil) – since the peat pellet dries out faster than the surrounding soil, you need to be extra cautious to not over- and underwater

Our choice: Biodegradable cultivation cup – filled with moist soil substrate. The awesome thing:

• Your seed gets everything's it needs (humid, dark environment)
• Transplanting your seed into it's final home (the pot) is super simple: You transplant the seedling incl. the entire cup and reduce the worries about potential mistakes from over- and underwatering going forward

Grow your plant in a 15-20 liter fabric pot

There are two main considerations when deciding on a pot:

• Size: Bigger pot, higher yield – too small will limit your yields, too big will get expensive because bigger pots are more expensive (duh!) and you'll also need more soil and nutrients
• Material: Plastic pots are highly durable and cost-effective. On the other hand, fabric pots offer superior aeration, are environmentally friendly, easier to transport, and facilitate efficient drainage. Additionally, for those who prioritize aesthetics, fabric pots are generally more chic 

While larger pots can lead to bigger plants because they provide the plant with more room to stretch out, the size of your pots should match your available space. For smaller, non-professional setups, 15-20 liter pots are usually perfect. If using live soil, we recommend getting closer to that 20 liters because the microbes need enough organic matter to consume and convert into your plant's nutrients.

For us, a 19L fabric pot yields the best results – and since we also like to please both the planet and our eye, this was a clear set & match situation.

3. The right seed

Herb seeds: An entire science distilled to its core

There is a whole world of herb literature out there – for us, there are 3 crucial factors for you to rock when picking your perfect seed:

• Indica vs. sativa: Indica offers a relaxed, body-centered experience, perfect for winding down, while sativa provides an uplifting high, ideal for socializing or creativity. Hybrid strains are a blend of indica and sativa strains
• Male vs. female: In the herb realm, it's all about the ladies – female plants steal the show, producing coveted buds, while males contribute pollen for reproduction. For all the growers that are focused on that sweet harvest: We strictly want feminized seeds only
• Photoperiod vs. auto-flower: Photoperiod plants rely on light cycle changes, auto-flowering plants have an internal clock, smoothly transitioning from vegetative to flowering stages based on age. First group follows the sun's schedule, the second (mostly) works with an internal timer

Beginner friendly? Feminized, auto-flower, indica!

On the seed front everything boils down to personal preferences. In case you're a beginner that wants to comfortably harvest their first buds: Go for feminized, auto-flower, indica seeds!

• Feminized: Well, this is a no-brainer – we want those tasty buds
• Auto-flower: Some auto-flower strains are ready for harvest in as little as 8-12 weeks, while other photoperiod strains may take 16-20 weeks. Shorter duration means lower chances to run into issues like diseases and pests 
• Indica: Indica herb is generally easier to grow than sativa due to its compact size, shorter flowering time, environmental tolerance and higher yield potential

4. The right environment

Two measures to consider: Temperature & humidity

The environment you want to grow herb in needs to tick off 2 main characteristics:

• Temperature: The recommended temperature for growing herb is typically between 20-30°C 
• Humidity: The ideal humidity levels vary during the plant's life cycle: Around 40-60% during the vegetative phase and slightly lower, around 40-50% during the flowering phase

Since herb is a plant, this is not an exact science: A few days above or below outside these ranges will not hurt, consistent deviation, however, might impact your yield or even kill your plant.

Where to grow: Indoor or outdoor?

Both have their pros and cons:

• Indoor: Easier environmental control, enabling year-round growth with varied strains. While requiring a bit of a higher initial investment in equipment, it offers privacy, security, and potential for multiple harvests
• Outdoor: Relies on natural sunlight, leading to robust plants at a lower cost of entry. However, it is subject to seasonal changes, limiting the number of harvests per year. It requires preventive measures against pests and weather adverse conditions

So the choice where to grow is purely a personal preference.

Grow tent? Nice-to-have but not an essential!

Our opinion? No, a grow tent is not necessarily required to grow herbs indoors – especially if cost and complexity are on top of your mind.

• Sure, grow tents offer a more controlled environment for your herb babies, regulating temperature, humidity, and keeping things private (reduced smell)
• The down side is that they add significantly to cost & complexity because you also need an air filtration system and more space.

But if you've got a sunny outdoor spot or proper lighting & a small fan for indoors, you're good to go without a tent. For those who are bothered by the wonderful smell: There are specific herb odor neutralizers, which can reduce the smell to one room.

While you will have to more closely inspect your plant for pests, this is a much more wallet-friendly and low-commitment setup.

So, while grow tents are a handy tool, they're not a must-have – the real magic lies in your passion for growing green! 

5. The right lighting

What you give your plant ...

Light is the engine that drives herb growth. Technically, is is possible to grow a plant with an efficient LED grow light with 32 watts being the minimum required – though not recommended: Believe us – we've tried. You don't want to get to the end of your 12 week grow and only have a few grams of harvest on your hands.

For herb, the general rule is: More is better – give your plant as much light as possible. Either direct sunlight if you're growing outdoors or with a suitable lamp if you're growing indoors.

• Photoperiodic plants typically require 18-24 hours of light during the vegetative phase and 12 hours of light and 12 hours of darkness during the flowering phase.
• Auto-flower plants often require 20 hours of light and 4 hours of darkness throughout the entire grow.

In all cases, remember to check the recommendations provided by the seed supplier – there you will find a detailed description of what is best for each plant.

... and what your plant gives you in return

The yield per herb plant can vary based on factors such as strain, lighting, soil quality, nutrients, pests, wind, watering schedule, and cultivation location.

• Indoor: Growers cultivating indoors often aim for the magical threshold of 1g yield per watt of lamp power. Average, good yields – especially for beginners and, in our opinion, more realistic – often range from 0.3-0.5g per watt of lamp power. For example, with a 200W LED, following this calculation, you would expect yields of 60-100g per plant
• Outdoor: If the grow runs under optimal conditions, especially with photoperiodic plants, much higher yields per plant are possible (however, note that these plants also grow longer and are subject to higher risks from pests and weather)

It's worth mentioning again: Herb plants are not machines, and an exact prediction of the harvest is therefore challenging.

Conclusion: Growing herb can be easy & affordable. The curious can grow a plant with low commitment and no change in lifestyle.

From first hand experience we know that: Cultivating herb at home is a rewarding experience with the right supplies and ingredients, but doesn’t need to be complex and expensive.

The best part for us: You know the quality and earn the satisfaction of growing your own green. Remember that getting the basics right, proper care, and patience are essential for a successful harvest, and with the right supplies you will be successful.