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HOW TO USE

GYROPLANT'S

TECHNOLOGY

STEP 1 - Prepare the GyroCup™ or GyroSnap™

Gloved hand folding in GyroCup
Gloved hand folding GyroCup inwards
Gloved hand holding GyroCup ready for plant growth

STEP 2 - Choose germination technique

The GyroCup™ and GyroSnap™ are compatible with all indoor irrigation technologies. The technique chosen should be based on the crop type, work flow and irrigation technology. There are two categories for early stage growth -  germination in the GyroCup™ OR GyroSnap™, or germinate separately and transfer to the GyroCup™.

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GyroCup & Dry Gel - for easy growing

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  • Place the 1 cm x 1 cm dry gel squares into the GyroCup, pushing them inside until the prongs grip the square.

  • Submerge the GyroCup in stagnant water for 1 minute (no need to hold it). Upon removal, you'll notice the square has turn to gel. Now, place seed(s) on top of the gel area. Alternatively, fill a propagation tray with water and place GyroCups neatly into the cells. Ensure the water level reaches the dry gel, then place the seed(s). This method provides constant water supply to the gel.

  • If using a propagation environment, place the pre-soaked GyroCup or the water-filled propagation tray with GyroCups in a dark propagation chamber for germination. After Germination, place the cup onto your main growing system. 

  • For systems like ebb & flood, aeroponic, or DWC, place the GyroCup with dry gel directly into the main growing system to germinate, ensuring the irrigation system keeps the gel damp. Cover the GyroCup to create a greenhouse effect (i.e., a biome) or use a blackout cover to prevent moisture loss from the gel. 

  • As the plants grow, you'll notice the gel disappearing during the early phases as roots develop.

  • At harvest time, cut the plant above the GyroCup level and pull the roots and stem down from underneath.

  • Rinse the GyroCup for reuse.

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Leafy green plant growing in GyroCup_edited.jpg

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GyroCup with seedling growing in hydrogel

GyroCup & off-the-shelf hydrogels

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  • Use agar gel in powder form (which is available online e.g. Mr. P Agar on Amazon).

  • Use a combined heater+magnetic stirrer (or microwave) - mix 2-5 grams agar powder per litre of water and heat until bubbling vigorously, stirring half way through, then cool to set.

  • If using water crystals or Xanthan gum, mix water+powder in recommended ratio to form gel.

  • Either by scooping or using a giant syringe, inject around 0.5cm^3 of gel in each GyroCup, positioning it as close to the bottom as possible, place a seed on top of the gel - not inside it.

  •  Keep the tray filled with water to maintain the gel's moisture and prevent drying out. Wicking action from natural surface tension inside the GyroCup will help. If using a propagation environment, leave the tray in a propagation chamber for seedlings to develop and keep moist in required. Note -If using an ebb & flood, aeroponic or DWC system, the GyroCup's can go straight onto the main growing system to germinate instead, as long as the gel is kept moist by your irrigation technology.

GyroCup with seedling growing in middle
Underneath tray root growth of plants in GyroCup
Leafy green plant

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Leafy green plant

GyroCup™ & seed tape squares:

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  • Sprinkle seeds onto a strip of 1 ply tissue, layer another strip of tissue on top and make wet. Break off approximately 1cm*1cm squares (ensuring a seed is within in), and insert it as low as possible, without force, into each GyroCup™. Note: You can also buy ready made seed tape.

  • Position the seeded GyroCups™ in a propagation tray filled with water, ensuring water level reaches the seed tape area. Wicking action from natural surface tension inside the GyroCup™ and tissue will keep seed moist. Or simply use a water spray.

  • Allow the seedlings to develop. If you're using a high humidity propagation chamber, keep the seed tape moist. Leave the GyroCups™ in the germination chamber until the seedlings develop. Note: if using an ebb & flood , aeroponic or DWC system, the GyroCups™ can go straight onto the main growing system without the need for a propagation chamber, as long as the seed tape can be kept moist by your irrigation technology.

 Leafy green plants growing in GyroCup tray
Underneath tray root growth of plants in GyroCup
GyroCup with seedling growing out of seed tape

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 Plants growing in GyroCup tray

GyroCup & large seeds (including pelleted seeds and split pill seeds):

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  • For certain seeds like legumes and pelleted seeds & rhizome (5mm+), you can place them directly inside the GyroCup into a propagation tray filled with water, ensuring the water level reaches the seed or just below. Wicking action from natural surface tension inside the cup will also help. Then you can transplant to the main growing system after propagation. 

  • OR - directly place the GyroCup™ with seed on the main growing system utilising aeroponic, ebb and flood or DWC irrigation systems, ensuring the seed can be kept moist.

  • Grow bean, pea and other protein crops completely substrate free, or rhizomes! 

 

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Underneath tray root growth of plants in GyroCup
Leafy green plant growing in GyroCup under LED light
Leafy green plant growing in GyroCup

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GyroSnap & small seeds

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  • Note: GyroSnap fits best in a 28mm hole, however a 30mm hole can also be used.

  • Place the GyroSnap in a propagation tray or rack with the water filled to a level so that it touches the bottom of the GyroSnap. Additionally you can pipette a few droplets of water inside the GyroSnap or spray water from above into the GyroSnap to make it moist inside. The water will be held in my surface tension.

  • Drop the seed inside (non-pelleted / non-split pill seeds are best for GyroSnap). 

  • Watch the wicking action from natural surface tension bring water up to the seed for germination. This is assisted by placing the additional droplets inside the GyroSnap

  • Grow all the way from germination to full growth. 

  • Note: ideal for easy to grow light leafy greens with small seeds. 

Underneath tray root growth of plants in GyroCup
Small seed in GyroSnap
Leafy green plant growing in GyroSnap
Leafy green plant

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GyroCup & seed tape lengths

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  • Seed tapes can assist wicking action from natural surface tension to feed the seed alongside GyroCup, and provide user journey benefits. 

  • Place 5cm strips of seed tape with a seed embedded at one end.

  • Feed the seed tape though so 3cm dangles out the bottom.

  • Either place in a tray with a layer of water which meets the bottom of the seed tape and wicks up the seed, or place straight into an NFT system.

 Plants growing in GyroCup tray
GyroCup plant roots
GyroCup wicking technique water NFT system
Leafy green plant growing out of GyroCups
seed tape

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GyroCup Pre-germinated seeds - sprouting jar

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  • For certain seeds, you can germinate in a high density sprouting jar, and then use the GyroCup™s for the main growing to harvest. This method is only suitable for large seeds like legumes. Once the sprouted seed is place in the GyroCup™, it can be placed in a further propagation environment, before being placed in the main growing system. Wicking action from natural surface tension will also help feed the seedling. 

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Sprouting jar
Leafy green plants growing in GyroCup tray
Underneath tray root growth of plants in GyroCup
 Leafy green plants growing in GyroCup tray under LED light

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GyroCup & pre-germinated seeds & plant tissue culture 

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  • Using agar gel in powder form (which is available online e.g. Mr. P Agar on Amazon).

  • Use a combined heater+magnetic stirrer (or microwave) - mix 2-5 grams agar powder per litre of water and heat until bubbling vigorously, stirring half way through, then cool to set.

  • If using water crystals or Xanthan gum, mix water+powder in recommended ratio to form gel.

  • Allow gel to set in a tray, approximately 3-5mm deep. 

  • Place seeds evenly apart on the gel surface. 

  • Allow seedlings to form. If you're using a high humidity propagation chamber, keep the gel moist. 

  • Scoop/pick out each seedling with a small amount of gel still on it, and place into the GyroCup for further growing on main growing system. Wicking action from natural surface tension will also help feed the seedling. 

Seedlings
 Leafy green plants growing in GyroCup tray
Underneath tray root growth of plants in GyroCup
 Leafy green plants growing in GyroCup

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 Leafy green plants growing in GyroCup tray

GyroCup & pre-germinated seeds from tissue

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  • Sprinkle seeds onto a sheet of tissue paper and make wet. Ideally on individual pads, but a sheet will be fine.

  • Allow the seedlings to develop. If you're using a high humidity propagation chamber, keep the seed tape moist. Leave the GyroCups™ in the germination chamber until the seedlings develop. Note: if using an ebb & flood , aeroponic or DWC system, the GyroCups™ can go straight onto the main growing system without the need for a propagation chamber, as long as the seed tape can be kept moist by your irrigation technology. Wicking action from natural surface tension will also help feed the seeding.

Seedlings in tray
Underneath tray root growth of plants in GyroCup
 Leafy green plants growing in GyroCup tray

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Seedling tray

Pre-germinated seeds in water tray: 

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  • Fill tray with a 0.5-1mm layer of water at the bottom.

  • Place seeds evenly apart, approx 2cm apart. 

  • Place in propagation environment or place tray on top of a heated mat.

  • Once seedlings have formed to a height of 2-5cm, pick up seedlings and place into the GyroCup

  • Place GyroCup with seedling onto the main growing CEA system. 

  • Ensure the roots are fed regularly (for Ebb and Flow, every 1/2 to one hour), any hydroponic system can be used once once the root mass has developed from propagation. 

 Leafy green plants growing in GyroCup
 Leafy green plants growing in GyroCup tray
 Leafy green plants growing in GyroCup tray

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Person holding leafy green plant growing in GyroCup

Cuttings and runners / perennial plants:

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  • Sprinkle seeds onto a sheet of tissue paper and make wet. Ideally on individual pads, but a sheet will be fine.

  • Allow the seedlings to develop. If you're using a high humidity propagation chamber, keep the seed tape moist. Leave the GyroCups in the germination chamber until the seedlings develop. Note: if using and ebb & flood , aeroponic or DWC system, the GyroCups can go straight onto the main growing system without the need for a propagation chamber, as long as the seed tape can be kept moist by your irrigation technology.

Person holding leafy green plant growing in GyroCup
Person holding leafy green plant growing in GyroCup
Leafy green plant growing in GyroCup

STEP 3 - Transfer seedlings to main growing system

Place the cup with seedling onto the indoor growing system. For DWC, ebb & flow and Aeroponic systems, you can (if preferred) place the seeded GyroCups straight onto system without placing in germination area first, as long as there is enough moisture for the seeds. Aeroponic systems are ideal for this process, mitigating the need to transfer plants. Please get in touch and we can advise. 

Leafy green plants growing in GyroCup NFT system
Person holding leafy green plant
Leafy green plant
Leafy green plant

EBB AND FLOOD

AEROPONICS

DWC

NFT

STEP 4 - Harvest

Once your plant is ready for harvest, cut head and pull the plant out from the bottom, no need to invert the GyroCup or GyroSnap back to its star form. 

Person holding leafy green lettuce plant
Person holding leafy green lettuce plant

STEP 5 - Clean and re-use

To clean GyroCup or GyroSnap, rinse in warm water or use a hydroponic/dishwasher.

 

If required, invert the GyroCup to spread prongs and rinse.

Gloved hand washing GyroCup

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