Term Explanations – Plant Mood

Core Growing Concepts

Microgreens: Young vegetable greens harvested just after the first true leaves appear.
Hydroponics: Growing plants without soil using nutrient-rich water.
Soilless Growing: Any growing method that doesn’t use soil (e.g., coco coir, rockwool, water).
Substrate / Growing Medium: Material that supports plant roots (e.g., coco coir, rockwool, peat).
Seed Density: How many seeds are planted per tray or growing area.
Germination: The process of seeds sprouting into seedlings.
True Leaves: The second set of leaves that look like the mature plant.
Cotyledons: The first leaves that emerge from a seed (seed leaves).
Harvest Window: The ideal time range to harvest for best yield and quality.
Yield: The amount of crop produced (e.g., grams per tray).

NFT (Nutrient Film Technique): A system where a thin stream of nutrient water flows over plant roots.
DWC (Deep Water Culture): Roots are suspended directly in oxygenated nutrient water.
Ebb and Flow (Flood & Drain): Plants are periodically flooded with nutrient solution, then drained.
Drip System: Nutrient solution is dripped onto plant roots.
Aeroponics: Roots are suspended in air and misted with nutrients.
Aquaponics: Combines fish farming with hydroponics; fish waste feeds plants.
Hydroponic Tower: Vertical growing system where plants are stacked upward.
Channel (NFT Channel): The horizontal pipe or tray where water flows in NFT systems.
Reservoir: Tank that holds nutrient solution.
Pump: Moves water from the reservoir through the system.

Plant Site: A single position where one plant grows (e.g., one hole in a tower).
Tray: Flat container used to grow microgreens.
Rack System: Shelving unit used for vertical stacking of trays.
Grow Area: Total space used for cultivation.
Floor Plan: 2D layout of the farm or grow space.
Digital Twin: A virtual version of your real farm used for tracking and management.
Batch: A group of plants grown together at the same time.
Recipe (Grow Recipe): Standard settings for growing (light, nutrients, timing, etc.).
Crop Cycle: Time from planting to harvest.
Throughput: How much product your system produces over time.

LED Grow Light: Artificial light used to support plant growth.
PPFD (Photosynthetic Photon Flux Density): Amount of usable light reaching plants.
PAR (Photosynthetically Active Radiation): Light spectrum plants use for photosynthesis.
Lux: Measurement of visible light intensity (less accurate for plants).
Light Cycle / Photoperiod: Hours of light vs darkness per day.
Light Intensity: Strength of light hitting the plants.
Light Height: Distance between light source and plant canopy.

pH: Measures how acidic or alkaline the water is.
EC (Electrical Conductivity): Measures nutrient concentration in water.
TDS (Total Dissolved Solids): Another way to measure nutrient levels (ppm).
Nutrient Solution: Water mixed with essential plant nutrients.
A/B Nutrients: Two-part fertilizer system mixed separately to avoid reactions.
Macronutrients: Primary nutrients plants need (N, P, K).
Micronutrients: Trace nutrients needed in small amounts (iron, zinc, etc.).
Water Temperature: Important for root health and oxygen levels.

Farm & microgreen layout designer — Plan towers, microgreen racks, pumps and outlets on a zoomable grid with half-meter snapping (up to 100 m × 100 m floor plan), draw irrigation in blue and electrical runs in dashed amber in pipe mode, and flip to a live 3D preview.
Profit Calculator — Plug in your seeds, substrate, electricity, labor and CapEx — pick a crop and a sales channel, and see profit per cycle, ROI months, break-even price and a 12-month cumulative cashflow curve. Toggle EUR / USD / THB; defaults come from your plant database.
Light Intensity Simulator — Drag the wattage and the lamp height to see how lux, monthly electricity cost, and heat risk change in real time. Defaults to Belgian/EU electricity tariffs.
Nutrient Mixer & Correction Tool — Pick your crop and growth stage, drop in your reservoir size and current EC + pH, and get a step-by-step plan that fixes pH first, then doses nutrients — never the other way around.
Harvest Calendar — Pick your crop, your planting date and your room temperature. We solve the Q₁₀ growth model — microgreens grow faster in a warm greenhouse than in a heated indoor room — and pinpoint the exact morning hour your tray hits peak crispness.