Growing Spirulina Yourself: From Unpacking to First Harvest in 14 Days
With the MySpirulina farm, you can grow fresh spirulina microalgae right at home and harvest about 50 grams every 14+ days. The farm from Kiel is solar-powered with an additional USB-C connection and only needs a sunny windowsill.
You did it: Your MySpirulina farm has moved in! Perhaps the package is still unopened in the hallway, or you've already spread out the individual parts on your kitchen counter. In any case, an exciting adventure awaits you: growing spirulina yourself – it doesn't get any fresher.
Many people think of complicated laboratories or biologists in white coats when it comes to algae cultivation. But we have good news: growing spirulina with the MySpirulina farm is as easy as watering a houseplant. Nevertheless, there are a few small things you should keep in mind.
In this guide, we will show you step by step how to start your spirulina farm at home, what is important in the first few days, and how to harvest fresh spirulina.
Growing Spirulina Yourself – The Facts for Those in a Hurry
- Effort: One-time setup in 10 minutes, then the MySpirulina farm takes over everything
- Power Supply: Solar panel with additional USB-C connection for constant growth
- Harvest Spirulina in 14+ days: Fast growth and uncomplicated handling
- Result: Fresh, living superfood directly from the windowsill – no green thumb needed
- Nutrient Bomb: Approx. 60% protein, rich in iron, B vitamins, and antioxidants
- Taste Advantage: Fresh spirulina tastes creamy-mild and neutral – no fishy aftertaste like with powder
- Vacation-proof: Up to 3 months saturation phase – the farm waits for you
- Sustainable Cycle: Start once, use a portion of the harvest as a new culture, and cultivate endlessly
What You Need to Grow Spirulina
Before we really get started, let's take a quick look inside your package. We designed the MySpirulina farm so you can start right away – without having to rush to the hardware store or specialist shop again.
This is included in your starter kit
- The Grow-Jar: The home for your algae
- MySpirulina Starter Culture: The base from which your farm grows
- MySpirulina Nutrient Salt: The "food" for your algae to develop optimally
- Tech Package: Lid with hose connection and solar panel with USB-C connection for power supply
- Harvest Kit: A practical harvesting aid including a filter
Is something missing? Then contact our support – we will deliver the missing part immediately.
What else you need
- A teaspoon
- A sunny windowsill
- Lukewarm tap water (or distilled water for even purer results)
- A USB-C cable and a power connection
Growing Spirulina in 8 Steps – The Guide
Now it's time to get practical! Grab your equipment and let's bring your Spirulina farm to life. Just follow these eight steps:
Step 1: Prepare the Grow-Jar
For your culture to get off to the best start, rinse the grow jar thoroughly with hot water beforehand.
Step 2: Create the nutrient base
Fill the clean jar with 3 heaped teaspoons (approx. 45 g) of MySpirulina nutrient salt. This salt provides all the important minerals your algae need for healthy growth.
Step 3: Fill with water
Fill the jar about 4/5 full with lukewarm tap water. Make sure the water isn't too hot, so the algae feel comfortable. Stir briefly to dissolve the nutrient salt completely.
Step 4: The algae move in
Now comes the magical moment: Add the MySpirulina starter culture to the water-nutrient salt mixture. You will see the water immediately turn slightly greenish – your journey to growing spirulina yourself begins.
Step 5: Put on the lid
Carefully place the lid on the grow jar.
Step 6: Find the perfect spot
Place your Spirulina farm near a window with plenty of daylight. A south, east or west-facing spot is ideal for the solar panel and algae to absorb as much sun as possible.
Step 7: Connect power
Connect the farm to the power grid using the USB-C cable. This ensures optimal growth of your Spirulina – even on cloudy days.
Step 8: Turn on the farm
Press the power button on the farm – and it will start operating.
Congratulations – you are now officially an algae farmer!
Harvesting fresh spirulina: How it works
Have you followed all the steps? Then it's time to sit back and wait. From now on, the MySpirulina farm does the work for you.
Over the next few days, you can observe how the water in your jar becomes darker and takes on an increasingly intense green hue. This is a sign that your spirulina culture is multiplying diligently.
When can you harvest spirulina? The right time
After 10 to 14 days, it's time: you can harvest your own fresh spirulina for the first time. You'll recognize the right moment by the color. As soon as the liquid has reached a rich dark green, the ideal time has come.
Good to know: If the first harvest takes a little longer than 14 days, that's completely normal. The first time, your spirulina culture needs to establish itself. From the second round onwards, it will be significantly faster.
Harvesting spirulina in 3 steps
Just like setting it up, harvesting your spirulina farm is easy. All you need: a clean jar, your harvesting tool, your filter, a sink, and these three steps:
- Secure the cycle: Before filtering everything, pour about 250 ml of the spirulina culture into a separate, clean jar. This is your starter culture for the next round – so you'll never have to buy a new culture again.
- Filter: Place the harvesting tool and the filter in your sink. Slowly pour the remaining liquid from the grow jar through the filter.
- Enjoy: A creamy, dark green paste remains in the filter – your fresh spirulina!
What to do with the fresh spirulina harvest?
Now you hold real gold (or rather: rich green) in your hands. Briefly rinse the harvested spirulina paste with a little water to remove any nutrient salt residue. While dried spirulina powder often has a very intense taste, your homegrown, fresh spirulina is almost tasteless and wonderfully creamy.
The most important differences at a glance
- Taste: fresh = mild & creamy | powder = intense & fishy
- Water content: fresh = 80–85% | powder = approx. 5%
- Processing: fresh = raw & living | powder = spray-dried
- Origin: fresh = your kitchen | powder = mostly Asia
Our favorite ideas for direct consumption
- The classic: Stir a spoon into your morning smoothie
- The power shot: Mix the spirulina with some apple or ginger juice for the ultimate energy kick
- When baking: Stir it into the dough for cakes or cookies
- For breakfast: Mix it into yogurt and enjoy it with your muesli
The most important thing: you know exactly where your superfood comes from and that it is absolutely fresh – an advantage that no powder in the world can offer you.
Pro tips for the best harvest
- Distilled water ensures even purer growth
- Keep windowsill warm – spirulina loves temperatures between 25–35 °C
- Align solar panel optimally – the more direct sunlight, the faster the growth
- Permanently connected to power – the farm should be continuously connected via USB-C cable to achieve consistently best harvest yields
- Patience the first time – the first harvest may take a little longer because the culture needs to establish itself
- Holiday-proof: Going away? Your farm remains stable for up to 3 months in the saturation phase without you having to harvest
Growing spirulina yourself – the most frequently asked questions
How long does it take until I can harvest spirulina for the first time?
10 to 14 days. The exact timing depends on the intensity of sunlight at your window. The very first time, it might take a little longer, as the spirulina culture needs to establish itself. In winter, growth may also take a bit longer.
Do I need electricity or special equipment to grow spirulina?
No special equipment is needed – all accessories from nutrient salt to the filter are included. However, you will need electricity and a USB-C cable for operation. To consistently achieve the best harvest yields, it is recommended to keep the farm permanently connected to the power supply.
What do I do if the spirulina remains light green or doesn't grow?
Algae love light and warmth. Check if your farm is getting enough direct sunlight (south, west, or east-facing window). If it's very dark in winter, moving it to a brighter window can help.
How often do I need to refill or maintain the spirulina farm?
After each harvest, you simply restart the process: clean the jar, prepare the 250 ml of starter culture you set aside with fresh water and nutrient salt – done.
Can I freeze or dry the harvested spirulina?
It's best to enjoy it fresh. However, you can easily store it in the refrigerator for 7 to 8 days or freeze it in ice cube trays to throw directly into smoothies later.
Who is the MySpirulina farm suitable for?
For everyone. Since it takes up little space, it fits perfectly in small city apartments. It is ideal for beginners without a green thumb, for families, and for anyone who values maximum freshness and transparency in their diet.
Your path to the MySpirulina routine
You see: Growing spirulina at home is not rocket science – it's simply fun. With the MySpirulina farm, you bring a piece of self-sufficiency and a lot of vitality directly to your windowsill.
Are you ready for your first own superfood? If you don't have your farm yet or need accessories like new nutrient salt, check out our shop.
About MySpirulina
MySpirulina is a startup founded in Kiel in 2023, enabling the cultivation of fresh spirulina with a smart home farm. The solar-powered farm produces approximately 50 grams of fresh spirulina every 10-14 days. The company was funded by the Schleswig-Holstein startup grant and was featured on "Die Höhle der Löwen" in 2026.
- Founders: Ben Schwedhelm, Sara Farzaneh
- Location: Kiel, Germany
- Product: MySpirulina Starter Kit (€149.95)