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 requires a sunny spot by the window.
You did it: Your MySpirulina farm has moved in with you! Perhaps the package is still sitting unopened in the hallway or you have already spread the parts out on your kitchen counter. In any case, an exciting adventure lies ahead of you: growing your own Spirulina – it doesn't get any fresher than this.
Many people think of complicated laboratories or biologists in white coats when they hear about 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 your own Spirulina – the facts for those in a hurry
- Effort: One-time setup in 10 minutes, then the MySpirulina farm takes care of 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, vibrant superfood directly from the windowsill – no green thumb required
- 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 part of the harvest as a new culture, and continue growing indefinitely
What you need to grow Spirulina
Before we really get started, let's take a quick look at your package. We have designed the MySpirulina farm so that you can start immediately – without having to dash off to a hardware or specialty store.
This is included in your starter kit
- The grow glass: The home for your algae
- MySpirulina starter culture: The base from which your farm grows
- MySpirulina nutrient salt: The "food" so that your algae develop optimally
- Tech package: Lid with hose connection and solar panel with USB-C connection for the power supply
- Harvest kit: A practical harvest aid including a filter
What else you need
- A teaspoon
- A sunny spot by the window
- Lukewarm tap water (or distilled water for even purer results)
- A USB-C cable and a power connection
Growing Spirulina in 8 steps – the instructions
Now it's time for the practical part! Grab your equipment and let's bring your Spirulina farm to life. Simply follow these eight steps:
Step 1: Prepare the grow glass
To ensure your culture starts under the best conditions, rinse the grow glass thoroughly with hot water at the beginning.
Step 2: Create the nutrient base
Fill 3 heaped teaspoons (approx. 45 g) of MySpirulina nutrient salt into the clean glass. This salt provides all the essential minerals your algae need for healthy growth.
Step 3: Fill with water
Fill the glass to about 4/5 with lukewarm tap water. Make sure the water is not too hot so that the algae feel comfortable. Stir briefly so that the nutrient salt dissolves 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 how the water immediately turns slightly greenish – your journey to growing your own Spirulina begins.
Step 5: Put on the lid
Carefully place the lid on the grow glass.
Step 6: Find the perfect spot
Place your Spirulina farm at a window with plenty of daylight. A spot facing south, east, or west is ideal so that the solar panel and the algae can soak up as much sun as possible.
Step 7: Connect to power
Connect the farm to the power supply using the USB-C cable. This ensures optimal growth of your Spirulina – even on cloudy days.
Step 8: Switch on the farm
Press the power button on the farm – and it will start its operation.
Congratulations – you are now an official algae farmer!
Harvesting fresh Spirulina: How it works
Did you follow all the steps? Then it's time to sit back and wait. From now on, the MySpirulina farm takes over the work for you.
In the next few days, you can observe how the water in your glass gets darker and takes on an increasingly intense shade of green. That is the sign that your Spirulina culture is busy multiplying.
When can you harvest Spirulina? The right time
After 10 to 14 days, the time has come: you can harvest your own fresh Spirulina for the first time. You can recognize the right moment by the color. As soon as the liquid has reached a deep dark green, the ideal time has arrived.
Good to know: If the first harvest takes a little longer than 14 days, this is completely normal. The first time, your Spirulina culture has to establish itself. From the second round onwards, it is much faster.
Harvesting Spirulina in 3 steps
Just like the setup, harvesting your Spirulina farm is easy. All you need: a clean glass, your harvest aid, your filter, a sink, and these three steps:
- Secure the cycle: Before you filter everything, pour approx. 250 ml of the Spirulina culture into a separate, clean glass. This is your starter culture for the next round – so you never have to buy a new culture again.
- Filter: Place the harvest aid and the filter in your sink. Slowly pour the remaining liquid from the grow glass 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 are holding real gold (or rather: rich green) in your hands. Briefly rinse the harvested Spirulina paste with a little water to remove any residues of the nutrient salt. While dried Spirulina powder often has a very intense characteristic taste, your home-grown, fresh Spirulina is almost taste-neutral 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 & alive | powder = spray-dried
- Origin: fresh = your kitchen | powder = usually Asia
Our favorite ideas for direct consumption
- The classic: Stir a spoonful into your morning smoothie
- The power shot: Mix the Spirulina with a little apple or ginger juice for the ultimate energy kick
- Baking: Stir it into the dough for cakes or cookies
- 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 the windowsill warm – Spirulina loves temperatures between 25–35 °C
- Align the solar panel optimally – the more direct sunlight, the faster the growth
- Permanently powered – the farm should be permanently connected via USB-C cable to consistently achieve the best harvest yields
- Patience the first time – the first harvest may take a little longer because the culture has to establish itself
- Vacation-proof: Going away? Your farm stays stable in the saturation phase for up to 3 months without you having to harvest
Growing your own Spirulina – 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 time depends on the sun intensity at your window. The very first time, it can also take a little longer, as the Spirulina culture has to establish itself first. In winter, growth can also take a little longer.
Do I need electricity or special equipment to grow Spirulina?
Special equipment is not necessary – all accessories from the nutrient salt to the filter are included in the scope of delivery. For operation, however, you need electricity and a USB-C cable. To achieve the best harvest yields permanently, it is recommended to connect the farm permanently to the power grid.
What do I do if the Spirulina stays light green or doesn't grow?
Algae love light and warmth. Check if your farm gets enough direct sun (south, west, or east window). If it is very dark in winter, moving it to a brighter window can help.n/a-->
How often do I have to refill or maintain the Spirulina farm?
After every harvest, you simply start the process again: clean the glass, prepare the set-aside 250 ml starter culture with fresh water and nutrient salt – done.
Can I freeze or dry the harvested Spirulina?
It is best to enjoy it very fresh. However, you can easily keep it in the refrigerator for 7 to 8 days or freeze it in ice cube trays to throw it directly into smoothies later.
Who is the MySpirulina farm suitable for?
For everyone. Since it takes up hardly any space, it fits perfectly into small city apartments. It is ideal for beginners without a green thumb, for families, and for everyone 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 is simply fun. With the MySpirulina farm, you bring a piece of self-sufficiency and plenty of vitality directly onto 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 that enables the cultivation of fresh Spirulina with a smart home farm. The solar-powered farm produces about 50 grams of fresh Spirulina every 10-14 days. The company was funded by the Schleswig-Holstein start-up scholarship and was featured on "Die Höhle der Löwen" in 2026.
- Founders: Ben Schwedhelm, Sara Farzaneh
- Headquarters: Kiel, Germany
- Product: MySpirulina starter kit (€149.95)
