The Joy of Harvest Made Easy... Trying LG 'Tiun Mini'

"Grow It Yourself" as Rumored
Just Plant the Seed Kit and Done in 5 Weeks
Maximized Convenience... Optimized for Single-Person Households

I never imagined a day would come when I could grow my own 'ssamchae-so' (leafy vegetables for wraps) in an apartment. That was until I tried LG Electronics' plant lifestyle appliance, 'Tiun Mini.' As a reporter who has even killed a supposedly easy-to-grow Stuckyi plant by just watering it, this was quite a challenge.

The result was a resounding success. The word-of-mouth claim that it "grows plants on its own" by just providing water, nutrients, and LED lighting was proven true. The sleek design and bright lighting also added an extra interior decor effect.

'Tiun Mini' was created to give anyone the joy of growing plants easily without complicated concerns. Compared to the original Tiun, it is smaller and lighter, making it suitable for single or two-person households. In fact, its popularity was evident as the 1,000 units available for pre-sale in March sold out quickly.

I decided to grow 'Cheongchima Sangchu' (green leaf lettuce) using the Tiun Mini. The usage was simple. I took the product out of the packaging box, connected the power, added water and nutrients, then placed the seed kit on top, and I was done. After that, depending on the plant chosen, I just had to watch it for 5 weeks (Cheongchima Sangchu, Ssamchu) or 8 weeks (marigold, etc.).

Connecting it with the smart home app 'LG ThinQ' gave me peace of mind. I could frequently check whether the water level and temperature were suitable for the plants to grow well. Also, I could easily adjust the LED lighting time and brightness.

After three days of installation, fresh green sprouts really appeared. As the manual instructed, I thinned out the excess sprouts except for the freshest ones. A few days later, I received a notification from the 'LG ThinQ' smart home app. It advised me to clean the water tank and add plant nutrients. Cleaning was easy. I detached the water tank, washed it, and placed the seed kit back as before.

The most convenient feature was watering. You just pour water along the water path between the seed kits, and the internal float inside the machine balances with the main body, so you only need to fill it until then. There was no need to remember when or how much water to add. When water runs low, the LED light blinks to signal that water needs to be refilled.

After repeating this for 4 to 5 weeks, the Cheongchima Sangchu, which was just small sprouts, grew into a small forest. Tasting the home-grown Cheongchima Sangchu while grilling meat at home felt much fresher and more delicious than those sold in stores.

I also felt the 'plant interior' (plant + interior) effect. Being able to easily grow plants even in an apartment gave a refreshing feeling just by looking at them. I understood the positive reviews on mom cafes and other communities that it is good for ornamental purposes or children's education.

There were some drawbacks. Currently, Tiun Mini supports only six types of seed kits. The price of the disposable seed kits, ranging from 22,000 to 25,000 KRW, felt somewhat expensive.

Another downside was the limited placement options for the Tiun Mini. Since the bright LED light needs to be on for an average of more than 14 hours a day, it was not suitable for bedrooms or personal rooms. A corner of the living room or a dark hallway seemed more appropriate.