I have one of these. It works well during the winter when I don’t grow outdoors. Also works good for starting plants indoors to move outside in the spring. Pods can be a little expensive, so I reuse the plastic shell, and pop out the sponges and replace them with some of these using my own seeds. You can also buy some nutrients in bulk when you run out of the one included, or use some other variety.
I also have some grow lights indoors that I got from Amazon for a lot cheaper, and put them on a timer. They work just as well, but the plants require more regular watering.
@lichme I think I want to try germinating some plants of my own next year, but a grow light and those and a great of those jiffy pucks is probably a better solution.
@lichme
It’s the Kcup type design that worries me.
How easy is it to use my own seeds with it? I can’t just place it in, right? I have to carefully open one of the pods trying not to break it, and whittle down a kitchen sponge to fit or something?
Since this is hydroponic, what about nutrients?
For someone who doesn’t know a damn thing about hydrophobic growing and doesn’t want to spend hand over fist for branded nutrient capsules or whatever, what would the learning curve be?
I want to grow basil, mostly genovese and neapolitan, inside, where it won’t die during the winter, but get overwhelmed because I don’t want a new hobby, I just want a steady supply of basil.
I’m thinking that soil and a grow light is a better idea, though.
@lichme I’ve been wanting one of these for a while - we don’t have much space to plant indoors or outdoors. The price for extra sponges and the bulk nutrients is totally worth doing it a little DIY. What plants worked best when you used your own seeds? Any other tips?
The pods/sponges come with a hole in the top of them already. You don’t have to open/tear them to get your own seeds in them.
.CB332077725.jpg
What I do when replacing the sponges is push them up through the hole in the label. They sell the sponges specifically for the aerogarden, which I linked in my original post. There are perforations in the label that should allow the sponge to come out without tearing the paper, although it’s not a huge deal even if you do. Then just put a few seeds into your own sponge through the hole at the top. I put multiple seeds in there so I know at least one will germinate. Once they sprout, I carefully trim them so that only one of them grows to maturity.
The device will tell you when the water is low. You can go a while when you first start without having to top up. As your plants grow, you’ll need to water more frequently.
As for nutrients, there is also a reminder on the until that will tell you when to top it off. I think it’s every 2 weeks. I just use the cap that came with the small bottle, and dump two of them in there, and clear the alert.
The most annoying part of the process is cutting away the roots from the old sponge before you pop it back through the label to use a new one. Not a huge deal, but best done near a sink or something.
I use mine the most for lettuce, but I’m sure you can do a lot of other plants, including flowers. With lettuce, you can either harvest whole leaves from the outside of the plant, or you can trim off the lettuce like you’re giving it a haircut. Either way, for the health of the plant, try not to harvest more than 1/3 of it at a time.
@Kidsandliz Maybe some people don’t have available windows with good light. Or don’t like touching dirt. I assume this also tells people when and how much to water.
The real answer is that hydroponic will probably grow faster, be a bit less pest-prone and it’s a bit harder to get wrong, but then on the down side the light will break after a year, the plant food is more expensive than the kind you’d put on dirt, and it costs $79 up front instead of $5.
@Kidsandliz enough sunlight to grow herbs in the winter is hard to come by in many places. it is also pretty cold in my kitchen. there’s also no place to set up a grow light.
all that said, i’m lucky enough that i can buy herbs by the bunch year round for 99 cents - $1.50, and if you trim the ends and stick 'em in a glass with a little water, and put the plastic bag over the top in the fridge, they’ll last the better part of a month unless you use them up first. (for parsley, cilantro, and dill. thyme/oregano/rosemary does just fine in the clamshell in the crisper drawer. basil is best left on the counter and used asap.) if i had $85 to throw around i might buy one of these for funsies, but then i also probably wouldn’t be here. i do have friends that have these and really like them.
@Kidsandliz LOTS of reasons.
If your windows are fairly new they won’t pass UV.
Soil-less has the potential for less insect issue.
The controlled light timing on these make it “peak growing season” whenever you use it - good luck with that box in the window in December.
Yield - you’ll never get this much from a box of dirt.
Ease of maintenance - forget to water this for a few days and you’ll be fine. Try that with your box of dirt.
@Kidsandliz if you missed, this will grow faster than in soil and also its season free. It uses hydroponics method(which can be indoor or outdoor) in which you directly supply nutrients to the roots of the plants. In traditional method roots has to find the nutrients from the soil and that way it has few harvesting cycles.
Further you can always google about benefits of hydroponics!
Oh fortuitous happenstance! I’ve had one of these sitting in my shopping at another site for 2 days but couldn’t commit. My indecision just saved me like $75. I have one already for herbs and yeah, you wind up with a lot of herbs.
In my experiences-The thyme never grows. Ever. Same with dill. The basil is fabulous, but basil’s cheap and easy to grow regardless of the method. The tomatoes do good, but only plant 2 (one on each end), and you really want the tall aerogardens for it. Their customer service is pretty good though about sending replacements, including once sending a replacement garden when my sister’s was DOA.
The pods are easy to reuse (You can get the sponges on amazon ~$10/50 sponges), and you can then plant WHATEVER your little heart desires.
I’m tempted to grab one just cause I have one of the halogen versions and I’m tired of changing the stupid bulbs on it. If it were a tall model, I’d be all over it.
@Jamileigh17 gotcha was just curious, ain’t nobody got time for 2 hour long customer service conversations where you have to go back and forth, then print labels and make you pay for shipping, to actually solve the issue. Especially when you need to replace the entire product which a lot of companies hate to do.
The marketing idea is it is fun and satisfying to grow your own fresh herbs. Watching plants grow is not fun, and satisfaction comes by making money. But there is only so many herbs that can actually pay a for thos, and most are still illegal in Texas.
For anyone who cares, I looked up the energy cost of the 20W grow light. In a worst case scenario of running on high growth with a 24hr cycle at my local cost of 15.98 cents per kWh, cost per day is 7.67 cents, per month is $2.33 and cost per year is $28.
works great! no bugs. no mess. watering is super easy… rarely have to water… use own seeds and sponges. dirt cheap… or go build your own indoor hyproponic system from special LED bulbs and you will have spent multiple hours and at least $100.
@dam091 no. Growing cannabis requires a grow room with a lot more light and ventilation to outside air. This would get you to a point, with basically one plant. Once flowering begins your entire living space will smell like cannabis.
I have one, but it’s an older, less frilly model. It works great for seed starting (but read up on how to convert a plant from water to soil) You can buy the special grow sponges and cages online, but you should only really need to buy more sponges as long as you take care of the plastic cages.
They are great for people with black thumbs (like me) it’s nearly impossible to kill whatever is in there unless it’s outright neglect.
Pods are currently on sale for less at the Aerogrow website and all the options are included. All gardens are included also, but the Harvest Premium isn’t shown.
I live in So Cal & have had an outdoor garden for at least 15 years. I grow mostly tomatoes, zucchini, lettuces, & herbs but am approaching 70 so the back doesn’t like as much of a workout as it used too:). So am looking for a more back friendly gardening alternative to experiment with for my elder years. I won’t get nearly as much volume or variety but at least I will have some fresh grown options. I have been looking at this for several years but the $179-$199 price tag was a huge detraction so when meh had this deal I decided to leap & am looking forward to seeing how this works out for my back, year round growing, fresh veggies/herbs. (Yes So Cal has year round growing season depending on the crop. For example its TOO HOT in summer to grow lettuces or kale & hopefully now I can, indoors:)
Product Name: AeroGarden Harvest Premium with 6-Pod Gourmet Herbs, Platinum
Model: 901061-1200
Condition: New
Grow up to 6 plants
20W LED grow light
Up to 12" grow height for herbs, lettuces, tomatoes and more
Digital display control panel offers automated water and plant food reminders
What’s in the Box?
1x The AeroGarden Harvest: a 6-Pod Indoor Garden
1x 20W LED Grow Light System
1x 6-Pod Seed Kit (Gourmet Herbs) with germination guarantee
1x Plant Food Liquid Nutrients
1x Power Adapter
Here’s a Fun Fact for You
Initial recordings of “Aeroplane” by the Red Hot Chili Peppers differed greatly from the final version. According to insider sources, the song’s initial title was “Aerogarden” with lyrics saying, “I like veggies spiked with carbon, music is my aerogarden…” However, the band’s recording deal with Veggie Tales fell through, and they went on to sign a hefty contract with Boeing – thus resulting in the song we hear today.
I have two of these in my basement from 15 years ago. They work fine but frankly I don’t think you get enough out of them for the trouble, especially when you factor in their power usage.
im getting this. Right now I have basil growing in a 3500$ BC Northern Lights hydro set up for ‘other (legal in my state) herbs’…between harvests i can still go out and pluck fresh basil. This set up is cheaper than my 125w CFL bulb!
I love my AeroGarden. Tomatoes coming in right now. Tasted the first one- wow! Growing Romain without having to worry about recalls!!! Last batch I grew herbs. Basil was abundant, as was the dill. I’ve never been able to grow anything, so it’s perfect for me.
Are the herb pods some kinda proprietary, machine-specific contraption? These mediocre herbs are a deal breaker for me.
Basil: Grows like a weed indoors or out,
Thai Basil: Basil part 2
Curly Parsley: Really?! Curley Parsley? No one actually cooks with flat leaf’s least favorite cousin.
Dill: Eh. Why not?
Thyme: Finally, hell yeah!
Mint: Meh. Also a fast growing, invasive herb that you don’t need an $90 grow system to keep alive for the three times a year you’ll need it.
I have one of these. It works well during the winter when I don’t grow outdoors. Also works good for starting plants indoors to move outside in the spring. Pods can be a little expensive, so I reuse the plastic shell, and pop out the sponges and replace them with some of these using my own seeds. You can also buy some nutrients in bulk when you run out of the one included, or use some other variety.
I also have some grow lights indoors that I got from Amazon for a lot cheaper, and put them on a timer. They work just as well, but the plants require more regular watering.
@lichme I think I want to try germinating some plants of my own next year, but a grow light and those and a great of those jiffy pucks is probably a better solution.
@lichme /buy
@lichme
It’s the Kcup type design that worries me.
How easy is it to use my own seeds with it? I can’t just place it in, right? I have to carefully open one of the pods trying not to break it, and whittle down a kitchen sponge to fit or something?
Since this is hydroponic, what about nutrients?
For someone who doesn’t know a damn thing about hydrophobic growing and doesn’t want to spend hand over fist for branded nutrient capsules or whatever, what would the learning curve be?
I want to grow basil, mostly genovese and neapolitan, inside, where it won’t die during the winter, but get overwhelmed because I don’t want a new hobby, I just want a steady supply of basil.
I’m thinking that soil and a grow light is a better idea, though.
@lichme I’ve been wanting one of these for a while - we don’t have much space to plant indoors or outdoors. The price for extra sponges and the bulk nutrients is totally worth doing it a little DIY. What plants worked best when you used your own seeds? Any other tips?
@Narwalt @erisire
The pods/sponges come with a hole in the top of them already. You don’t have to open/tear them to get your own seeds in them.
What I do when replacing the sponges is push them up through the hole in the label. They sell the sponges specifically for the aerogarden, which I linked in my original post. There are perforations in the label that should allow the sponge to come out without tearing the paper, although it’s not a huge deal even if you do. Then just put a few seeds into your own sponge through the hole at the top. I put multiple seeds in there so I know at least one will germinate. Once they sprout, I carefully trim them so that only one of them grows to maturity.
The device will tell you when the water is low. You can go a while when you first start without having to top up. As your plants grow, you’ll need to water more frequently.
As for nutrients, there is also a reminder on the until that will tell you when to top it off. I think it’s every 2 weeks. I just use the cap that came with the small bottle, and dump two of them in there, and clear the alert.
The most annoying part of the process is cutting away the roots from the old sponge before you pop it back through the label to use a new one. Not a huge deal, but best done near a sink or something.
I use mine the most for lettuce, but I’m sure you can do a lot of other plants, including flowers. With lettuce, you can either harvest whole leaves from the outside of the plant, or you can trim off the lettuce like you’re giving it a haircut. Either way, for the health of the plant, try not to harvest more than 1/3 of it at a time.
Hope that helps
@lichme your comments have been super helpful
Thank you!
Looking forward to my first pods and then planting my own seeds
Thank you for the info. It is very helpful!
Yes, that’s exactly what it’s like.
OH MY GOD THEY PLANTED GLEN!!!
Do not plant 6 tomato pods in one of these. Even with constant pruning they will crowd each other so they won’t grow well. 2 is the correct number.
I still don’t get why this would be any better than planting whatever in dirt in a flower pot in a window.
@Kidsandliz It’s like dirt in a flower pot in a window and using google calendar to schedule email reminders to water and feed the plants.
But also it costs $79 plus shipping.
@Kidsandliz Maybe some people don’t have available windows with good light. Or don’t like touching dirt. I assume this also tells people when and how much to water.
@craigthom @ravenblack I guess each to their own. I’d think a grow light would be cheaper but that is just me.
@craigthom @Kidsandliz @ravenblack a sunny warm window or a grow light is cheaper but this is a hydroponic garden. There is no soil involved.
@craigthom @djslack @Kidsandliz Sure, but the question was why would it be better, not what is different about it.
The real answer is that hydroponic will probably grow faster, be a bit less pest-prone and it’s a bit harder to get wrong, but then on the down side the light will break after a year, the plant food is more expensive than the kind you’d put on dirt, and it costs $79 up front instead of $5.
@ravenblack Fair enough.
Plus you get to say you’re making homemade pesto with that hydro basil.
@Kidsandliz enough sunlight to grow herbs in the winter is hard to come by in many places. it is also pretty cold in my kitchen. there’s also no place to set up a grow light.
all that said, i’m lucky enough that i can buy herbs by the bunch year round for 99 cents - $1.50, and if you trim the ends and stick 'em in a glass with a little water, and put the plastic bag over the top in the fridge, they’ll last the better part of a month unless you use them up first. (for parsley, cilantro, and dill. thyme/oregano/rosemary does just fine in the clamshell in the crisper drawer. basil is best left on the counter and used asap.) if i had $85 to throw around i might buy one of these for funsies, but then i also probably wouldn’t be here. i do have friends that have these and really like them.
@Kidsandliz LOTS of reasons.
If your windows are fairly new they won’t pass UV.
Soil-less has the potential for less insect issue.
The controlled light timing on these make it “peak growing season” whenever you use it - good luck with that box in the window in December.
Yield - you’ll never get this much from a box of dirt.
Ease of maintenance - forget to water this for a few days and you’ll be fine. Try that with your box of dirt.
@Kidsandliz @Pufferfishy Yeah, it pretty sweet to eat some home grown tomatoes while looking out my slowing freezing over back window.
@Kidsandliz if you missed, this will grow faster than in soil and also its season free. It uses hydroponics method(which can be indoor or outdoor) in which you directly supply nutrients to the roots of the plants. In traditional method roots has to find the nutrients from the soil and that way it has few harvesting cycles.
Further you can always google about benefits of hydroponics!
Can I use it to grow friends
@vinuash well maybe if you grow dope… or cherry tomatoes.
@vinuash only if marijuana is legal in your state.
@Kidsandliz @vinuash
Or tomacco
Oh fortuitous happenstance! I’ve had one of these sitting in my shopping at another site for 2 days but couldn’t commit. My indecision just saved me like $75. I have one already for herbs and yeah, you wind up with a lot of herbs.
In my experiences-The thyme never grows. Ever. Same with dill. The basil is fabulous, but basil’s cheap and easy to grow regardless of the method. The tomatoes do good, but only plant 2 (one on each end), and you really want the tall aerogardens for it. Their customer service is pretty good though about sending replacements, including once sending a replacement garden when my sister’s was DOA.
The pods are easy to reuse (You can get the sponges on amazon ~$10/50 sponges), and you can then plant WHATEVER your little heart desires.
I’m tempted to grab one just cause I have one of the halogen versions and I’m tired of changing the stupid bulbs on it. If it were a tall model, I’d be all over it.
@Jamileigh17 what was the replacement like? Did you or your sister have to show receipt/return the old one?
@pat4ever I just called customer service, they walked me through some troubleshooting steps, then were like, we’re sending a new one.
@Jamileigh17 gotcha was just curious, ain’t nobody got time for 2 hour long customer service conversations where you have to go back and forth, then print labels and make you pay for shipping, to actually solve the issue. Especially when you need to replace the entire product which a lot of companies hate to do.
Looks like Glen is growing “herbs”
I’d consider ordering this if it came with an Irk plushie, or a pair of crisp new $100 bills, or if I’d lost most of my upper brain functions.
Your move, Meh.
So what you’re telling me is that the fun facts I’ve been reading should be taken with a grain of salt, or several.
@RiotDemon no , with a sprinkle of fresh herbs
The marketing idea is it is fun and satisfying to grow your own fresh herbs. Watching plants grow is not fun, and satisfaction comes by making money. But there is only so many herbs that can actually pay a for thos, and most are still illegal in Texas.
It’s all fun and herbs until the DEA shows up at your door.
For anyone who cares, I looked up the energy cost of the 20W grow light. In a worst case scenario of running on high growth with a 24hr cycle at my local cost of 15.98 cents per kWh, cost per day is 7.67 cents, per month is $2.33 and cost per year is $28.
Why is this necessary?
@tinamarie1974 why is anything necessary? I can’t think of the last time i saw an item on Meh that satisfied an actual need.
@djslack @tinamarie1974 I don’t know what you’re talking about. I definitely needed the 120 fidget spinners.
@djslack @tinamarie1974 But… But batteries!!!
@djslack @shahnm batteries ARE important, but these days more and more necessary electronic devices (cough) are rechargeable with a USB cord!
@djslack @tinamarie1974
Wow, that name. I think I just barfed in my mouth reading it again.
That’s a stellar review on Amazon.
Does this make any water swishing noises? Is there a pump, or pods just sit in the bath of still water?
@username Yes, these have a small pump that trickles water onto the top of the roots. It’s not on 100% of the time.
@username I don’t know how loud the newer ones are, but the original I had was not quiet. That said, I’m thinking about getting this one anyway.
@bigevilgrape @username I have one on my desk and I almost never hear it and it’s sitting 3 feet from me.
works great! no bugs. no mess. watering is super easy… rarely have to water… use own seeds and sponges. dirt cheap… or go build your own indoor hyproponic system from special LED bulbs and you will have spent multiple hours and at least $100.
I’m guessing this is also good for growing… other stuff, right?
@dam091 no. Growing cannabis requires a grow room with a lot more light and ventilation to outside air. This would get you to a point, with basically one plant. Once flowering begins your entire living space will smell like cannabis.
@dam091 It will certainly get them started.
These are great…if I didn’t have a dozen of them I’ld buy this because it is a great price. Grows expensive lettuce, but no recalls on it.
I have one, but it’s an older, less frilly model. It works great for seed starting (but read up on how to convert a plant from water to soil) You can buy the special grow sponges and cages online, but you should only really need to buy more sponges as long as you take care of the plastic cages.
They are great for people with black thumbs (like me) it’s nearly impossible to kill whatever is in there unless it’s outright neglect.
I have one of these. They’re too crowded, fast-growing plants will outcompete and kill the others. Mine is down to just basil now.
If you want something a little fancier or some extra grow pods -> https://morningsave.com/events/life-is-an-aerogarden
Pods are currently on sale for less at the Aerogrow website and all the options are included. All gardens are included also, but the Harvest Premium isn’t shown.
@moofi Did the price on the morningsave units change since Monday?
Plants i can grow Indoors?! Impossible!
/giphy grievous-jolliest-dinosaur
/giphy obtuse-abrasive-crusader
I live in So Cal & have had an outdoor garden for at least 15 years. I grow mostly tomatoes, zucchini, lettuces, & herbs but am approaching 70 so the back doesn’t like as much of a workout as it used too:). So am looking for a more back friendly gardening alternative to experiment with for my elder years. I won’t get nearly as much volume or variety but at least I will have some fresh grown options. I have been looking at this for several years but the $179-$199 price tag was a huge detraction so when meh had this deal I decided to leap & am looking forward to seeing how this works out for my back, year round growing, fresh veggies/herbs. (Yes So Cal has year round growing season depending on the crop. For example its TOO HOT in summer to grow lettuces or kale & hopefully now I can, indoors:)
Specs
What’s in the Box?
1x The AeroGarden Harvest: a 6-Pod Indoor Garden
1x 20W LED Grow Light System
1x 6-Pod Seed Kit (Gourmet Herbs) with germination guarantee
1x Plant Food Liquid Nutrients
1x Power Adapter
Here’s a Fun Fact for You
Initial recordings of “Aeroplane” by the Red Hot Chili Peppers differed greatly from the final version. According to insider sources, the song’s initial title was “Aerogarden” with lyrics saying, “I like veggies spiked with carbon, music is my aerogarden…” However, the band’s recording deal with Veggie Tales fell through, and they went on to sign a hefty contract with Boeing – thus resulting in the song we hear today.
Price Comparison
$199.95 at Amazon
Warranty
1-year AeroGarden warranty
Estimated Delivery
Monday, July 13th - Monday, July 20th
/buy
@akumax It worked! Your order number is: stylish-sparse-liquid
/image stylish sparse liquid
@akumax @mediocrebot Well, I know it was a random image, but now I want to know what a Storm Glass is and I want Meh to sell me one!
@akumax @mediocrebot @pmarin You can try and win one here via Amazon Giveaways
I have two of these in my basement from 15 years ago. They work fine but frankly I don’t think you get enough out of them for the trouble, especially when you factor in their power usage.
@kirkslaw lol - 20W is excessive? That’s like 2 old-school Christmas bulbs…
These work great for cultivating my collection of toe fungi…and kale–same thing
im getting this. Right now I have basil growing in a 3500$ BC Northern Lights hydro set up for ‘other (legal in my state) herbs’…between harvests i can still go out and pluck fresh basil. This set up is cheaper than my 125w CFL bulb!
I love my AeroGarden. Tomatoes coming in right now. Tasted the first one- wow! Growing Romain without having to worry about recalls!!! Last batch I grew herbs. Basil was abundant, as was the dill. I’ve never been able to grow anything, so it’s perfect for me.
Are the herb pods some kinda proprietary, machine-specific contraption? These mediocre herbs are a deal breaker for me.
Basil: Grows like a weed indoors or out,
Thai Basil: Basil part 2
Curly Parsley: Really?! Curley Parsley? No one actually cooks with flat leaf’s least favorite cousin.
Dill: Eh. Why not?
Thyme: Finally, hell yeah!
Mint: Meh. Also a fast growing, invasive herb that you don’t need an $90 grow system to keep alive for the three times a year you’ll need it.
Winter is coming.
/giphy pensive-burnt-fritter
Can you “bonsai” a pot plant?
Asking for a friend…
This thing is so bright that I’ve just decided to forgo sleep and go with the lunar moth way of life. (Google it).