For cooking enthusiasts and those who value fresh ingredients, especially herbs, having an indoor garden can be a game-changer. Concerns about the quality and safety of store-bought produce, highlighted by recent lettuce recalls, have also driven interest in home-grown options. This has led many to explore indoor gardening, and hydroponic systems in particular, as a solution for year-round fresh produce. When diving into the world of indoor gardening systems, comparing options is crucial to find the best fit for your needs. This article compares three popular smart hydroponic systems: Aerogarden, Click & Grow Smart Garden, and Gardyn, to help you make an informed decision.
When considering a smart hydroponic system, key features include automatic watering or a reservoir, automated grow lights, and the flexibility to use your own seeds rather than being locked into a proprietary system. The goal is to find a system that is user-friendly, efficient, and capable of growing a variety of plants. Let’s compare these three systems to determine which might be the best indoor gardening system for you.
Aerogarden
Aerogarden is a well-known name in the indoor gardening market and frequently appears in lists of top hydroponic systems. While popular, it’s essential to delve deeper into whether it’s the right choice compared to other options. While the author has experience with the smaller AeroGarden Bounty Elite for herbs and appreciates it, the focus here is on larger systems suitable for more substantial indoor gardening, like the Farm 12XL and Farm 24XL models.
These larger Aerogarden models, designed to grow 12 or 24 plants respectively, mimic traditional container gardening by growing plants from the base up. However, reviews and personal assessment suggest this design might not be the most space-efficient approach for indoor environments. Despite being a recognizable brand with numerous reviews, the bulkier Aerogarden models were not tested, primarily due to concerns about space utilization and efficiency.
For growing larger vegetables indoors, Aerogarden could be considered, but the limited space might compromise yield. Furthermore, the prospect of managing large, potentially fragrant tomato plants indoors, including hand-pollination, might not appeal to everyone, especially when outdoor gardening is an option during warmer seasons.
Pros of Aerogarden:
- Popular and widely available.
- Suitable for growing larger vegetables.
- Smaller models like AeroGarden Bounty Elite are effective for herbs.
Cons of Aerogarden:
- Larger models may not be space-efficient.
- Growing larger vegetables like tomatoes indoors can be cumbersome.
- Design might not be optimized for maximum plant volume in a limited space.
Click & Grow Smart Garden
The Click & Grow Smart Garden, particularly the 3-pod and 9-pod versions, marked the author’s entry into indoor gardening. For years, it served as a reliable herb garden. The Smart Garden 9, priced under $300, is particularly effective for maintaining a kitchen herb supply throughout the winter. For a direct comparison to larger Aerogarden models, the Click & Grow “Smart Garden 27” is available, essentially three 9-pod units on a stand. However, experience with the 9-pod system provides sufficient insight into the Click & Grow ecosystem.
Click & Grow excels as an herb garden and is aesthetically pleasing with its compact design (approximately 2’w x 1’4”h x 7”d). However, its limited size becomes a constraint when aiming to grow substantial vegetables. Even herbs can outgrow the system, potentially getting too close to the lights and requiring transplanting. Success in growing vegetables like tomatoes or peppers in Click & Grow systems is reported by some, but wasn’t the author’s experience.
A notable feature is the reusable pods, although mold can develop in the filters, which are intended for reuse. Click & Grow’s proprietary seed pods utilize “smart soil” pre-loaded with nutrients. The soil-based pods facilitate easy transplanting outdoors, which is beneficial for seasonal transitions or moving herbs to larger containers.
However, the primary goal was to grow plants entirely indoors, and the limitations of the Click & Grow system became apparent when expanding beyond herbs. Its strengths lie in its ease of cleaning, attractive design, and simplicity for herb cultivation, making it a top choice for herb-focused smart gardens.
Pros of Click & Grow Smart Garden:
- Excellent for growing herbs.
- Compact and aesthetically pleasing design.
- Easy to clean and use.
- Reusable pods and transplant-friendly soil pods.
Cons of Click & Grow Smart Garden:
- Limited space for growing vegetables.
- Herbs can outgrow the system.
- Mold can develop in reusable pods.
- “Smart Garden 27” may be just a combination of smaller units.
Gardyn
After extensive research and experience with other systems, Gardyn emerged as a promising, albeit newer, option. Initial reservations were overcome by researching the company’s background, founder’s story, and engaging with the “Gardynrs” Facebook community. This led to the conclusion that Gardyn is the best hydroponic system for both vegetables and herbs.
Gardyn systems are visually appealing and incorporate smart technology. Each pod has a code that the system reads to provide plant-specific tips on harvesting, watering, and light management. Gardyn pods are biodegradable, allowing for ground planting if desired. While not dishwasher safe for reuse, they can be hand-washed, and cost-effective rockwool refills can be used for planting your own seeds. This open-seed capability was a key advantage, ensuring independence from proprietary supplies.
Gardyn excels in vegetable cultivation, accommodating up to 30 plants. A diverse range of plants can be grown simultaneously, such as various lettuces, a wide array of herbs, and bushier vegetables like celery, Swiss chard, mustard greens, and even strawberries. Flowers like Fiesta Gitana, tomatoes, and peppers have also been successfully grown. The Gardyn community has experimented with growing beans using trellising and generally pushes the system to its limits, suggesting it can support most above-ground crops (excluding root vegetables like carrots).
The following image shows an early Gardyn setup, flourishing with lettuces and herbs, demonstrating the system’s strength in leafy greens and herbs.
Another image showcases a more recent Gardyn garden with experimental crops like strawberries, peppers, and chamomile, alongside the usual lettuces and herbs. An unfortunate spider mite infestation occurred due to introducing new plants.
The harvest volume from a Gardyn system is substantial, as depicted in the harvest photo below.
A drawback of Gardyn is a monthly membership fee after the first month to maintain automatic alerts and watering. However, the author found the system manageable without the membership after the initial learning period. The membership includes 10 pods monthly, but the initial 30 pods lasted several months, reducing the perceived need for a subscription.
Gardyn is larger and more intricate than Click & Grow, requiring monthly cleaning, which is a minor chore. Restarting with new pods is also a more involved process. Despite these points, Gardyn remains highly recommended. Initial setup took about a month, and germination rates were affected by a cold home environment, but the company replaced non-sprouted pods. Based on experience, Gardyn is considered the best hydroponic system for vegetables and herbs.
Pros of Gardyn:
- High capacity for growing vegetables and herbs (up to 30 plants).
- Smart features and plant-specific guidance.
- Biodegradable pods and open to using own seeds.
- Versatile for various plant types, including vegetables, herbs, and some fruits.
- High yield potential.
Cons of Gardyn:
- Higher initial cost compared to other systems.
- Monthly membership fee for full smart features (optional).
- Larger size and more complex cleaning process.
- Initial setup can take time.
Conclusion
Choosing the right indoor gardening system depends on your specific needs and priorities. For those primarily interested in growing herbs, the Click & Grow Smart Garden offers a compact, user-friendly, and aesthetically pleasing solution. Aerogarden is a popular option, particularly for those wanting to grow larger vegetables, but its space efficiency and practicality for indoor tomato growing might be considerations. For a comprehensive indoor gardening experience capable of producing a significant amount of vegetables and herbs, the Gardyn stands out as the top choice, despite a higher initial investment and potential membership fees. Ultimately, comparing these indoor gardening systems reveals that Gardyn provides the most versatility and yield for serious indoor gardeners looking to grow a wide variety of produce.
What are your experiences with indoor gardening systems? Which hydroponic system do you use and what do you grow? Share your thoughts and recommendations in the comments below!
