𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝗽𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟯 𝗵𝗼𝘁 🔥 𝗹𝗶𝘀𝘁: 𝗜𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗮 𝗻𝗲𝘄 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗻𝘁 𝗿𝘂𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗿?

Originally posted on March 23, 2023

Quick Recap: LG = Lettuce Grow, TG = Tower Garden, AG = AeroGarden, C&G = Click and Grow

The market is buzzing with new arrivals, as well as upgrades to some of the most beloved systems among growers.

So which system or systems reign(s) supreme among the best hydroponic towers on the market? Is the LG still the front runner, or has it been challenged by the upgrades made by Gardyn and Rise? Or has the C&G 25 affirmed itself as the garden of the future. To answer these questions, let’s have some tea, shall we?

Systems can receive up to 3 icons or none at all. Each system will be scored on the following five criteria, including 𝗹𝗶𝘃𝗮𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 which is new to the list:

1. Overall build quality and durability

2. Maintenance required to keep it pristine

3. Standalone (is it an all-in-one system) - Can it grow a variety of crops at the same time

4. Capacity - can it truly grow plants to full maturity in all available slots

5. Livability - How easily does it blend into the home.

Without further ado, let’s get to the bottom of this.

𝟭. 𝗚𝗮𝗿𝗱𝘆𝗻 𝟯.𝟬 🔥🔥

Overall build quality - 8 out of 10

Maintenance - 8 out of 10

Stand-alone - 10 out of 10

Capacity - 9 out of 10

Livability- 9 out of 10

Before McDonald’s arrived on the fast-food scene, there were other burger restaurants. But there was something about McDonald’s that led to it becoming a cultural phenomenon and ultimately an icon. I actually believe that among the hydroponic systems on the market, the Gardyn is the most well-positioned to become the household name among hydroponic systems.

When the 3.0 was released last Fall, the hydroponics community went into a frenzy. That speaks volumes for the Gardyn, confirming that its design and aesthetics will continue to grow its fans base.

But did the 3.0 live up to the hype! Well … yes.

The 3.0 boasts upgrades to earlier models. First the bamboo lid was replaced with a waterproof and moisture resistant rubberwood alternative. The columns are a brighter white and are more opaque than earlier models, therefore preventing algae buildup. The AI improved, and germination mode was added to the Gardyn’s capabilities. This new mode works quite well to ensure germination of all 30 pods at startup.

The biggest improvement was the sealing of the electricals in the underside of the lid. All eyes were on this upgrade, because of the issues that many growers have had (me included) with lids failing in earlier models.

Unfortunately, some lid issues have been reported. I suspect that the issues might be due to something other than moisture, but my hope is that Gardyn will figure it out. After all, no product is truly pressure tested until it goes out into the real world.

Another opportunity for improvement in my opinion, is the resizing of the reservoir. With the 1.0s we filled the reservoir with 6 gallons of water. Now with the 3.0 we’re only using 5 gallons, which means more frequent refills.

But the Gardyn’s challenges all but disappear, when we consider that it’s one of the easiest towers to live with. The pump is relatively quiet, and a watering frequency of only 3+ times per day is a treat to say the least. The lights are also warm. This allows multiple Gardyns to be placed side by side without creating a challenging environment to live in, especially when the plants are mature.

Gardyn is here to stay. If you’re risk adverse, you might have some purchase anxiety since the issues with possible lid failure aren’t a secret. But for those whose environments are well suited for the 3.0, growing with this system will continue to be a dream. Not to mention that there isn’t a better system for growing cucumbers and other vining plants. They’re still figuring it out, but they will forever be disruptive.

𝟮. 𝗥𝗶𝘀𝗲 𝟮.𝟬 🔥🔥🔥

Overall build quality - 10 out of 10

Maintenance - 9 out of 10

Standalone - 10 out of 10

Capacity - 10 out of 10

Livability- 9 out of 10

Someone took notes, did their homework, and came back into the winner's circle. Welcome back to glory.

The Rise Garden is a dark horse in the race for hydroponics dominance. If Gardyn is McDonalds, then Rise Gardens is Chick-Fil-A. Leave me alone, I’m Southern.

It’s only a dark horse because the brand has presented itself as a premium brand and therefore falls among the priciest systems. The other hurdle the brand has is challenging the belief among growers that towers are more productive than horizontal systems.

Rise 2.0 took on these challenges headfirst.

Believe it or not, the Rise Garden can match the productivity of the best tower systems. Greens are quite large and grow rapidly in this system. Furthermore, it handles fruiting plants better than any other system on the market. There’s no match for the ease and finesse with which it handles tomatoes especially, as well as peppers and other fruiting plants. By increasing the reservoir to a 13-gallon capacity, Rise has done what AeroGarden wasn’t able to do. They have delivered a horizontal system that matches the power of the towers.

The pricier tag … well all bets were off when the Charcoal Garden was revealed, ushering in what I believe is a change in the right direction for indoor systems. From the perspective of market potential, accepting that these systems are decor as much as they are gardens for growing food will serve these companies well. The Charcoal Rise’s debut shifted the conversation completely, with growers now questioning whether productivity is enough? Or if the systems need to be designed the way appliances are with options for lifestyle preferences. It makes me wonder if stainless steel Rise gardens are in the works? After all, the gardens are already made of mostly metal.  

Rise Garden systems score high in terms of livability. Here’s why. The Rise Gardens are stationary products. They do not require trays or carts or dollies. They might not have realized it, but by raising the bottom of the garden off the floor with enough clearance for Roombas, they did their customers a tremendous favor. Now the area around the garden is easier to clean.

Keeping with that theme, these gardens are less messy than towers, especially when it comes to fruiting plants that shed flowers all over your floors. With the Rise, most flowers fall onto the garden itself.

You simply vacuum them up. The lights are incredible for plant growth, but they’re not overly bright. They don’t disrupt the mood of a room.

So why didn’t I give it a perfect score for livability. The pump still runs all day. It’s a matter of consumer taste and preference. While some growers might like the sound of the water, others prefer moments of stillness.

It’s wonderful to see a brand step into its identity. Keep the colors coming and keep the plants thriving. Congratulations on topping the hot list.

𝟯. 𝗖𝗹𝗶𝗰𝗸 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗚𝗿𝗼𝘄 𝟮𝟱 🔥🔥🔥

Overall build quality - 10 out of 10

Maintenance - 10 out of 10

Standalone - 9 out of 10

Capacity - 9 out of 10

Livability- 10 out of 10

This is the only garden to receive a perfect score for livability. It goes without saying that there are major advantages to having systems in the home that don’t rely on pumps. No pump means a silent system, except for the plants speaking to you and each other, and therefore zero noise pollution. It also means a system that will last for years to come.

The 25 is a stackable system, allowing you to grow up to 75 plants in a single setup. Upgrades available for purchase include a storage drawer for pods, nutrients and supplies, as well as amber-colored plexiglass to prevent light pollution. Last but not least is the tray which sits on top to hold additional gardens, plants, or supplies.

This is the most well-thought-out system on the market, and the one that tailors to the widest demographic. No surprises here, because as I’ve said many times before, C&G is the Apple of the hydroponics world. Cleaning the 25 simply means removing a tray without disturbing your plants. Assembling the garden itself is a 2-step process - attach the arms/legs and plug it in.

Luxury meets practicality meets serenity meets beauty. This garden is an absolute delight.

But there’s an elephant in the room. The garden itself approaches perfection, but for some bizarre reason it was designed without consideration for the current C&G ecosystem. The C&G pods are too tall for this system’s trays, and the downside is mold and algae. Perhaps they’re planning to offer a shorter pod for the garden? I’m working around this by using my own growing media, but I would love to be able to just use their pods. Using their pods means just adding water, another contributing factor to their livability score.

But all things considered, an indoor system that grows 75 plants with no noise pollution, while minimizing light pollution is simply disruptive. It may not grow 12-inch-wide lettuce leaves, but it won’t leave you hungry and ultimately that’s what matters.

It’s a globally successful brand for a reason. This system works in any home. I think this would be such a treat for college students to have in their dorm rooms.

Congratulations to C&G for maintaining its position at the top of the hot list.  Though some growers disagree because the growth isn’t as rapid as some other systems or the plants don’t get as massive, it grows everything including root vegetables with precision and that makes it exceptional. Not to mention that like the Rise, it offers a cleaner growing experience.

𝟰. 𝗛𝘆𝘃𝗲 𝗟𝗙-𝗢𝗻𝗲 (Discontinued) 🔥🔥

Overall build quality - 8 out of 10

Maintenance - 8 out of 10

Standalone - 10 out of 10

Capacity - 10 out of 10

Livability- 8 out of 10

I won’t spend much time here, because this system has been discontinued. But it really was a masterclass in growing root vegetables. I really hope to see a similar product re-enter the marketplace. The need to grow solid foods hydroponically is still great. Lettuce is wonderful, but we need to be able to grow higher caloric foods.

𝟱. 𝗟𝗲𝘁𝘁𝘂𝗰𝗲 𝗚𝗿𝗼𝘄 𝗡𝗼𝗼𝗸 - tbd

LG has taken the leap into the indoor market, and it remains to be seen whether this was a good investment of their time and resources. They’re the Kings and Queens of the tower market, having created an elegant outdoor system that churns out more food than many soil options. That product was adapted to indoor growing with a set of beautiful ring lights, and indoors the original LG maintains its powerhouse status.

So why did LG create an indoor system? First, I think they’re up for a challenge. Actually, I think they’ve declared war. The footprint of the Nook (18 inches wide) and the price tag ($779) says LG wants a share of Gardyn’s glory. And it makes sense, because the indoor market is where the money is, since consumers will be able to grow and farm without land.

Second, I think it’s because of the livability issue. Though the original LG produces well indoors, it’s loud and it waters hourly throughout the day. This actually leads to a low livability score in my opinion. The lights are also quite bright, and because of the height of the tower they can be distracting. Finally, the LG is heavy and hard to cart around when it’s filled with 20 gallons of water. I give the original LG a livability score of 5, and now we wait to see if the Nook can improve that score.

My first impressions of the Nook are favorable. I think it will shine brightly. 9 gallons of water/nutrient solution for 20 plants is a well-thought-out water-to-capacity ratio, especially for an aeroponic system.

Maybe the Nook will soar to the top of the hot list. We shall see, won’t we?   

𝟲. 𝗟𝗲𝘁𝘁𝘂𝗰𝗲 𝗚𝗿𝗼𝘄 🔥🔥

Overall build quality - 10 out of 10

Maintenance required - 9 out of 10

Stand alone - 9 out of 10

Capacity - 10 out of 10

𝗟𝗶𝘃𝗮𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆- 𝟱 𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝟭𝟬

No changes beyond the livability score, which has brought it down to two instead of 3 marks.

𝗣𝗿𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗼𝘂𝘀 𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿𝘀:

For previous purchases including earlier versions of the Gardyn and Rise, as well as the Lettuce Grow, Nutritower, Tower Gardens, and AeroGarden Farms please see The Hot list Part2: The Battle of the Towers.

𝗙𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀 💭:

As with all of my reviews, the systems are rated from the perspective of an indoor grower. This is important to keep in mind, so that we don’t compare apples to oranges. Indeed, some towers (Lettuce Grow and Tower Garden, for example) will explode with growth outdoors. After all, there is no competition for the sun. But in the spirit of inclusivity, the comparisons must be made fairly and on common ground.

I haven’t listed the 𝗟𝗲𝘁𝗣𝗼𝘁, but it deserves an honorable mention. This is a setup that is more semi-hydroponic in nature, because it uses LECA as the growing media. I am curious to see the direction the brand takes, but I think they’re going to shake things up, especially when it comes to growing fruiting plants. Strawberries might have finally found their hydroponics home.

Finally, an intriguing observation with the current ranking is the emergence of the horizontal systems as front-runners. It’s food for thought, isn’t it? They’re easier to clean and they preserve the natural orientation of plants. Will these be the determining factors of which brand wins the hydroponic wars? I don’t know about you guys, but I’m excited to see what’s next in the battle for hydroponics dominance.

As always,

Happiest Gardening!   🌱💚🌿