𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗵𝗼𝘁 🔥 𝗹𝗶𝘀𝘁 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝟭: 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗯𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗹𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘁𝗼𝗽 𝘀𝘆𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗺𝘀:

Originally published on July 13, 2022; Numbers 4 and 7 have been removed since they are no longer available

Quick Recap: AG = AeroGarden, C&G = Click and Grow

Okay, I own more than 30 but less than 100 hydroponics systems, so it’s time to spill the tea. No, I don’t know the exact number, because I refuse to count them. I will only discuss systems that I have used personally.

So which systems reign supreme in an ever-expanding market? A top system gets a hot (🔥) icon, and a poorly performing system gets this one ❄️. Those that fall in between will be discussed but will not receive an icon.

1. 𝗔𝗲𝗿𝗼𝗚𝗮𝗿𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘀 (𝗙𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝗿𝗮𝗴𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗰 𝗴𝗮𝗿𝗱𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗿)

Overall build quality of these systems is 7-8 out of 10. The AG’s appeal is its versatility. You can grow almost anything in these systems.

A. The sprout - Cute system. The light is one of the softest from the AG family. It grows plants well. I enjoyed growing romaine lettuce and flowers in it. But it’s so tiny that it’s purely ornamental. It makes a good gift, or a nice desk lamp. Fun system.

B. Harvest - Probably the best selling of the AG models. But it’s my least favorite. 6 holes for less than a gallon of water. It’s best utilized for petunias (1 plant) and herbs. Adding an Aerovoir can help with the frequent refills. But it’s an ideal garden for green onions, which don’t require frequent refills. I swapped my lid out with the seed starter tray to grow green onions.

C. Harvest XL - It’s the same specs as the Harvest but with a bigger reservoir and more grow height. I didn’t keep mine. It looked nice, but I found it a bit clunky.

D. Bounty 🔥- A favorite among die hard AGers, but it’s not one of my favorite systems. The Bounty has 9 holes with a 1-gallon reservoir. The lights are great, but constant refills become cumbersome with mature plants. However, when it comes to growing tomatoes and peppers, few systems can compete. So even though it’s not my favorite, the Bounty is a reliable system with the right amount of technology. It’s on the hot list! The Bounty offers vacation mode and light control amongst other things in its app. AG needs to put a built-in fan in future models.

2. 𝗖𝗹𝗶𝗰𝗸 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗚𝗿𝗼𝘄 (𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗺𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘀𝘁’𝘀 𝗱𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗺)

Overall build quality - 10

This brand knows it’s market and it doesn’t shy away from it. A hallmark of these systems is that their pods are made with the nutrients inside. So, growers only have to add water. These systems also don’t have a pump. Minimalist design and minimum effort.

A. Smart Garden 3 🔥- I adore this little garden. The arms can be extended. It’s built to last forever. I’ve grown pretty much everything in this little garden: flowers, herbs, beans, tomatoes, and even baby broccoli varieties. This is the best 3 pod system in my humble opinion. You get proper 2-inch net pots. It’s the entry garden for the C&G brand, but it’s arguably the best product. The best use of this garden is for whatever you want. Realistically you won’t be growing trees in it. It’s so pretty that you can put it anywhere in your home.

B. Smart Garden 9 - It’s well built like the smaller system. It looks divine on the Click and Grow plant stand or on a table. It also has extendable arms. I like this system for basil and taller herbs, as well as flowers and whatever else I randomly decide to grow. But I think this garden is a little bit too heavy. In terms of performance, the AG Bounty will outperform the C&G on average with most fruiting plants. But they’re equal in my eyes. You just have to use them for the right plants.

C. Smart Garden 27 🔥- It’s just three of the Smart Garden 9 systems on a plant stand, but there is only one other system that can match its beauty. This system makes the hot list for gardeners who love to decorate. It’s simply a stunning design.

3. 𝗜𝗱𝗼𝗼 (𝗘𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗼𝗺𝗶𝗰 𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗔𝗚)

Overall build quality - 6 out of 10

These systems are offered in 7, 10, 12, and 20 pod options. Overall, the build quality is the same for all of them. They’re good systems. They’re one step below the AGs in terms of quality and possibly durability. The are sold in a crisp white, black, and sometimes red.

These systems are excellent for herbs and greens. I haven’t explored fruiting plants in them, but there’s no reason you can’t grow peppers, tomatoes etc. in them.

4. 𝗚𝗿𝗼𝘄𝗟𝗘𝗗 (𝗘𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗼𝗺𝗶𝗰 𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗖&𝗚)

Overall build quality- 6 out of 10

This company offers a range of LED lamps and grow baskets. Like the C&G, the pods come with nutrients, and you just add water. Also like the C&G, the systems don’t have a pump.

These systems work very well for greens. I’ve also grown strawberries in this system. It’s performance increases with the addition of an air stone.

5. 𝗔𝘀𝗽𝗮𝗿𝗮 🔥 (𝗧𝗼𝗽 𝘁𝗲𝗰𝗵)

Overall build quality - 9 out of 10

This system has the best app and best technology on the market. The water moves back and forth between the grow bed and the reservoir. The system offers different types of lighting. The plants grow beautifully. The app is next level and the only app I can see youngsters using keenly.

This system is for the techie gardener. It’s great for herbs and flowers. Like some of the smaller gardens mentioned above, it’s not ideal for long term plants.

6. 𝗩𝗲𝗴𝗲𝗯𝗼𝘅 ❄️

Overall build quality - 5 out of 10

Among the systems without pumps, it gave the worst performance. Such a pity, because it’s quite a sleek design. I did keep a petunia alive for a few months, but it was just the one petunia. The challenge with the system is the shallowness of the reservoir.

𝗙𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀  💭

Countertop systems are a must have in your hydroponics setup. They can be used for seed starting, quarantining plants, or for growing individual plants with customized nutrients.

They make lovely additions to your decor and can be placed throughout the home. But if you really want to use hydroponics as a substitute or true companion to outdoor gardening, a hydroponic tower is a must.

In part 2, I will pick apart the towers. Because of their high price points, those systems will be subjected to a lot more scrutiny.

As Always,

Happy Gardening! 🌱 💚 🌿