How Does An Aerogarden Work? What Is Aerogarden? | Explained
Imagine having access to ripe tomatoes or cooling mint whenever you want them. Wouldn’t it be nice to be able to appreciate flowers all year round?
If you have an AeroGarden, this might be the case for you. AeroGarden may make your dreams of having a fruitful garden come true, even if you don’t have a mainly green thumb or have killed every plant you’ve ever tried to cultivate or your plants got killed by insects, you don’t have to concern yourself with such matters if you have an Aerogarden at your disposal.
It makes growing plants from seeds so simple that everyone can do it. If you’ve never heard of AeroGarden, keep reading to find out everything there is to know about this countertop garden center.
What Is Aerogarden?
An indoor farming system called AeroGarden produces seasonal fresh fruits, vegetables, and herbs. Individuals who want to cultivate plants all year round without utilizing a greenhouse or who have a tiny outdoor space would love it (this is where we live with AeroGardens).
There are four primary models and several variations between them:
- Farm
- Harvest
- Bounty
- Sprout
The goal of AeroGarden is to provide a simple plant-growing system that everyone can use without creating a lot of clutter.
How Does The Aerogarden Work?
This section will discuss how AeroGardens grow plants by suspending roots above water and supplying them with fresh, nutrient-rich water and light by taking a closer look at each component of the product.
1. Hydroponic Reservoir
The AeroGardens system’s hydroponic reservoir is located at the bottom. Here is a fancy name: “this is where the water solution is kept.” The hydroponic reservoir frequently incorporates a pump to move water through the seed pods, depending on the particular product. The nutrient tank is typically quite small; therefore, you must frequently check the water level. You don’t need to complete these extra procedures because they provide a larger tank that you can add to your AeroGarden, making it rather hands-free.
2. Growth Deck
The seed pods are put in a growth deck, where the plants are grown. The pods can fit in specific locations on an AeroGarden. The hydroponic reservoir’s water solution and the grow lamps are below this, which is located there. Depending on the precise product, the growth deck’s pod spots’ layout and number might vary, and they can be set up in various ways to suit your home’s unique requirements.
3. Grow Lights
One of the best aspects of AeroGarden is its LED lighting. The lights have two functions. They start by offering all the light energy required throughout the various spectrums. It does more than only function as an effective UVB lamp. These lights work better than generic bulbs to stimulate the required solar nutrition.
Additionally, the plants are kept at the proper temperature by the thermometer’s mixture with the light’s heat. The ideal temperature range for most plants is 16–24° C (65–76° F). AeroGarden also provides a separate grow light add-on that you may use with your plants if you already have some growth decks and other components.
4. Seed Pods
Special seed pods are offered and sold by AeroGarden to use their method. They come in the form of dome-shaped containers with seeds inside. With room to expand and reach into the water at the bottom and a hole for the plant to sprout through at the top. Additionally, a cover stops mildew and algae from covering the roots and causing root rot.
They allegedly use certain unique materials to make their pods. In our opinion, they’re fantastic, but not all that superior to other seed pods. To best accommodate their seed pods, they did create their growing deck. Although replacing them isn’t too pricey, you are welcome to be bold and attempt to make your own afterward. It is possible to create your seed pods using a material like Rockwool. However, AeroGarden always suggests utilizing their unique seed pods.
5. Seed Pod Covers
You want to boost the humidity as much as possible for new seed growth. You must use some dome in your homemade hydroponic system to partially seal the humidity. For the same purpose, until the seeds have sprouted, AeroGarden users supply a seed pod cover.
6. Plant Food
The foundation of the entire hydroponic system is nutrient-rich water. AeroGarden plant food is abundant and filled with everything plants require to develop healthily. Many individuals find greater success with hydroponic systems like the AeroGarden because the water solution more effectively transfers nutrients to the plants than moist soil does.
Also read: A Guide To Raised Bed Vegetable Gardening For Beginners
What Is Aerogarden Hydroponics?
Home hydroponics is the foundation of the Aerogarden Grow System. Growing plants without soil, using just water and soluble fertilizer, is known as hydroponics. It was initially pioneered in California. It is believed that plants will grow and prosper as long as they have access to enough light, water, and nutrients. Plants are raised above water and suspended in a soilless media. Lights are employed when maintained indoors.
Insecticide use may be entirely done away with in a closed hydroponic system. In many ways, once it is up and going, hydroponics is more cost-effective than a greenhouse. With less fertilizer, the technique results in higher crop production. Less labor is required because there is no need to switch out often and turn the soil, as there is in a greenhouse.
Algae development must also be controlled because it can clog pumps and consume nutrients. When employing loose medium pebbles, the pebbles are cleaned to get rid of algae after the growing season. Vegetable crops and trees can be grown using the highly effective hydroponics technique.
How To Use The Aero Garden System
The different models have slightly different instructions. But this is how they usually proceed:
- The LED lamp’s height can be altered.
- Place the grow tray inside the growth deck.
- The grow bowl should now contain the seed pod.
- At the back of the device, attach the pump cord.
- As needed for your model, add water.
- Put the liquid plant food or soluble fertilizer in the water.
- Connect the device to a power source and activate it.
- On the control panel, adjust the lighting and other settings (if there is one)
- Watch your plants flourish!
Consider consulting the manual that came with your specific Aerogarden for more detailed instructions.
Types of Aerogarden Available
The capacity of the seed pods is the primary distinction between each type of Aerogarden. Accordingly, there are now four varieties of Aerogardens on the market, some of which may have an elite form.
- Aerogarden Harvest – This model includes a 20-watt grow light and can hold up to 6 seed pods at once. There are several models of it with various designs. Some might be rectangular, while others might be square. This variation can be a nice option for growing tiny plants like herbs and chilies.
- Aerogarden Bounty -With this one, you may grow up to 9 plants simultaneously. The grow light has a 45-watt output, which is twice as powerful as the Harvest model. Additionally, it permits a growth height increase of up to 24 inches. Additionally, these versions frequently have a computerized touch-screen control panel. Growing plants like lettuce or tomatoes is a good decision when using the Bounty version.
- Aerogarden Sprout – This is a choice that is suitable for beginners. Three plants can grow simultaneously. This is a wonderful version to start with to learn the basics of how Aerogardening operates. For growing herbs and other tiny plants, I’ll suggest this.
- Aerogarden Farm -With its enormous capacity, it can hold up to 24 seed pods at once. There are two models available: the Farm Plus and the FarmXL. While both models can hold 24 pods, the Farm Plus model has the advantage of having a 24-inch taller growth zone. Therefore, choose Farm Plus if you want to plant various plants at once.
Cost of Aerogarden
The setup of an Aerogarden has two main costs. The first factor is the cost of the model you purchase combined with the essential startup gear you require. The price of energy comes in second.
The Cost of Aerogarden Itself
Depending on your location, the costs change with shipping and duty fees. However, the following gives a general indication of the prices for each model:
- Aerogarden Sprout: $85-$100
- Aerogarden Harvest: $100-$150
- Aerogarden Bounty: $250-$300
- Aerogarden Farm: $700-$900
Cost Of Seed Pods
Seed pod prices change depending on the plant type and amount of pods. As kits get larger, the price of each seed pod goes down.
Cost of Plant Nutrients
You are not required to use Aerogarden Liquid Plant Food; you are free to use another water-soluble fertilizer in its place.
Electricity cost
Many Aerogardeners are most worried about the price of electricity. The type of plant you are growing in your Aerogarden and its model will determine this. Depending on the plant, some will require more light than others, costing more electricity.
Total cost
The sum of all the above expenses would represent the final cost of maintaining an Aerogarden. The cost of operating the AeroGarden model after subtracting the original investment would be: Total Cost to Grow a Plant = Electricity Cost + Growth Basket Cost + Vitality Liquid Cost.
Also read: How To Grow Bell Peppers From Scraps
Conclusion
The Aerogarden is a revolutionary gardening method that allows you to grow plants and vegetables from the comfort of your home with the help of the science of hydroponics. Aerogarden has redefined what we know about gardening and how we look at gardening, making gardening more accessible for everyone. I expect this article has solved your doubts about what is aerogarden and how how does an aerogarden work?
