Living in urban areas has its advantages but if you are wanting to have a garden in your home, space is usually in short supply as well as lack of direct sunlight which prevents many of us from having our “Garden of Eden” desires met.
Because of this, indoor garden kits or hydroponic grow kits have gained popularity over the last few years and are not limited to commercial growers exclusively producing for supermarkets and now this technology is available for the everyday person.
More About Hydroponic Grow Kits
In short, hydroponic systems are small structures that can be set up anywhere inside your house that use artificial lighting (such as high-watt LED lights) and nutrient water instead of sunlight and soil to grow plants in.
Hydroponics is the method of growing plants in water rather than soil and is also popular because it offers the user a way to produce a bounty of plants in a relatively small area.
Additionally, hydroponic growing provides several other benefits, including a reduced risk of soilborne plant diseases, so even newbie growers are more likely to succeed.
Hydroponic plants also grow about 30 percent faster than plants grown with traditional growing methods and produce a much higher yield because of the reduction of contact with harmful microorganisms that come in the soil and because they are fed directly with the nutrients they need.
These kits allow the users to grow their own vegetables, herbs, and other plants depending on what they fancy and allow anyone, even someone without green thumbs to keep plants alive as you do not have to worry about under- or over-watering them.
Another benefit to hydroponic growing is that you can grow seasonal plants like tomatoes and strawberries all year round because the growing conditions are so optimal for their growth - the light, temperature, nutrients and water are all controlled.
What’s In A Grow Kit?
When you are shopping for a grow kit there are several things you need to consider such as the number of different plants you want to grow and you need to consider how these features will impact your choice.
You will also need to become familiar with all the moving parts of a grow kit. Mostly, though, these grow kit systems are generally all-inclusive.
They provide the containers, growth medium, and tools as well as a guide or methodology to keeping plants healthy and long-lasting and some even come with seeds.
In general, the grow kits have high-watt LED lights and timers which you can set, per plant to schedule in sunlight times for the plants to be exposed to, depending on the type of grow kit you purchase, of course.
You can also get grow kits with watering timers too- which is great if you are not at home a whole lot or if you are forgetful.
According to the experts, an ideal indoor gardening kit is not overly complicated- it should be something that you put in your kitchen or on a windowsill and look at watering only once a week.
You will need to decide whether you have space only for a small model or a larger model to grow more to chip away at your grocery bill. You will need to decide if you care about the aesthetics of the product or just want something that is functional.
You also need to take into consideration your light source and how much you are willing to spend as these systems can range anywhere from $60 -$800 depending on the level of sophistication you are after.
There are several additional factors that we used to evaluate the best hydroponic grow kits as we know how overwhelming and confusing making a purchase (especially if you’re a newbie) can be.
These factors include expected longevity, brand reputation, customer reviews, specifications and features of the grow kits as well as their price.
Hopefully, after reading this article, you will have a better idea of what is out there and what grow kit suits your needs best to get started on your indoor garden.
OUR TOP PICK
Depending on your needs, Aerogarden has models which can grow between three and 24 plants at a time.
The model featured here is their smallest growing kit which houses three plants at a time. It is reasonably inexpensive and is a good starter kit if you are new to in-home hydroponic systems.
It has light wattage of 10 Watts of LED and will fit nicely on your countertop (it measures 10.5 inches high, 3.5 inches wide and 12 inches deep. It also comes with handy nutrient and low water reminders as well as automated lights.
The instruction manual is user-friendly and a concise guide on how to start growing your plants. Seed pods of herbs such as basil, parsley, and dill are also included in the purchase- these seeds are pesticide and herbicide-free and are also non-GMO.
The light’s height can be adjusted up to 10 inches to allow your plants to grow tall.
The only downside to this small model is that it can clog up with the roots of the plants you are growing so cleaning out may need to be done quite frequently.
If you want a fully automated version, AeroGarden Bounty is a great choice as it has Wi-Fi and Alexa compatibility as well as a vacation mode to help you keep track of and manage your plants.
When testing this product out we loved it because it comes with a recipe booklet to give you ideas on how to use your herbs and we also loved its simplicity in terms of use and design.
Buy this grow kit here.
EDITORS CHOICE
If you are really in a small space be it a studio or one-bedroom apartment, then this vertical solution may be best for you.
You can also grow up to 20 plants without a large footprint; you will of course need the height in your home to use this grow kit.
This hydroponic system unfortunately does not come with a lighting system like so many of its competitors and so you will need to find at least one sunny windowsill for it to live on.
However, the structure is designed to rotate so you can choose a corner spot and rotate the plants around every so often.
The initial setup of filling the plants with peat and perlite is quite messy so best do that step outside somewhere.
The reservoir can hold up to 16 gallons of water so you don’t have to worry about watering your plants for two to three weeks at a time.
The seed pods included in this are non-GMO and include beefsteak tomato, cherry tomato, cucumber, eggplant, lettuce, bell peppers, and basil.
It also has a germination kit and tending kit which includes a pH test kit and plant food. It does not come with any tech or alarms that monitor the water, light, and nutrient levels of the plants.
When testing this product out we loved it because of its variety of seed pods and that it’s great if you forget to water your plants.
Buy this grow kit here.
BEST VALUE
Click and Grow have multiple tiers of products and currently offer 5 different units growing between three and fifty-one seed pods at a time.
They are a longstanding business and have a reputable brand. This shows in their modern, tech-savvy, smart solutions to hydroponics.
The model featured here is the Smart Garden 3 which is their smallest model on offer and consumes just 3.8 kWh of power per month and has an LED wattage of 8W.
The setup is super easy and complete within 10 simple steps. Click and Grow rely on simple hydroponics where water drips onto the roots of the plants allowing for rapid growth while using less water.
When your water level is low, there is a light that lets you know.
If you want bigger, even smarter models, look to the bigger models such as the Smart Garden 9 Pro or Smart Garden 27 which can be controlled by an app.
When testing this product out we loved it because of the fact that you don’t need to add nutrients to the water reservoir because the Smart soil in the seed pods already contains all the nutrients ready for your plants to thrive.
Also, it is low on energy consumption because it uses a wick system to pull the water up via capillary action.
Buy this grow kit here and here.
RUNNER UP
If you are looking for an extensive vertical (up to 60 inches tall!) hydroponic system then Gardyn is the hydroponic grow kit for you!
It can grow up to 30 large plants in a 2 sqft space, you have full control over the plants’ growth management through your device via an app and so this is a really hands-off approach to gardening.
It has a sleek design and comes with helpful tech to optimize the growth and thriving of your plants. With the Gardyn app, you can manage lights, cameras to see how the plants are doing and you can track humidity and water levels.
Gardyn systems utilize aeroponics where nutrients are added to the water reservoir and this is then misted all over the plants’ roots.
The setup is done in 10 easy steps and if you are confused about anything, they have a really helpful customer service team to help you get by.
However, all of this comes with a hefty price tag and is probably one of the most expensive systems out there- expensive subscription and expensive kit.
Additionally, even though you can grow a huge variety of plants including over 35 varieties of vegetables, and the yields are large, there have been experiences of low germination rates.
When testing this product out we loved it because of all the cool tech and its growing capabilities.
Buy this grow kit here.
RUNNER UP
As someone just starting out on their indoor hydroponic grow kit journey, this Stacked Herb Garden is one of the simplest and cutest looking grow kits out there.
Whilst they do not come with any of the techs some other models may come with (they don’t even have lights), they are a simple and elegant solution for beginners.
It is self-watering, comes with a growth solution and is easy to clean.
They also come in an array of colors to suit your indoor aesthetic. They are super small and super inexpensive so if you are wanting to try out this hydroponics thing without wanting to commit to the large expense, then this is a great buy.
When testing this product out we loved it because of its simplicity and cool color options.
Buy this grow kit here.
RUNNER UP
In recent years microgreens have been all the rage in fine dining restaurants and so a lot of people are keen to propagate their own for a fraction of the cost.
If you are one of those people then the Back to the Roots Water Garden is for you. It offers a dual system using aquaponics alongside hydroponics and on top of being able to grow plants, it acts as a fish tank as well.
The balance between the two systems allows the fish to live in a clean tank and for the plants to absorb all the nutrients they need. It is super easy to set up and not at all expensive to maintain.
The plants are organic and everything you need to start growing plants is included in the purchase price, even a free curriculum on how to maintain an aquaponic and hydroponic system.
When testing this product out we loved it because of the fact that you can have a pet fish and grow tiny little plants at the same time!
Buy this grow kit here and here.
RUNNER UP
Veritable is a French company that ships to most places around the world. They offer several types of hydroponic systems that fit onto a coffee table or countertop. The models can grow between two and four plant pods at one time.
Their smallest system is the Smart Copper Exky Garden which although the smallest is also the most energy-efficient model that allows you to grow all manner of herbs, vegetables, and greens in your kitchen.
It is self-sufficient and uses an automatic silent watering system paired with their patented LED system, Adaptlight technology.
It ensures quick growth and increases flavor in plants by allowing the plants’ essential oils to develop by matching the exact needs of the plant by itself by adapting the light intensity according to current room lighting conditions.
It also has two adjustable lighting masts that can give the perfect light intensity to the plants.
When testing this product out we loved it because of the lighting technology which far surpasses the others on the market.
Buy this grow kit here.
RUNNER UP
The second to last hydroponic grow kit on our list is the robust and utilitarian designed DreamJoy. It is made up of eight pipes with holes for seedlings and you can accommodate up to 72 plants.
This system is huge and would likely work better on a balcony or if you have a rooftop terrace of sorts.
The setup is also much more complicated and you will need to prepare a reservoir tank and connect it to the pump.
Grow lights are also not included so you would probably need to place this system where there is a lot of sunlight. It provides a wonderful amount of yield on your plants and is affordable for what you get despite the large space requirement.
If you are a budding chef or want to make hydroponically grown plants your side hustle, then this is the option for you.
It is ultra-lightweight and is one level of piping that is intended to optimize for higher yields and faster growing.
The kit comes with pipes, a holder, a 100V pump, a sponge for planting grow sites, and a hose.
Nutrients, seeds and growth medium will have to be purchased separately. Plants best grown in this are your leafy vegetables like lettuce and spinach but also work well for some flowers and herbs.
When testing this product out we loved it because of the robust design and the fact that you can get 72 different plants in there.
Buy this grow kit here.
RUNNER UP
A little on the practical side (that is a euphemism for it not being the prettiest or most elegant system on the market) but it packs a punch as it is one of the highest performing hydroponic garden systems out there.
It is extremely low in cost as it is essentially a modified 5-gallon bucket with growth medium and water reservoir.
The set is super easy to setup but it requires regular maintenance check-ins to ensure that everything is working properly.
It does not come with any lights and so needs to be placed in an area that gets plenty of sunlight and probably would be better suited for a patio or terrace. This is a great solution to growing larger plants because of its robust nature.
When testing this product out we loved it because of the practicality and the price.
Buy this grow kit here.
So there you have it, we hope this has been of some help!
Plants have always been a big interest of mine, and I’ve always wanted to learn more about the different types of species. I have gained a vast knowledge of the subject over the years, and I have decided to share this information with others.
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