As a beginner to gardening and hydroponics, it can be overwhelming trying to learn the basics and decide what products are right for you to get started. I had wanted to get into gardening for a while, but living in a third story apartment doesn’t provide much opportunity in the way of traditional gardening. That led me to discover the world of indoor gardening and specifically hydroponics. Hydroponics allows you to grow plants indoors without the need for soil which can be messy when used inside and is prone to harbor pests. Hydroponic growing is also faster than growing plants in soil.
There are many different types of hydroponic methods. While there are lots of different DIY options out there, the easiest type of system for a beginner is probably going to be an all in one countertop unit. These types of systems were originally popularized by the brand AeroGarden, but there are many brands to choose from nowadays. While I am certainly far from being an expert in this field, as a beginner myself I have done a lot of research to get started and hope that it can be beneficial to any others who are wanting to get started with hydroponics.
Features to consider in a hydroponic growing system:
Amount of Growing Tray Spots
Consider how much you want to be able to grow and how much space the unit will take up depending on the area that you have available to put it. You’ll want to have more tray spaces than you actually plan to plant so that you can give the plants the proper amount of space apart from each other.
Watts
The standard wattage for these units tends to be around 24W but some can be higher or lower.
Easy water level visual and convenient filling access
It is helpful if the water fill location is located at the front corner or somewhere else that is easily accessible. It is also important to have some way to see a visual reading of how much water is in the reservoir, whether that is with a clear window with measurements or a buoy water level indicator.
Customizable automatic light schedule
Being able to customize when the lights turn on and off and having them do so automatically is a really nice feature to have as it automates one more step for you and ensures that your plants are always getting the proper amount of light each day.
What's included with the system
Many brands will include all the items that you need for your system except for the seeds themselves. This would include items such as grow baskets, grow sponges, grow domes, pod sticker labels, covers for the holes where you aren’t planting, tweezers, tags, rods, and nutrients.
Minimum and Maximum light heights
A shallower minimum height level will allow the lights to get closer during seed germination and will also make the unit more compact for storage. A higher maximum height will give your plants more vertical height to grow. If your plants are too tall for your system, they can burn by touching the light or lose structural integrity if they are being forced to flop over, also preventing them from getting the proper light exposure.
Ease of Cleaning
You will need to clean your growing deck and water tank in between rounds of planting so it is easiest if your system comes apart for cleaning.
Additional Features
Certain systems will have additional features such as nutrient reminders, vacation modes, app connectivity, etc. that you may or may not find to be helpful.
Cost
Of course cost is always a factor to consider. Systems can run anywhere from around $40 upwards of $250 for top of the line systems from name brands.
Aesthetics
This may not be something that matters to you which is completely fine, but I know personally that I wanted a system that would mesh well with my decor style preferences.
hydroponic Systems Comparison
Below, you’ll find a chart comparing several different countertop hydroponic systems. I compiled as much information as I could into one place to hopefully make it easier to understand the differences between each. There are of course many others out there as well, but these are some that I considered. There were a few specs that I was unable to find for certain models, so apologies for any missing fields.
| System Name | Cost | # of Spots | Watts | Water Tank Liters | Water Level Visibility | Minimum Light Height | Maximum Light Height | Other Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | AeroGarden Harvest 2.0 | $89.95 | 6 | 15 | 2.55 | Indicator Light | 6" | 12" | |
 | AeroGarden Harvest Elite | $119.95 | 6 | 20 | 2.25 | Indicator Light | ~6"? | 12" | Includes Nutrient Reminder and Vacation Mode |
 | AeroGarden Harvest XL | $139.95 | 6 | 25 | 3.5 | Indicator Light | ~6"? | 18" | Includes Nutrient Reminder and Vacation Mode |
 | AeroGarden Bounty Basic | $179.95 (Seen for $149.95) | 9 | 30 | 4.45 | Indicator Light | ~8"? | 24" | Includes Nutrient Reminder and Vacation Mode |
 | AeroGarden Bounty | $229.95 | 9 | 40 | 4.45 | Indicator Light | ~8"? | 24" | Includes Nutrient Reminder, Vacation Mode, and Dimmable Lights |
 | AeroGarden Bounty Elite | $259.95 | 9 | 50 | 4.45 | Indicator Light | ~8"? | 24" | Includes Nutrient Reminder, Vacation Mode, Dimmable Lights, and App Connectivity |
 | Ahopegarden 10 Pod | $59.99 | 10 | 3 | Front Window | .79" | 14.5" | ||
 | GardenCube Remote 12 Pods | $49.99-$59.99 | 12 | 24 | 6.5 | Front Window | Almost all the way down | 21" | Lights Tilt 180 Degrees |
 | inbloom 12 Pod | $69.99 (Seen for $63.99) | 12 | 24 | 4.2 | Raised Indicator | 7" | 14" | |
 | LetPot Senior LPH-SE | $113.99 | 12 | 24 | 5.5 | Raised Indicator + App Notification | 20" | Includes App Connectivity | |
 | uruq Remote 12 Pod | $49.99 | 12 | 24 | 6.5 | Front Window | Almost all the way down | 21" | Lights Tilt 180 Degrees |
 | Click and Grow Smart Garden 9 | $249.95 | 9 | 13 | 4 | Water Float | This one is a bit different than the rest as you can only use their pods which already have nutrients built into the pod for the life of the plant. You only add water. If you really want something hands off, then this may be a good choice although it is rather expensive. |
What system did I choose?
After much consideration and research, I ultimately chose to purchase the uruq Remote 12 Pod Hydroponic System. This system had:
- The 12 spots I was wanting
- A visible water level through a front window
- An easily accessible water fill area in the front corner
- A customizable automatic lighting system
- A wide range of heights for the light ranging from all the way down up to 21″
- A 180 degree tilting light for better accessibility to plants in the back
- Many components for getting started
- An affordable price tag at $49.99
- A pretty soft gold color that I was drawn to (This color appears to be unavailable at the time of writing this, but may come back)
WHere to buy seeds
There are a plethora of retailers out there that you can purchase seeds from, whether that’s a local garden center, a home improvement store, or an online retailer. I chose to purchase my first set of seeds from Botanical Interests as they are a well renowned brand with many organic, heirloom seeds to choose from and have reasonable prices. I also really liked the artwork on their seed packets.
For my first go at planting, I ordered:
- Little Gem Mini-Romaine Lettuce
- Italian Genovese Basil
- Common Chives
- English Thyme
- Long Standing Santo Cilantro/Coriander
- Flat Leaf Parsley
Other resources for getting started
There are several creators’ content that I would love to share that I found very helpful for getting into hydroponic gardening.
Sher from Sher She Grows has many helpful resources on her website, YouTube, and social media pages. The Indoor Gardener is another helpful YouTube channel.
Here are a couple videos that I found especially helpful as a beginner:
- 10 Things You Should Know Before Starting an Aerogarden (Beginner Guide) – Sher
- Green Thumb Starter Kit: 5 Easy Plants for Aerogarden Beginners – The Indoor Gardener
- Easy Indoor Hydroponic Garden | Kratky Hydroponics – Grow food in your apartment or home! – Happy Leaf LED Grow Lights
- How to Make an Indoor Herb Garden Using Kratky Mason Jars (cheap + easy hydroponics) – Sher
- How to Clean Your Pellets, Net Pots and Jars After Growing Hydroponically – The Kratky Method – Happy Leaf LED Grow Lights
- Grow Lights for Less Money | Cheap Alternatives to Expensive Grow Lights – Fast Gardening Michigan