Quick, compact, and clean; hydroponics may just be the best way to ‘grow where you’ are with kids. But which is the best hydroponics for kids system?
The aerogarden herbie kid’s garden with pizza party kit is one of the many hydroponic systems on the market. The manufacturers had a great concept and design, sadly the execution has left buyers underwhelmed. Most of the amazon reviews regarding the aerogarden herbie are critical. So why has it failed to deliver and what other substitutes can you opt for? before we get into all that let’s first give you an overview of what a hydroponic system is.
CLICK HERE to check out Herbie aerogarden on amazon.
What is a hydroponic system?
A hydroponic system is basically where plants are suspended in a nutrient solution instead of soil. Water is mixed with the right nutrients for optimal growth.
Hydroponic systems have revolutionized horticulture and urban farming. A Hydroponic system allows you to grow plants without soil. You might be asking yourself, how is this possible? Well, in most of these systems, the plants’ roots are suspended in water that is rich in nutrients and pH balanced for optimal growth.
Today, hydroponic systems are used in large-scale production along with small portable home systems. Hydroponic plants grow faster and boast a higher yield. The use of hydroponic systems is on the rise, especially in urban areas where skyscrapers and parks have taken over farming land.
How can hydroponics be of benefit to you and the kids?
Even if you don’t have a garden, you can still grow fruits, vegetables, and other types of food hassle-free and all year round with a hydroponic system. They save you the stress of having to deal with dirt, manure, and mess. On top of that, you don’t have to fret about watering your indoor plants.
We have carried out a review of some starter systems to help you make an informed purchase.
What should you know before you start using a hydroponic kit?
The best hydroponics for kids’ system will depend on what you want to grow. Some plants are tricky. Some are easy. So you’ll need to do some research on the ideal growing conditions of the plants you want to grow.
You’ll also need to decide how hands-on you want to be. Some kits are automatic and will do all the hard work for you, like automatically watering your plants and setting the light on a timer. Or if you prefer greater control and involvement there are more manual options. Most hydroponic systems come with nutrients and a manual on how to grow your plants so they are easy enough to follow. Also, some have a pH reducer. This is because tap water can have a higher pH that is not optimal for growing some plants.
Herbie AeroGarden
Hydroponics for Kid’s Garden with Pizza Party Kit (2 pods)
The manufacturers of Herbie aerogarden intended it to be the pioneer of a hydroponics for kids and begining gardeners. They went with a unique theme of “Plant, Harvest, Party.” The grow cycle is approximately 12 weeks which is supposed to culminate with a pizza party.
The Herbie hydroponic kit comes with a 32-page manual. This activity book guides gardeners every step of the way. Right from seeding and planting, to pruning and harvesting. Also, this book has a variety of fun and educational activities that your child will get to enjoy.
What is included?
Herbie aerogarden comes with the following:
• 8 Watts LED grow light that is energy efficient and safe to touch
• Grow sponges and domes
• Measuring cup
• Plant seeds
• A dropper, tape, and dry erase marker
2 growing zones
CLICK HERE to purchase on AMAZON
Pros of the Herbie Aerogarden?
Herbie is easy to set up. Your kids will love it. All they have to do is add water and turn the lights on and off. Also, it comes with non-GMO seeds. Herbie is a budget-friendly option in terms of hydroponics and is also the only unit specifically designed for kids.
Cons of the Herbie Aerogarden
Some customers experienced missing items in their pack, and that some seeds didn’t grow. It seemed that not all seeds flourished. Others said their kit did not work at all. Sadly it missed the mark for many customers.
CLICK HERE for buying options
iDOO Garden #1 pick
Indoor Herb Garden Starter Kit with LED Grow Light, Automatic Timer Germination Kit, Height Adjustable (7 Pods)
The iDOO garden is our #1 hydroponics for kids pick.
It’s equipped with a water circulation system that increases oxygen in the water. Its high-performance 24 Watt LED grow lights promote photosynthesis by stimulating the sunlight spectrum regardless of the weather.
This kit is excellent for kids who want to observe the process of growth in plants. It has great reviews over many purchases and is a bargain. In addition it has has 7 growing pods/zones so is a good size machine.
CLICK HERE for more purchase info
What is included?
- Water pump-circulations modes
- Different growth stages smart modes
- Height-adjustable garden kit light
- 7 pods/ growing zones
Pros
This kit can support the growth of any seed. However, it is up to you to get good quality seeds. Setting up the system is also easy and it’s a great price. CLICK to view on AMAZON
Cons
The instructions for use are a bit confusing. For example, it is not mentioned in the manual that you should plug in the tank before filling it with water.
AeroGarden Harvest pick #2
Indoor Hydroponic Garden (6 Pods)
The AeroGarden Harvest is a great Indoor Hydroponic Garden kit for growing fresh herbs and veggies all season and is our #2 pick. It comes with a 6-pod gourmet seed kit that contains:
• Genovese Basil
• Curly Parsley
• Dill, Thyme
• Thai Basil and Mint
• 3oz bottle of patented, all-natural plant nutrients (enough for a full season of growth)
CLICK HERE for more purchase information
What is included with the aerogarden Harvest?
- Easy to use control panel that informs you when to add water and nutrients
- 20-watt reliable LED growing light
- 6 growing zones
- nutrients to get you started
Pros of the Aerogarden Harvest
This kit has all you need to get started. You can put it in any room and your plants will grow. Most customers are totally thrilled with their unit and find it grows prolifically.
Cons of the Aerogarden Harvest
The starter 6-pod gourmet seed kit has six different types of herbs. However, you may not like all of them. This system is also mid-range in price and a smaller capacity.
CLICK HERE for buying options
SIMBR Hydroponic #3 pick
Hydroponics for kids Indoor Herb Garden Kit (12 pods)
The SIMBR Hydroponic Growing System is our #3 pick for the best hydroponics for kids. This Indoor Herb Garden Kit comes with 12 planting baskets, 12 seedling blocks, and 12 moisturizing covers. It has two planting modes. The vegetable mode is suitable for foliage and leafy plants, and the flower and fruit mode supports flowering plants.
CLICK HERE to check out prices
What is included?
- 27.5 Watts LED lights.
- 4L super-large water tank
- A water pump and built-in fan
- seedling blocks & moisturizing covers (12)
- 12 growing zones /baskets,
The SIMBR Hydroponic system Pros
The 4L tank can hold water that is enough for two weeks. You can go on a vacation without having to worry about watering your plants. Also, the tank has a visible water scale. It will help you know when to add water. Budget-friendly and the largest capacity with 12 growing zones.
The SIMBR Hydroponic system Cons
The fan can be too loud. There have been mixed reviews. While it is great value for money and has the most growing zones out of all the units there are some units that are non-functioning or are defective with screeching fans. It did seem that defective units caused the poor reviews and most gave their experience a good review. The unit is best for herbs and lettuce.
CLICK HERE for buying options
AeroGarden Bounty Review pick #4
Basic Indoor Hydroponic Herb Garden; great hydroponics for kids
The bounty aerogarden basic indoor hydroponic herb garden is our #4 pick for kids. So let’s get into the Aerogarden Bounty Review.
One of the great features is It works exceptionally well with a variety of plants including herbs, peppers, salads, tomatoes, etc. It has a high-resolution control panel that puts you in complete control of your indoor garden. This means that even if you are on vacation, or the kids get busy and forget about it for a while your plants will still thrive.
You can set up this kit almost anywhere, whether it is on the kitchen countertop or even in their bedroom. With its hydroponic growing system, all you have to do is drop in the seeds and watch them grow. The bounty aerogarden kit comes with a 30Watt LED growing light that is energy efficient and automatically turns on & off.
CLICK HERE for more purchase info
What is included in the bounty aerogarden?
• Two 9-Pod Gourmet Herb Seed Pod Kit with Genovese Basil
• Thai Basil
• Curly Parsley
• Italian Parsley
• Thyme
• Chives Dill Mint
• Formulated Miracle-Gro liquid plant food, enough for a full season of growth.
• 6-inch tall trellis.
All the seeds are non-GMO
30Watt LED growing light
Aerogarden bounty Review Pros
The bounty aerograden is far from basic, it is an intelligent garden. You can customize the light settings to adjust the intensity. It also has a sophisticated water level indicator, Wi-Fi connectivity, and is Alexa-enabled. It’s also one of the largest of the units we have reviewed with 9 growing zones 4.7 stars on Amazon reviews
Aerogarden bounty Review Cons
Most customers who bought this product on Amazon complained of poor customer service. The manufacturers did not respond to their calls or emails. This system is one of the more expensive units.
You can go for the 7 pods starter kit CLICK HERE
Or if you are ready for a more substantial kit there is the 12 pod option CLICK HERE
So which hydroponics for kids should you go for?
The ball is now in your court. We’ve listed our top 5 picks and amongst them you’re sure to find your winner. The kit you choose will depend on your budget and your needs. We hope that our reviews lead you to a great kit. Grow where you are with growingarden.co