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What are the Best Indoor Gardening Systems?
We've narrowed down the great options for indoor gardening systems at home this year. The best we've found are:
- Click and Grow
- The Water Garden 2.0
- AeroGarden
- Hydrofarm Hydroponic MegaGarden System
- Smart Farm by Mr. Stacky
- SuperPonics 8 Hydroponic Grow System
- Tower Garden
- Nutritower
Click and Grow
This beautifully designed small tabletop garden from Click and Grow starts at $99. It is automated via sensors to ensure enough water, sunlight, and nutrients are getting to the plants. Their most popular plant pods consist of mini tomatoes, wild strawberries, and herbs like lavender, rosemary, and peppermint. Click and Grow's 'Smart Soil' is inspired by NASA technology and helps keep the water evenly distributed while ensuring the proper PH level for your plants. Reviewers of this product line seem to be very impressed with the ease of use and the speed of growth!
Hydrofarm Hydroponic MegaGarden System
The MegaGarden System by Hydrofarm uses "Ebb and Flow" technology that pumps water from a lower reservoir up to a growing try, regularly feeding the plants night and day. The design incorporates a 15 pod grower in a relatively large tray that is 22" by 22". The kit is priced at about $180 and includes a pump, seed starters, nutrients, and a pH test kit.
Smart Farm by Mr. Stacky
The Smart Farm starts at $250 and is a vertical hydroponic tower garden system. It packs 20 plants in a 19" by 19" footprint, including a 16-gallon water reservoir. The Smart Farm recommends using 75 percent coco peat and 25 percent perlite for optimal growing. You can connect multiple Smart Farm towers if you want a more extensive system.
Tower Garden
At about 5 feet tall, the Tower Garden kit costs about $750, holds up to 20 plants, and can extend to 28 plants with added extensions. Taking up just three square feet, this is an excellent option for those wanting a substantial garden in a small indoor space. The Tower Garden uses aeroponics to grow plants with just water versus dirt. It offers a comprehensive variety of seed pods. On average, it yields 30 percent more plants than traditional gardening with 90 percent less water. While it is on the higher end in terms of cost, it can produce a substantial amount of fresh microgreens, vegetables, fruits, and herbs.
Nutritower
The Nutritower is a vertical, soil-free hydroponics system that is designed for maximum yield. It is easy to use, is relatively low maintenance, and holds up to 32 plants. The system is a reservoir base for water. They also provide a nutrient solution and center column lighting. The system also automates lights and the water pump, so it will take care of itself if you go on vacation. It will also cost about 10 dollars of electricity per month on your utility bill. The Nutritower is the largest and most expensive indoor growing kit in this article, costing $850. However, it can yield an incredible amount and variety of plants.
The Future of Vertical Gardening
The vertical gardening industry (both indoor and outdoor) has been gaining popularity in recent years. In fact, IKEA just announced that they are broadening their business model to include vertical farming at their retail location for visitors to enjoy. They want to impact sustainability through food, and many of their retail locations have restaurants. Perhaps with a retail giant like IKEA showcasing the value of vertical gardening, it may show homeowners how beneficial it can be.
Indoor gardening requires no pesticides, can use 90% less water than conventional gardening, and requires less valuable land. The 2018 National Gardening Survey found that about 30% of households have bought houseplants, showing an upward trend towards incorporating greenery into indoor spaces. We look forward to seeing how the vertical gardening industry changes in the future!
Maria Saxton
Located in Roanoke, Virginia, Maria Saxton holds a Ph.D. in Environmental Design and Planning from Virginia Tech. She works as an Environmental Planner and Housing Researcher for a local firm specializing in Community Planning, Architecture, Landscape Architecture, and Historic Preservation. Her dissertation explored the environmental impacts of small-scale homes. She serves as a volunteer board member for the Tiny Home Industry Association.
