Appearance at a Glance

AeorGarden Bounty Indoor Garden System

AeroGarden has multiple models for indoor gardens, with varying sizes and number of pods, ranging from 3 pods for AeroGarden Sprout to 9 pods in AeroGarden Bounty. These are all stylish-looking with multiple color options available. These are small enough to be kept on the kitchen counter, window sill or anywhere else you deem fit. The Click and Grow Smart Herb garden is white in color, with three different color lid options – white, kiwi green and orange. The Smart Herb Garden is analogous to the smallest variant of AeroGarden.

Number of Pods

The AeroGarden indoor garden models have the capacity to grow anywhere between 3 to 9 pods at the same time, depending on the different garden model. The Smart Herb Garden by Click and Grow is limited to growing only 3 pods at a time. A new product by Click and Grow, the Smart Garden 9 has space for growing 9 pods at a time (however, you will first need to check availability). The bigger AeroGarden models allow for growing plants such as tomatoes and lettuce too. Due to size restraints, the smaller models of AeroGarden and the Click and Grow indoor garden is restricted to growing herbs, mini tomatoes etc.

Light

Both AeroGarden and Click and Grow gardens have built-in, efficient lighting systems that allow your herbs to grow indoors, even in places where the natural sunlight does not reach. AeroGarden uses high-output LED bulbs ranging from 10 Watt to 45 Watt to make sure that your herbs get enough light. Their LED lights arranged like a ‘light roof’ provide light and warmth and are tuned to the specific spectrum making sure that photosynthesis by plants is maximized so that they grow faster and give a higher yield. The light panel is also adjustable, depending on the height of your plants, up to 24 inches. Customers report that it might be necessary to replace these lights every 6 months. The lights can be set to automatically turn on and off with a pre-set timer and are set to run for 17 hours a day.

In comparison, the Click and Grow also features a similar LED light roof, which needs only 6 Watts. However, the LED lamp arm is not adjustable in the Click and Grow Smart Herb Garden (the newer Smart Garden 3 model does feature a lamp with adjustable height).

Soil

AeroGarden and Click and Grow have both totally done away with soil for growing plants. It makes use of the advanced NASA-developed hydroponics technology, with the help of which the plants grow with the help of water and air and no soil is needed. This is very convenient as there is no dirt or mess to clean up. The reservoir of the garden provides the plant roots with the perfect balance of nutrients and water that it needs.

Click here to get more details on the Aerogarden

Click here to get more details on the Aerogarden

Setting Up

Both the AeroGarden and Click and Grow are easy to set up and you can start growing your plants within a few minutes of getting the garden. Many customers have remarked positively on the easy setup of these gardens.

Control Panel

Click and Grow Garden System

The advanced AeroGarden models feature an LCD Control Panel on the reservoirs, which reminds you when it is time to put water or add the plant food to the reservoir. However, the panel is always lit and there is no way to turn it off. Moreover, the manufacturer claims that the control panel also displays tips about growing your plants, which as per the customers, are not really helpful and just obvious facts.

In contrast, the Click and Grow instead, has a built-in sensor that indicates when the water level is down. No control panel is seen on the garden reservoir. It just flickers the LED light to signal when your plant needs water or nutrient, which could be annoying because it does not switch off automatically and quite a few customers mention that the light can be really bright. Also, the light cannot be turned off unless you remove the plug.

Additional Features

The LED lights in the AeroGarden help save electricity by consuming less power.

The pump that maintains the water supply is not totally silent. It does make a humming sound, which might be considered noisy in a very quiet room.

Accessories

The AeroGarden kit includes the main garden reservoir and free set of seed pods – the number of which depends on the model you purchase.  AeroGarden seed pods are ‘guaranteed to grow’ as claimed by them. If their pods do not germinate and grow, you can claim a free replacement. This takes away the stress of growing plants on someone who is not a self-proclaimed gardener.

Along with this, a supply of liquid plant food is included which includes all the nutrients needed by your plants and an instructional booklet that tells you how to start using the indoor garden.

Similarly, the Smart Herb Garden comes with the instruction manual, plant nutrient and 3 seed cartridges (with a nutrient rich ‘smart’ soil) – basil, thyme and lemon balm. However, they are not protected by any sort of guarantee like their competition, AeroGarden.