Miracle Gro Aerogarden Reviews and Buying Guide 2023

Because you have made it to this article, I am guessing you are here for one (or more) of three reasons:

1. You seem to kill any plant you touch
2. You have no space to have a garden outdoors
3. You don’t have the time to look after a garden

Go back just a few years and all three of these points were good enough reasons to give up on your dream of growing your own produce at home.

But… not anymore. 

You may have heard of a company called AeroGrow. They have designed and manufactured an indoor gardening system called the AeroGarden that solves all three of the problems I just mentioned.

How does an indoor, mess-free, FAST growing garden sound?

Sounds good, right?

The Miracle-Gro Aerogarden certainly does live up to the hype. In this article, we will look at the most popular models, who each model is best for, and any special considerations that you need to think about before purchasing one of these amazing inventions.

Read on to be amazed!

Disclosure: It is important you understand that we may receive commissions when you click our links and make purchases. However, this does not impact our reviews and comparisons. All opinions are our own. We pride ourselves on keeping our articles fair and balanced. For more info see our disclosure statement.

AeroGarden Buyers Guide

What Is An AeroGarden?

An Aerogarden is a hydroponic indoor garden that can be set up almost anywhere. These hydroponic marvels allow you to grow lush indoor gardens at any time of the year – right on your kitchen bench (or in your bedroom, or in your office, or anywhere you like)!

You can grow almost any type of plant you like; fancy a herb garden? Easy! How about an indoor veggie garden? Done!

And if you are one of those people who seems to kill any plant you touch, well, the Aerogarden has you covered with foolproof gardening. The garden itself tells you when it’s time to add water or nutrients and it even has a light that turns on and off automatically to simulate a normal day/night cycle.

Just some of the ways you can use your Aerogarden include:

• Create an indoor fresh herb garden
• Filters the air in your home for a cleaner environment
• Grow plants from seedlings indoors where they are safe from extreme weather, then re-plant them outdoors when they are bigger
• An indoor vegetable garden; lettuce and leafy greens grow especially well in an Aerogarden
• Grow flowers indoors and liven up your home

How An AeroGarden Works

One of the first impressions people have when they discover Aerogarden is that it is a complex scientific device. On the contrary, the device is very simple to use.

The included guidebook is clear on how to assemble your device. Then, it is simply a case of plugging it in, and your garden is ready to grow.

The Aerogarden works by combining the perfect conditions needed for plants to germinate, into a self contained hydroponic ecosystem that grows like a dream indoors.

Each type of Aerogarden is engineered to grow different sized plants, so choosing the correct Aerogarden for your needs is very important. Instead of growing in soil, the Aerogarden uses advanced hydroponics technology to grow your plants 5 x faster than they would usually!

Each Aerogarden model is different, but they all have the following common parts that help them work their magic:

AeroGarden Pods

Each kit includes Aerogarden pods (pre-seeded growing containers) that facilitate fast germination; they are specially designed to feed your plant the important micro and macro nutrients, oxygen, and water. The roots grow in water and air, and since they are not heavy, the pods can easily support your herbs as they sprout.

The liquid nutrients in the water enable healthy roots and nutrient absorption into your plant. All seed pods are non-GMO and are soil free.

Aerator Pump

Each garden also has an inbuilt pump or aerator that circulates the oxygen, water, and nutrients to the plants.

LED Grow Lights

Grow Lights are important for photosynthesis to take place, and the Aerogarden Ultra LED grow lights (white, blue, red) are perfect for the job. The lighting in all the models is automated, and you do not have to worry about forgetting to switch it on or off. This perfectly timed lighting helps your herbs to grow 5 times faster than it does in your outdoor garden. However, the rate of growth depends on the Aerogarden model that you are using.

Control Panel

The Aerogarden control panel is easy to use. Different models have different types of control panels and features, but the basics are the same. It reminds you when to add nutrients and when to add water and the user manual tells you exactly how much of each needs to be added.

A Thriving Garden All Year Round

The garden works all year round. The natural weather conditions do not affect your Aerogarden gardening.

What Can I Grow?

What you grow in your Aerogarden depends on what pod kits you buy.

The pod type that comes with your system depends on which variation you order. But there are always more seed pods available to order if they don’t come with exactly what you want to grow.

Just some of the seed pods available from the Miracle Gro store are:

• Basil
• Italian herbs
• Cherry tomatoes
• Chilli peppers
• Romaine
• Salad greens
• Petunias
• Lavender
• Medicinal herbs
• Asian herbs
• Jalapeno peppers
• And many more

And not only can you buy the seed pods ready to go, if they don’t have what you are after, then you can plant whatever you like using the ‘Grow Anything‘ seed pod kits!

You just need to provide the seeds and the Grow Anything kit includes everything else you need to grow the exact type of plants you want to.

How Many Plants Can an Aerogarden Grow?

The amount of plants you can grow depends on the model of Aerogarden you choose.

For example, the Sprout can grow up to 3 pods at once, while the Aerogarden Farm can grow up to 24 pods at once!

But with a greater number of plants, comes a greater size. So make sure you have the space for the system you are considering before you go and order your Aerogarden kit.

Where Should I Place My Aerogarden?

Because the Aerogarden supplies everything your plants need to germinate and grow, it really can be placed anywhere indoors.

It is worth noting that some of the models can make an audible noise when the pump is running, so it is probably best to keep it away from sleeping areas.

The basements, kitchen, den or living areas are all great locations to place your Aerogarden.

Miracle Gro AeroGarden Reviews

AeroGarden Bounty Elite

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Key Specifications

• Efficient 50 watt LED lights that will increase your output tremendously.
• 9-pod garden to enable you to plant variety.
• Choice of 4 seed kits
• User friendly touchscreen for easy control
• Grow plants up to 24″ high
• Guaranteed 5 times growth than an outdoor garden.

Perfect for: Those who want a fully contained indoor garden system that can grow almost anything!

The Miracle-Gro Bounty Elite allows you to grow a variety of herbs, vegetables, and even flowers in any indoor environment. In our opinion, it is the best among the Aerogarden models as it a significant increase in output over the other versions.

If you are after an Aerogarden that offers great flexibility to grow almost anything, the Bounty Elite offers 24″ of grow height which will cater to almost anything you would like to plant.

The Bounty is very easy to assemble and use and in just a few days you can see the seeds sprouting.

There is no need to use pesticides and all Aerogarden pods are non-GMO.

The control panel on this unit is a touchscreen display that is very easy to use, incorporating on-screen prompts to help you carry out the basic tasks required to keep your Aerogarden thriving. 

If you are after a modern, sleek looking indoor garden – then the stainless steel design of the Bounty Elite is guaranteed to impress.

Pros

• Produces a huge amount of plants
• Plants grow fast
• Pump is nice and quiet

Cons

• Takes up more space than smaller models
• More expensive than other models

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Other AeroGarden Bounty models available:

• Bounty Basic (more cost effective)
• Bounty Elite Artisan (premium model)

AeroGarden Farm24Plus

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Key Specifications

• Up to 24″ grow height on the farm plus
• Automatic Twin 60W LED Lighting system
• Grow up to 24 plants at once!
• Integrated touch screen for easy use
• Wi-Fi and Amazon Alexa connectivity

Perfect for: Anyone who wants the biggest and the best Aerogarden!

Are you one of those people who always has to have the biggest and best? Well then the Aerogarden Farm is perfect for you. The Farm24Plus comes allows plants to grow up to 24″ in height which is twice the height of the Bounty!

Even though these beasts look complicated, they actually aren’t too difficult to put together. Simply follow the included instructions and you will be up and running in no time.

The grow lights in this model are suspended from the top frame and the height can be adjusted independently on each side of the unit. This allows you to position the light at the optimum height – no matter the maturity or size of your plant.

And the fact that you can grow up to 24 plants at once means that you are literally growing a full vegetable garden – in your own home. You won’t be running out of food any time soon!

Included with the Farm 24Plus are 2 free seed kits, which can be chosen from a selection of 3 choices.

The inbuilt Wi-Fi and Amazon Alexa connectivity means that you can connect to your Aerogarden from where ever you are and give it instructions or check on the status of your plants.

Pros

• Looks impressive
• Grows huge amounts of food
• Wi-Fi connectivity is great
• The pump on this model is very quiet

Cons

• Takes up a lot of space
• The app needs some work to be truly useful

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Other Aerogarden Farm models available:

• Farm 12 (Fits 12 plants)
• Farm 12XL (small footprint and 36″ of grow height)
• Farm 24XL (36″ of grow height)

AeroGarden Harvest

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Key Specifications

• Automatic 20W LED Lighting system
• Fits 6 seed pods
• Simple backlit buttons for easy use
• Grows 5 x faster than soil gardens

Perfect for: Those on a budget. Get the magic of an Aerogarden at an affordable price.

You don’t need to spend a lot of money to get yourself an Aerogarden, and the Harvest is the ideal choice for anyone who wants a basic system without the large cost.

The Harvest has an easy to use illuminated button panel built-in that makes using this system a breeze.

This is a great gift for anyone with limited gardening space, especially for those who tend to have a ‘black thumb’.

A natural day/night cycle is maintained by the automatic LED light system, this helps the plants grow at their maximum rate and ensures you can harvest as soon as possible.

Pros

• Modern stylings
• Plants grow quickly
• Surprisingly compact
• The pump on this model is very quiet

Cons

• Only 12″ growing height

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Other Aerogarden Harvest models available:

• Harvest Elite (stainless steel)
• Harvest 360 (round shape)
• Harvest Elite 360 (round shape, stainless steel)
• Harvest Elite Slim (slim, stainless steel)

AeroGarden Sprout

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Key Specifications

• Grow up to 3 plants at once
• Small footprint
• Easy to set up
• Automatic grow light
• A view window to easily see when it is time to add water

Perfect for: Anyone who has limited space (or a limited budget) for their Aerogarden.

Need something with a small footprint? Well, the Sprout is probably exactly what you are after. If you don’t need the huge output of the Bounty or the Ultra, the Sprout fits just 3 seed pods which is perfect for the casual cook!

Assembly of the Sprout is very quick and very easy and you can have it up and running in under 10 minutes.

The control panel is the model of simplicity, it reminds you when to add nutrients and automatically controls the overhead LED Grow light.

The Sprouts grow light includes 60 LED bulbs and this provides your plants the full spectrum of sunlight required to ensure the maximum growth rate.

Pros

• Has a very small footprint so it takes up barely any space
• Easy to setup and use

Cons

• The height of the sprout grow light is limited, so when your plants get too big, you will need to trim them or replant them somewhere else
• The pump is louder than the larger models

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Aerogarden FAQ

How long will the plants live?

The life span depends on the type of the plant. Vegetables can live up to 6 months, flowers up to 5 months, greens and herbs up to 4 months.

How do I know my Aerogarden is Wi-Fi enabled?

The Wi-Fi logo is indicated on the package and the right side of the clock on the control panel. 

Can I transplant my plants from my Aerogarden to the outdoor garden?

Yes. You can use your garden as a seedbed and transfer your plants shortly after germination.

Are the nutrients and seeds organic?

The nutrients and seeds provided are non-GMO, no pesticides, and no herbicides. They are organic as approved by the FDA standards.

What are the maximum heights that my plant will grow?

The plant height will be determined by the length of the lamp and the bucket. The different models provide different heights.

Can I customize my growth lighting system timer?

The timer is automated according to the type of plant you choose. It cannot be customized.

Can I grow a variety of plants at the same time?

Yes, you can. However, you will need regular pruning to manage the growth. Watch for plants that need more space when sprouting.

How nutritious are Aerogarden produce?

They are rich in antioxidants, vitamins, and phytonutrients.