Hi there, Friends! Have you heard of hydroponic gardening? Simply put, this method allows you to grow plants--even fruits and veggies--without soil right from the convenience of your countertop! Today, I'll show you how easy it is to set up and grow an indoor hydroponic garden...
To clarify, this is not a sponsored post. However, as someone who was slightly intimidated by hydroponics and has been pleasantly surprised, I wanted to share my happy experience with you! Given that we had the hottest summer I can ever remember in Texas and even my usually hardy mint has been a casualty, I was thrilled to find a climate-change-surviving option for fresh herbs, lettuce, and more. (I want to try strawberries, next!) Above, you can see the progression of one of the lettuces I planted from the first day to the 20th. This variety is called Red Sails--see the tiny reddish specks on the leaves?
You may remember last month I shared my newly set-up countertop hydroponic that I purchased during the Prime Day sale. I set it up on July 15 so today is exactly one month since my garden has been planted.
Above, you can see how I set up the inside of the tank step-by-step. For the exterior, the LED grow light panel slides onto the top of the bamboo stand. Once the seed pods are added to the basket, it rests on the bamboo base. Both the water tank and the light connect to the power switch. You don't need to worry about timing anything. The light and power run automatically 16 hours on and 8 hours off. The pump circulates off and on every 15 minutes. It makes a trickling noise similar to a small fountain which is quite nice!
If you browse Amazon, you will find lots of different countertop hydroponics--so much so that it can be a little overwhelming. After reading many reviews, I opted for this model. Although it isn't name brand, it had favorable reviews, and it is compatible with AeroGarden seed pods. I'm really pleased with the overall design.
I do have one late bloomer--doesn't every family?! 😉 While the other pods sprouted before the suggested time, the last to sprout was mint. It sprouted several days later than the recommended 6-10 days. Although the sprouts are tiny, the other plants had very small sprouts in the beginning so I feel confident it will catch up before long!
Grow baby, grow! (Mint)
Here are a few closer views of the herbs...
Thai basil, dill, and Genovese Basil
...and lettuce after 20 days growth.
Genovese basil and Black Seeded Simpson heirloom lettuce
Tips and what I've learned so far:
The grow light is very bright so consider that when you are deciding where to place your countertop garden.
Keep the adjustable light 3-5 inches from the tops of plants to encourage growth.
Lettuce grows quickly, so place it on the ends to allow it room to grow.
To avoid overcrowding, alternate a few unplanted pods, but cover the openings with the stickers that come with the garden. (You can also purchase them, here.)
Refill water as needed. (The pump will break if it runs dry.)
Follow the manufacturer's instructions regarding feeding and monthly tank cleaning.
*It is not recommended that you grow fruits or large vegetables at the same time as herbs and lettuce.
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