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Best Overall
AeroGarden Bounty Hydroponic System
Best Bang for the Buck
XXXFlower Plant Terrarium With Wooden Stand
Best Large-Capacity
Lettuce Grow Farmstand Hydroponic System
Hydroponic systems—a method for growing plants in water rather than soil—are popular because they offer a way to produce a bounty of plants in a relatively small area in an indoor garden. These systems also tend to be user-friendly, so even newbie growers are likely to succeed. Best of all, hydroponic systems often are all-inclusive: They provide the container for growing the plants, and most come with lights, plant foods, and seeds, so you don’t have to be a gardening expert to start growing.
Because of the wide range of consumer hydroponic systems available, choosing the best option can be challenging. To guide shoppers to the ideal product, we recently tested eight different indoor hydroponic systems to evaluate the top options on the market today.
When testing hydroponic systems, we looked for ease of use, the number of plants the system would accommodate, and any extra features included. Check out our top picks for indoor gardening with some of the best hydroponic systems.
- BEST OVERALL: AeroGarden Bounty Hydroponic System
↓ Jump to Review - BEST BANG FOR THE BUCK: XXXFlower Plant Terrarium With Wooden Stand
↓ Jump to Review - BEST LARGE-CAPACITY: Lettuce Grow Farmstand Hydroponic System
↓ Jump to Review - BEST FOR BEGINNERS: AeroGarden Harvest Hydroponic System
↓ Jump to Review - BEST FOR MICROGREENS: Ingarden Organic Microgreens Starter Kit
↓ Jump to Review
| AeroGarden Bounty Hydroponic System | XXXFlower Plant Terrarium With Wooden Stand | Lettuce Grow Farmstand Hydroponic System | AeroGarden Harvest Hydroponic System | Ingarden Organic Microgreens Starter Kit | |
| Size | 34 inches high by 17.25 inches wide by 11.25 inches deep | 5.5 inches high by 4 inches deep by 11 inches wide | 72 inches high, 22 inches in diameter | 17.4 inches high by 10.5 inches wide by 6 inches deep | 7.88 inches high by 15.9 inches wide by 5.9 inches deep |
| Capacity | 9 plants | 3 glass vases | 36 plants | 6 plants | 3 seed pads |
| Additional Features | Touch screen, vacation mode, trellis, seeds included | None | pH kit, pH stabilizer, plant food, timers for pump and lights | Water and food refill indicator, humidity caps | Extra wicks and power adapters |
Our Top Picks
To qualify as a top pick, a hydroponic system needed to have a water circulation system that keeps the water fresh. For those that are all-inclusive systems, we looked for bright grow lights that can be adjusted in height as the plants grow taller. The following hydroponic systems vary in design and size, but each is well suited to growing healthy herbs and plants indoors.
Best Overall
AeroGarden Bounty Hydroponic System
What We Like
- Includes seeds, humidity caps, and liquid plant food
- Generous grow height (up to 24 inches)
- Touch screen for scheduling light and water circulation
What We Don’t Like
- Smaller width may create overcrowding
Product Specs
- Size: 34 inches high by 17.25 inches wide by 11.25 inches deep
- Capacity: 9 plants
- Additional features: Touch screen, vacation mode, trellis, seeds included
The AeroGarden Bounty grows up to nine plants and comes with a seed kit of the user’s choice. Thanks to a convenient touch screen, growers can set their own light and watering schedule, and there’s a vacation mode for when the system will be unattended.
One of the system’s best features is its tall grow height of 24 inches—the highest of any smaller hydroponic system in our lineup. The grow height makes it easier to nurture larger plant varieties, such as peppers and tomatoes, without worrying about plants getting their leaves singed on the lights. The system also includes a trellis, which is helpful when growing such larger plants.
The Bounty has a large water reservoir, so the system only needs minimal topping off. It also comes with liquid plant food and humidity caps for seeds to germinate. However, in testing—growing a combination of lettuces and herbs—the width of the system proved a bit short. This led to stunted growth of some plants, while others competed for light. For example, when we placed cilantro and a short lettuce variety next to each other, the cilantro grew taller and blocked light from the lettuce, which failed to truly thrive.
While AeroGarden could fix this problem by making the Bounty wider, we found the solution to be simply using fewer grow stations. When replanting seeds in the system during a second round of testing, we planted fewer plants (six instead of nine) and found that they did better, growing larger and looking more healthy.
What our tester says: “Despite the width of the system being a bit short for my preferences, after I figured out how to work around this issue, the AeroGarden Bounty earned the best overall spot for the number of plants it grows, its reasonable price, its tall grow height, and for being an inclusive kit that makes hydroponics simple.”–Jenn Ryan, Product Reviews tester and writer
Get the AeroGarden Bounty hydroponic system at Amazon or AeroGarden.
Best Bang for the Buck
XXXFlower Plant Terrarium With Wooden Stand
What We Like
- Unique design; serves as an attractive display
- Fits on a ledge, stylish ladder, or desk
- Virtually no setup required
What We Don’t Like
- Difficult to fit thicker cuttings in the vases
Product Specs
- Size: 5.5 inches high by 4 inches deep by 11 inches wide
- Capacity: 3 glass vases
- Additional features: None
Few gardening processes are more straightforward than taking cuttings from existing houseplants or vines and starting them in water. The XXXFlower hydroponics garden includes three see-through glass bulbs to fill with water to encourage root development. It also serves as an attractive decoration for a sunny windowsill or countertop with its wood and black metal framing.
While the system doesn’t include LED lights or a water-recirculating pump, it works via a tried-and-true plant-propagation method that is simple but effective. When roots develop, plants can be transplanted into pots or to an outdoor garden spot.
During testing, we found this system was very easy to set up. We also appreciated its small size and good looks; it could pretty up just about any spot that gets enough natural light for plants. However, we found the necks of the glass vases to be quite narrow—while we could easily fit herbs (such as the rosemary we rooted), we had trouble getting snake plants and succulents into the water. That issue aside, this system gets high marks for its affordability, attractiveness, simple setup, and effectiveness at helping plants grow roots.
Get the XXXFlower hydroponic system at Amazon.
Best Large-Capacity
Lettuce Grow Farmstand Hydroponic System
What We Like
- Fast and easy assembly
- Large (20 gallon) water reservoir
- Includes plant food, a pH kit, and timers
What We Don’t Like
- Cord holder didn’t work well
- 2 separate cords for lights and water pump
Product Specs
- Size: 72 inches high, 22 inches in diameter
- Capacity: 36 plants
- Additional features: pH kit, pH stabilizer, plant food, timers for pump and lights
The Lettuce Grow Farmstand that we tested has the capacity for 36 full-size plants, making it the largest hydroponic system on our list. The Farmstand comes with a teardrop-shaped base that can hold 20 gallons of water, which means we didn’t have to top off the water reservoir as often as with some of the smaller systems.
The system is adjustable—gardeners can add or remove sections as desired to increase or decrease the number of plants. This Farmstand can hold as few as 18 and as many as 36 plants. We loved that the Farmstand is constructed with high-quality, durable materials yet is also made with recycled ocean-bound plastic; it even comes in 100 percent recyclable packaging.
Despite its impressive size, the Farmstand proved to have a simple assembly process in testing—it uses a single durable plastic pipe that runs through the center of the system.
However, one downside we found is that it can be difficult to secure all the attachments and lights together. While they rotate and lock into place, this proved a bit tricky on some sections.
The Farmstand comes with two timers, one for lights and one for the water pump, which can be set and then left alone, making it simple to set up. However, the system is not controlled through an app, so remote monitoring or setting of lights and watering is not possible. App access can provide alerts about when to add plant food and harvest produce, and the fact that the system does not need Wi-Fi to work may be a benefit to some gardeners.
This system is not restricted to indoor use; growers can choose whether or not to purchase lights (which are not necessary when the system is used outdoors). Plant food, a pH kit, and a pH-down solution (to test and adjust the system’s pH) are included, but Lettuce Grow systems do not come with seeds or plants. Gardeners do have the option to purchase seedlings (sprouted plants ready to put into the system) from the company. While the seedlings were expensive, they were in perfect condition when they arrived, and we did not have a single plant die throughout the testing process, even though we had to delay transplanting some of the plants by 3 weeks.
We did have another pesky issue with the system. On our test model, the cord holder on the front of the water reservoir didn’t work very well, and the cords kept popping out. Also, the dual cords and timers made this system a little less attractive than some others.
Read our full review: Lettuce Grow Farmstand Hydroponic System
Get the Lettuce Grow hydroponic system at Amazon and Lettuce Grow.
Best for Beginners
AeroGarden Harvest Hydroponic System
What We Like
- Suitable for small spaces
- Includes seeds and plant food for herb varieties
- Simple to set up
What We Don’t Like
- Plants can grow to only 12 inches tall
- Lights shut off after 15 hours
Product Specs
- Size: 17.4 inches high by 10.5 inches wide by 6 inches deep
- Capacity: 6 plants
- Additional features: Water and food refill indicator, humidity caps
Even newbies can stretch their green thumb with this system from leading hydroponic systems manufacturer AeroGarden. The Harvest indoor herb garden provides everything necessary to care for its six growing stations. We loved the simple setup: Gardeners simply insert plant pods, add water and plant food, plug it in, and it’s ready to grow. Humidity caps to help germinate seeds when starting the system are included.
The system comes with six plastic pots and six seed plugs that are already preseeded (with Italian basil, Thai basil, parsley, dill, thyme, and mint) and ready to go. Liquid plant nutrients are also included. For convenience, the Harvest automates both lighting and water circulation. The system turns the LED grow lights on for 15 hours per day, though users can turn the lights on and off manually as well. Water circulation is automatic, and the unit features both a low-water and a time-to-add-nutrient indicator to take the guesswork out of indoor hydroponics.
One downside to this system is that it lacks an adjustable light timer: the lights simply come on for 15 hours a day, then turn off until the cycle starts again. The height of the light hood is limited, too. It only offers about 12 inches for plants to grow, which may prove too short for the herbs. Our dill and our basil, for instance, were damaged because they grew too tall and pressed against the hot light before we could harvest them.
Get the AeroGarden Harvest hydroponic system at Amazon or Walmart.
Best for Microgreens
Ingarden Organic Microgreens Starter Kit
What We Like
- Includes 3 preseeded pads and extra wicks
- Slim design fits on countertops and window ledges
- All pieces except the grow light are dishwasher-safe
- High-quality ceramic and metal materials with no plastic
What We Don’t Like
- Not a huge harvest yield
- Replacement seed pads are pricey
- Heavy for the size
Product Specs
- Size: 7.88 inches high by 15.9 inches wide by 5.9 inches deep
- Capacity: 3 seed pads
- Additional features: Extra wicks and power adapters
This hydroponic kit from Ingarden is specifically designed for sprouts, also called microgreens. The kit consists of a ceramic water reservoir, over which a metal ledge and individual seed trays rest with a wicking system to provide seeds with consistent moisture.
Grow lights, seed pads, and extra wicks are included, but replacement seed pads are not. Since sprouts grow and are ready to be harvested within about a week, this means gardeners must purchase additional seed pads or a sprout medium and seeds on their own to keep growing.
We tested this product with both the seed pads that the Ingarden came with as well as aftermarket hemp growing medium and alfalfa seeds. Although the seed pads were significantly more convenient, the results were very similar, so this kit allows growers the option to continue growing on their own without having a subscription to Ingarden for additional seed pads, which can be more cost-effective over time.
We loved that this kit is entirely dishwasher-safe (except for the grow lights), which simplifies cleaning and maintenance. The ceramic water reservoir is also a nice change from the traditional plastic reservoirs hydroponic systems typically use and can be a benefit for users seeking to avoid growing plants in plastic.
We also appreciate the simple light timer on this kit: We just pressed a button to set the timer to go off in 12 hours. The grow lights can also be dimmed, and resetting the timer is a breeze with just a few presses of the button.
Another positive aspect to this kit is its small size. We tested it on a kitchen counter where it took up very little space, so we believe just about anyone could find a place for it in the home. Plus, the kit even comes with different power adapters for use in different countries.
One downside to this kit is that the replacement seed pads can be expensive compared with buying sprouts at the store. In addition, we found that the yield wasn’t huge—we used all the sprouts to prepare just one dinner for two—but they can easily be regrown in about a week.
Get the Ingarden hydroponic system at Amazon or Ingarden.
Jump to Our Top Picks
How We Tested the Best Hydroponic Systems
When evaluating these hydroponic systems, we considered over a dozen companies and looked at the brand, customer reviews, features of the product, extra items included, and how well the system grew plants. We also looked at durability and ease of use when testing and evaluating these products.
Each product was scored using a rubric that specifically evaluated the watering system, how well the plants in the system thrived, how easy the system was to set up and use, any extra features the product included, types of plants the system could grow, the durability of the product, and how attractive the setup was. We also considered the value of the product for the price.
As we tested each hydroponic system, we looked closely at how well the plants grew and how easy the system was to use and maintain. To do this, we tested each system for a minimum of 6 weeks, and some of the systems were tested for over a year.
What to Consider When Choosing a Hydroponic System
Plants need four essential elements to thrive: water, oxygen, light, and nutrients. A successful hydroponic system must supply an adequate amount of all four. For those new to indoor gardening, the options may seem confusing, but today’s manufacturers create types of hydroponic systems that automate much of the process.
Type
While all hydroponic systems supply plant roots with water and nutrients, the method varies. There are six common types of hydroponic systems, all with unique strong points, but some are better suited to commercial settings than DIY home settings.
- Wicking: Also known as “passive hydroponics,” wicking uses an absorbent material, such as a natural fiber rope, to draw water from a reservoir to the plant’s roots. Wicking can be as simple as putting a plant in a soilless growing medium, such as perlite, and running a short piece of rope from the growing medium to water. These types of hydroponic systems are well suited for small plants, such as sprouts and microgreens.
- Deep water culture: Often found in all-inclusive consumer hydroponic systems, deep water culture (DWC) involves growing plants in small containers. These are sometimes called pods, although different brands may have different names for them. Typically made of plastic, where the plants’ roots spread through the water in a reservoir, a DWC system features a small pump for circulating nutrients and adding oxygen to the water.
- Ebb and flow: Also called a “flood-and-drain” system, the ebb-and-flow method involves a small pump that circulates water, flooding plant roots with nutrient-rich water and then draining. By exposing the roots to water and nutrients every few hours, the plants receive all the nutrients they need. In some ebb-and-flow systems, the plant roots will sit in water collected in small reservoirs around the pods. However, in others, the plant roots don’t sit in water between waterings. Ebb-and-flow systems are ideal for water conservation, as the system recirculates the water in the reservoir, eliminating the need for fresh water for every watering.
- Nutrient film technique: Similar to a DWC system, a nutrient-film technique (NFT) system circulates nutrient-rich water through the roots of the plants. Rather than the mesh pots being placed in a water reservoir, the pots are side by side in long channels. An NFT system can contain many or only a few connected channels. While this system is used extensively for commercial growing, a few smaller NFT systems are available to consumers for in-home use.
- Aeroponic: Rather than suspending plant roots in water, in an aeroponic system, the roots sit above the water level, and a mister sprays the roots with nutrient-rich water. Aeroponic systems aren’t quite as popular as DWC for home systems, but a few models are available.
- Drip: Usually limited to commercial growers, drip hydroponics feature tubing with small drip nozzles located above every plant. Water circulates through the tubing and drips on each plant, and the excess water runs through a mesh pot containing soilless medium and drains back to the pump. The dripping cycle repeats every few minutes.
Experience Level
To operate a hydroponic growing system, the operator needs basic knowledge about how hydroponics work. This means, for most systems, that growers should be experienced in sprouting plants from seeds, knowing when plants need plant food, monitoring the water flow of the reservoir, and adjusting nutrient levels and pH.
Fortunately, with today’s consumer hydroponic systems, indoor gardening is simple and straightforward. Systems like the popular AeroGarden come with mesh pods and soilless medium (often coconut coir plugs), as well as a pump for circulating water and keeping roots moist and healthy. Unlike classic terrariums, most of today’s in-home systems also feature grow lights on timers that provide the correct amount of light for optimal growth.
Available Space
One of the convenient characteristics of at-home hydroponic systems is that users can grow more plants on a smaller footprint because the roots don’t need to spread out to seek nutrients. A typical home hydroponics system can be as large as a few feet deep and wide or as small as a few inches deep and wide, depending on the type of setup and the number of plants. The most common models, such as the AeroGarden Harvest, can fit on a kitchen countertop or a table and take up no more than 1 to 2 square feet of space—yet the Gardyn can grow up to 30 full-size plants.
Plant Types
Indoor hydroponic systems can grow a wide variety of plant types. While smaller systems such as the AeroGarden are best used for herbs and smaller varieties of peppers and tomatoes, larger systems like the Lettuce Grow Farmstand and Gardyn can grow virtually anything, including large lettuces such as romaine, full-size tomato or pepper plants, kale, Swiss chard, bok choy, and even cabbage. Flowers can be grown in hydroponic systems too.
Temperature
Consistent temperature is essential to plant growth, so commercial hydroponic growers often have water heaters to regulate the water temperature. However, in-home hydroponic systems don’t require the same temperature-control level because they’re usually placed in a home where the temperature remains between 60 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit. Many experts suggest that the optimal water temperature for plant growth is between 68 and 71.6 degrees Fahrenheit.
Substrates and Nutrients
A soilless growing medium is normally used in hydroponics. These mediums can include coconut coir plugs or mineral wool. However, some systems, such as the Lettuce Grow Farmstand, have plants that are started in actual soil and then transplanted into small pods to grow without additional soil in the hydroponic system.
Some systems come with plants or seeds already in the substrate. For example, the AeroGarden Harvest and Bounty, as well as the Gardyn, include preseeded and ready-to-grow pods. As the plants grow, the roots extend below the pod into the reservoir or channel beneath.
Nutrients used in hydroponic systems can be in either powder or liquid form. Gardyn and Lettuce Grow come with powders that must be dissolved in warm water before being added to the water reservoir, while the AeroGarden systems come with liquid plant food that can be poured directly into the reservoir.
Maintenance
Automated hydroponic systems require minimal maintenance relative to a traditional garden. Most systems recommend topping off the tank reservoir about once a week and adding plant food at the same time. It’s also recommended that the reservoir be cleaned every month or so to prevent the buildup of algae in the tank.
During the growing cycle, users may also need to wipe down the unit’s surface with a clean, damp rag to maintain its appearance: They aren’t immune to dust!
The Advantages of Owning a Hydroponic System
There are many advantages to owning a hydroponic garden system, including water conservation, reduced risk of pest problems, and fresh produce year-round.
According to Dr. Michael B. Timmons, professor emeritus and graduate professor in the Department of Biological and Environmental Engineering at Cornell University, “Producing food as efficiently as possible and minimizing the use of our scarce resources should be a goal for everyone. Each family could contribute toward this goal by choosing to produce some or all of the vegetables they eat. Producing vegetables hydroponically using controlled environment agriculture (CEA) … uses 90 percent less water and land than conventional agriculture.” He goes on to say that those who grow some of their food hydroponically can reduce the associated carbon footprint by producing in their own home, garage, or mini-greenhouse.
As explained by the Oklahoma State University Extension, controlling the nutrients and growing environment is one of the advantages of utilizing a hydroponic system to grow vegetables and flowers. Hydroponic systems also reduce the risk of chemical exposure due to pesticides as well as the risk of pests infesting the plants and soil (although the plants are not immune to pests that may travel indoors). Finally, with an all-inclusive hydroponic system, growing herbs, fruits, veggies, or flowers indoors needn’t take a lot of time or require a large garden or a sunny window.
- Hydroponics allows users to grow herbs and vegetables indoors year-round.
- A quality system provides notifications that alert users when to add water and nutrients.
- Hydroponic systems with grow lights don’t require a sunny window.
FAQs
Because hydroponic systems automate the growing process, users don’t need a lot of gardening or hydroponic knowledge to enjoy fresh herbs and produce. For those new to growing indoors, however, some questions are to be expected. Read on for answers that provide basic info.
For those just developing a green thumb, an affordable hydroponics system that automates lighting and watering and provides a few growing stations is ideal.
Most systems come with built-in aeration via a pump, so additional aeration is not needed.
No. Nutrient solutions are preformulated to offer the best pH level for a wide variety of plants and herbs. However, you may want to test the pH level of the water in the reservoir with a pH test kit and add pH-adjusting liquid to raise or lower the pH level to about 6 or 7, which is the ideal range for growing vegetables and herbs.
To maintain a strict pH level, pH-adjusting liquids are available, and a couple of drops of either “pH Up” or “pH Down” can change the level. Some hydroponic systems come with a testing kit, but these are often a separate purchase.
Yes. Each system has its own recommendations on how often to clean it, and some systems recommend cleaning as often as once a month. In general, cleaning requires removing all the spent plants and scrubbing or wiping out the unit—especially the water reservoir—before using it again. Apart from that, wipe down the surfaces with a clean, damp rag as necessary to remove dust, plant debris, and grime.
Meet the Tester
Jenn Ryan is a writer and sustainability enthusiast who has been writing for BobVila.com since 2020. An organic gardener since 2015, Jenn writes about eco-friendly and sustainable solutions and products for BobVila.com as well as numerous other publications, including Popular Mechanics. She takes a detailed approach to reviewing products and considers the value they add for the money as well as the materials used for sustainability and overall eco-friendliness.
Additional research provided by Glenda Taylor.
