AeroGarden

[Pseudoreality]

I'm wondering if anyone else here on the forum has any experience with the AeroGarden?

http://www.aerogrow.com/

I purchased one a year ago before I got into aquaponics and I must say it worked very well. I think it is an excellent product for people who live in areas with long, cold, dark winters. One of these will give you the greens for a decent salad every other day.

I've found their plant strains well suited for hydroponic growing systems. I took some clippings I put it into my aquaponic system and it worked amazingly well. It out performed the other plants I had from seed in my aquaponic system. My latest aquaponic system is almost entirely populated with AeroGarden seed pods and I think I'm going to set-up my NFT system so I can just put those seed pods right in there.

The next experiment I want to try is to put aquarium water in and out of one instead of the inorganic nutrient solution.

[cedarswamp]

I had one that did well with dill and G basil, but after the proprietary bulb burnt out in less than 2 months I refuse to buy another at their exorbitant prices, so chalked it up to lesson learned. Maybe some day I'll get around to re-wiring it with standard light sockets.

[Pseudoreality]

Sounds like you had a faulty bulb. I've used mine for 4 months without a problem and will probably do another 4 month run before replacing the bulbs. From what I recall most florescent lights lose their effectiveness after about 6 months of continuous operation. They still work, but your plant growth really suffers. It's a dirty trick if they are really overcharging you for replacement blubs. If that's the case rewiring sockets or finding cheap knock offs might be the answer.

[GaryD]

Hi,

I guess my question would be how would you ever get a return on your investment? The Aerogarden is certainly expensive growing space.

Interestingly, Sylvia Bernstein was the R &D manager for the Aerogarden. Since that time, she's gone on to develop the Aquabundance aquaponics system.....and that is really expensive growing space.

Gary

[webhydro]

Looks like something you would use if you just wanted fresh basil and other herbs at your house. Not if your growing for a profit...

[GaryD]

My point is you'd need to grow a lot of fresh basil and other herbs to recover the cost of the Aerogarden. I could think of many more cost effective ways of achieving a better outcome.

Gary

[weldnfab]

is this an old thread? I cannot speak for the Aerogarden system itself... but the basics of aeroponics are very simple, and a very fast method of growing... incorporating the auquaponics (nutrients) with an aeroponics (delivery) could possibly be the best of both worlds. filtration would be most important detail to cover... sprayers can plug.

[GaryD]

Hi Weldnfab,

... sprayers can plug.

And this is the biggest barrier to the use of aeroponics in conjunction with aquaponics. Bio-film will block any pipe work less than 19mm (3/4") so misting sprayers don't stand a chance.

Gary

[Earthan Group]

Hi Weldnfab,


And this is the biggest barrier to the use of aeroponics in conjunction with aquaponics. Bio-film will block any pipe work less than 19mm (3/4") so misting sprayers don't stand a chance.

Gary

I have seen aquaponics running on 4mm irrigation tube no issues...

[GaryD]

Hi,

I have seen aquaponics running on 4mm irrigation tube no issues...

Yes, so have I.....but there was a pressure pump pushing the nutrient up to the growing system.

Gary