These 5 Hydroponic Kits Were Made for Beginners: Which Is Your Favorite?

If you ever thought growing herbs indoors was hard, you have to try hydroponic kits. It is hands down the easiest way to grow herbs (and other edibles) indoors, especially for beginners.

Growing herbs and produce in soil can be difficult, especially when you are just starting out. You need proper sunlight ample drainage, and you have to worry about bugs and pests. There’s a lot to be concerned about. 

Hydroponic kits were made for beginners or anyone who doesn’t want to think about all the things your plants need to thrive. They have their own “environment,” which produces sun and uses water and food to make growing an almost inevitable success.

You can grow herbs right in your kitchen or any room in the home, even a dark basement.

With the right setup, even a small hydroponic system can grow herbs and other greens, such as lettuce, indoors. Each unit is different, so it’s important to consider what size, height, and style will work best in your house. .

The Best Hydroponic Starter Kits For Beginners

The right kit for you depends on your needs. Check out or favorite garden starter kits. And don’t be surprised if once you’ve tried hydroponic gardening, you never plant in soil again! (inside anyway)

1. Best Overall: AeroGarden Harvest Review

AeroGarden is one of the best-selling hydroponic kits and has room for up to six pods to be grown at one time. The intense grow light at the top can be raised or lowered to fit the growing herbs. Basil, for example, grows tall and rapidly, so it’s important to be able to adjust the height of the lamp.

You’ll receive a gourmet herb seed kit that includes:

• Basil (Genovese and Thai)
• Curley Parsley
• Dill
• Thyme
• Mint 

A control panel on the front of the AeroGarden Harvest allows for easy maintenance with LED lights that illuminate when you need to add food or water into the unit. The 20-watt bulb allows for small growth in the first week, and by week three, most of your herbs should be growing rapidly.

The grow light will cycle on for 16 hours a day and shut off for eight hours to allow for a natural cycle for the herbs to grow.

This is the best overall hydroponic system. Aerogarden is the most popular brand in selling easy-to-operate hydroponic herb gardens for the last few decades.

While the Harvest is the best-selling model, they have a whole range of options for different growing levels, from beginners to advanced growers. Check out our comparison of the different Aerogaren models.

2. Compact and Modern Design: Click and Grow Smart Garden 3 Review

Click and Grow’s indoor herb garden has a streamlined look that is not surprising since the company is from Estonia in Northern Europe. The Scandinavian design reminds me of the furniture in this region. So if you like clean lines with an elegant interface, the Click and Grow herb garden is a good fit for you.

It includes efficient LED lights to maximize herb growth. Basil plant pods are included, and all you need to do is:

• Plug the unit in
• Drop in the plant pod
• Fill the reservoir with water

You’ll be able to choose from 50+ pre-seeded pods to grow an array of different herbs and plants. Pods include strawberries, thyme, chili pepper, lavender, Basil, and cilantro, among numerous other options.

Seedless pods are available, allowing you to add your own soil and seeds to begin the growing process. Three different herbs can be grown simultaneously, so you can experiment with multiple plants and herbs.

Best Budget Buy: iDoo Hydroponics Growing System

iDOO hydroponics system is an indoor model that features a 24-watt grow light and space for ten plants. The light system raises to just over 18 inches, that’s 1-1/2 feet of growing space.:

The light system has two different settings. fruit and flower mode or vegetables. The fruit and flower mode uses red and white lights that help your garden plants when they are producing flowers or berries. The vegetable mode emits a combination of red, white, and blue lights that is better for leafy green growth.

A quiet mode is available that turns off the pump for 10 hours while you sleep.

A unique design point of the IDOO growing system is the water access port on top, so you can easily fill the unit without lifting up the growing tray.

Don’t forget the seeds if you buy this one, since unless many others on our list, it doesn’t ship with a starter pack of herb or vegetable herbs.

Simple Mason Jar Garden: Environet Hydroponic Herb Growing Kit Set Review

Environet’s growing kit set is actually designed to look and function like a mason jar. The jars are both stylish and functional – they fit perfectly in a country home. When you order this grow kit, you’ll be given three pots with a wick and:

• Pre-seeded grow plugs
• Mason jars

Due to regulations, the kits do not come with plant food. You’ll want to purchase liquid plant food for these mason jars because it works best. Growing is simple and easy. Remove the bands and net from the pot to get started.

Add in about two cups of water and replace the new pot and band. In just seven days, you’ll be able to remove the cover, and the seeds will have sprouted in most cases. Basil, oregano, and parsley are included.

The kits are self-watering, thanks to the wick design. Rewatering is infrequent, but it will need to be done when the water is running too low. All seeds that are provided in the kit are heirloom seeds.

Mason Jar Sleeves Transform Basic Jars To An Enclosed Hydroponic System

If you like the flexibility of growing your herbs in mason jars but want a more elegant look check out these cool sleeves. They are created with a 3D printer from the Etsy seller 3D Hydro Design Co. The sleeves will fit with a 32 or 64-ounce wide-mouth mason jar.

The sleeves protect the plant roots from burning in the sunlight by blocking the light. It’s such a neat idea. So, if you want to support a small manufacturer, check out their Etsy store.

5. The Newcomer on the Market: Rise Gardens Personal Hydroponics Growing System

Rise Gardens is a relative newcomer to the hydroponic growing market, but we like the design, so wanted to include it on our list. This is the smallest model offered by Rise Gardens, they also have 3 other gardens – the largest of which stands at over 5 feet tall.

Dimensions of this unit are:

• 18 inches long
• 11 inches wide
• 16 inches tall

Eight small pod holes are present, allowing you to grow more a nice size garden in a compact space.

When sets this hydroponic unit apart is that it is very sturdy, just check the weight at 12 pounds. The wood framing on either end also contributes to the stability of the system.

The system comes with an app, so you can get growing advice right on your phone. From the app, you can control the lighting, get reminders of when to add fertilizer or when your plants need water.

With great customer service and easy-to-follow instructions, the Rise Garden is a good one to watch

FAQs

Can I Put My Hydroponic Garden on a Windowsill?

Yes, but you want to make sure that there are at least eight hours of no sun per day. Herbs will need to have these hours to stay in the dark every day. Make sure that your kit allows for nighttime hours for your herbs. Otherwise, move the kit to somewhere other than near the sun.

Can You Use Your Own Seeds?

In most cases, you can use your own seeds in an empty pod. You’ll want to check with the manufacturer or your instruction manual to learn the best method to grow your own items using the seeds you purchase.

How Long Does It Take to Grow Herbs?

Herbs grow pretty fast and can start to be harvested as soon as their third set of true leaves develops. Basil, for example, can be trimmed and used within a three-week period. Other herbs may take longer to grow.

Can You Grow Items Besides Herbs?

Typically, you can reuse the old pods by replacing the soil and adding your own seeds. You’ll want to verify this with the kit you choose because every kit is different.

Are You Ready To Try Hydroponics?

A hydroponic setup allows people to grow herbs even if they don’t have an outdoor space to do so. You can grow herbs on a small countertop with your own hydroponic herb garden kit. These systems are easy to set up, affordable, and require little maintenance.

Add water and some plant food, and sit back while your herbs grow. You’ll be alerted to any water or food requirements by your system (in most cases).

If you like fresh herbs, a beginner-friendly hydroponic kit can help you start growing your own herbs in weeks. It’s a fast, easy, and fun method of gardening that can be done in the comfort of your own home. You don’t even have to worry about pesky bugs or animals eating your greens.