Best Indoor Garden Systems: I've Been Testing All Year (2026)

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Featured in this article

Best OverallGardyn Indoor Hydroponic GardenRead more $899

Gardyn (Home 4)

A Garden That's Also a Statement PieceLettuce Grow FarmstandRead more $1,123

Lettuce Grow (Indoor, Medium)

Best for BeginnersAeroGarden BountyRead more $180

Amazon (Basic)

Best for Growing MicrogreensInstaFarm Automated Indoor Microgreens GardenRead more $499

Amazon (Instafarm)

I was a forestry major in college with an emphasis on dendrology and watershed management, so it probably won't come as a surprise that I'm a lifelong plant person and have been gardening for upward of 30 years. Even in apartments or living situations where a full garden wasn't feasible, I’ve always tried to grow something, whether it’s a single rosemary plant on a windowsill, a Topsy Turvy Tomato, or a few basil sprigs in an old-school AeroGarden.

For the past year, I've been testing various indoor smart garden systems in my home, including models from all the well-known brands, and I have some thoughts. These gardens are definitely an investment in both time and maintenance, and they're all different in terms of what they offer. The Gardyn Home 4.0 ($899), for example, offers total success with no green thumb required if you pay for a subscription, while the Auk Mini ($259) is the perfect attractive-yet-low-maintenance solution for those who just want herbs. Are these gardens worth it? How much can you really grow? How can you be sure which option is best for your specific lifestyle? Read on to see which gardens stood out and why, and which might be ideal for your home and needs.

Check out our other sustainable home-tech buying guides, including the Best Smart Bird Feeders, Best Kitchen Composters, and Best Water Leak Detectors.

Updated May 2026: I've added Lettuce Grow's Counterstand Set and the InstaFarm, amended some long-term testing info, and ensured up-to-date links and prices.

Table of ContentsAccordionItemContainerButtonLargeChevron

What Are Hydroponics?
What Are the Benefits of Hydroponics?
What Kinds of Things Can I Grow in a Hydroponic Garden?
What Are the Downsides of Hydroponics?
Will I Save Money by Growing My Own Vegetables?
How Much Can I Really Grow in These Things?
Where Can I Put Them in My House?
How Much Do They Cost to Keep Going?
How I Tested
How I Chose Which Gardens to Test
How I Acquire Gardens to Review

Best Overall
- Photograph: Kat Merck
- Photograph: Kat Merck
- Courtesy of Gardyn
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Gardyn
Indoor Hydroponic Garden
$899
Gardyn (Home 4)
$549
Gardyn (Studio 2)
$449
Amazon (Studio 1)
$899 $718 (20% off)
Amazon (Home 4)
Gardyn Home 4.0 (read my full review here) was one of the easiest indoor gardens to assemble set up out of the box; it also yielded the most dramatic success of any of the brands I tried. Flowers, kohlrabi, thyme, and even a whole cauliflower all thrived in this pipe-based system with the lights in front to allow for taller plant growth.
Seeds arrive in proprietary pods called yCubes. Part of what makes the Gardyn foolproof is the subscription app add-on, “Kelby,” which monitors your plants via attached sensors and cameras. It delivers customized watering and lighting schedules, as well as maintenance suggestions via AI (which an anonymous source told me is basically OpenAI's ChatGPT with an overlaid prompt). This subscription adds an additional $259 a year to the base purchase price, though it includes a certain number of credits per month, depending on whether you have the Home or Studio model, with which to buy new yCubes. There's a free 30-day trial for Kelby, but you can use the Gardyn without it by relying on manual light and watering controls. Also, there have been some recent privacy concerns with Kelby (more below).
Each Gardyn purchase comes with your choice of yCube sets: “Salad Lover,” “Budding Florist,” or “Chef Faves.” I've tried both “Budding Florist” and “Chef Faves,” and my favorite is the latter; it has an interesting variety of everything from breen and Tokyo bekana greens to Thai basil and miniature sunflowers. Though Gardyn recommends starting the yCubes in the company's add-on $80 nursery, I've germinated plenty of yCubes right in the system just fine. (Make sure you don't add nutrients until they sprout. If you're germinating yCubes later on, when nutrients are already in the system, you can just use a shallow bowl with loosely tented plastic wrap.) The seeds arrive tucked in mineral wool, snug in their little yCubes that slot into larger cups ("yPods") that fit into the pipes. When the Gardyn waters the plants, the yPods fill with nutrient-infused water, and the plants' roots grow right into the water.
Once a month, the base needs to be emptied and scrubbed. Every few weeks, the roots need to be checked for root rot and growth outside the yPod, examined for whether it's time to prune, and/or tucked back in if they've wandered too far. This maintenance is admittedly a bit laborious, and if you do not do it consistently, you will be very sorry when it's time to clean the Gardyn and prepare it for its next planting. (Ask me how I know!)
I now have two Gardyns, a Home 4 and a Studio 2, which features an upgraded camera and columns. Aside from some funky yCubes (which the company will replace upon request), I have no major complaints about the system. Though I will note that the plants in the Studio have been overall less lush due to the Studio's having one light bar rather than two, which is why my primary recommendations remains the Home. I also like that Gardyn offers a Vacation Mode, which adjusts the lighting and watering to slow growth and minimize maintenance tasks while you're away.
NOTE: On February 24, 2026, and April 2, 2026, the US Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) released advisories regarding vulnerabilities in Gardyn Home and Studio devices. These security weaknesses could have allowed someone to take remote control of a Gardyn device, access plant photos, and obtain personal information such as names, addresses, phone numbers, and email addresses. Gardyn claims these vulnerabilities have been remediated with the most recent firmware update, and advises customers to ensure their Gardyns are internet-connected and running firmware version 619 or later. If you think your device may have been compromised, email [email protected] or call 844-4-GARDYN. For more information, see Gardyn's Security update for Gardyn Home and Gardyn Studio.
Light Cycle14 to 16 hoursPump Cycle5 minutes, 3 times a day (varies with Kelby)Spots for Plants16 (Studio) or 30 (Home)Nutrients Included7-inch-tall bottle of 7-3-11 plant food (plenty for one cycle)Plants to Choose From100+Maintenance Needs(Varies with Kelby.) Clean tank and replace water with new nutrients every four weeks, check and reroute roots every three or so weeks, top off tank with water and nutrients as needed.Ease of Resetting After Each Planting (Out of 10)2/10 (each column section and yPod will need to be scrubbed; if you fail to check and reroute roots every two weeks, this could lower to a 1/10)Can You Grow Your Own?Yes; Gardyn sells yCubes for your own seeds for $5 each. (Or you can just get creative.)DimensionsApprox. 24" H x 16" W x 7" DPower Consumption40 wattsWarranty2 yearsHow was test unit obtained?Press sample from companyWhere is it now?Still in long-term testingWIRED/TIREDAccordionItemContainerButtonLargeChevronWIRED
- Foolproof even if you don't have a green thumb, especially with the subscription
- Lights mounted on the front allow for unlimited plant height
- Rockwool growing medium prevents fungus gnats and other pests
- Gardyn offers a huge variety of seeds
- Has vacation mode
TIRED
- Requires a subscription to access all features
- Difficult to clean and reset in between “seasons”
- Maintenance can be finicky
A Garden That's Also a Statement Piece
- Photograph: Kat Merck
- Photograph: Kat Merck
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Lettuce Grow
Farmstand
$1,123
Lettuce Grow (Indoor, Medium)
$574
Lettuce Grow (Outdoor, Small)
$973
Lettuce Grow (Indoor, Small)
$574
Lettuce Grow (Original)
I was not aware until I opened the box that Zooey Deschanel and her ex-husband, Jacob Pechenik, founded Lettuce Grow. Despite their divorce, they continue to work together promoting it. Lettuce Grow's Farmstand is certainly a unique structure, with a bulbous, water-filled base topped by tiers set between rings of full-spectrum LED lights. The whole setup looks not unlike an old-school strawberry planter redesigned as a set piece for 2001: A Space Odyssey. There are models for indoor and outdoor use (the latter is the same, just sans the light rings).
I found the Farmstand to be on the easy end to assemble and set up; everything snaps and clicks together intuitively. It's also very modular. Though Lettuce Grow recommends no more than six levels for stability, if you buy a Small Farmstand (18) and decide later on that you want to make it a Medium (24) or a Large (36 plants), you can buy extra levels and light rings that snap on in less than a minute.
The biggest issue I had with the Farmstand is that, at the outset, the company sends grown seedlings (each Farmstand comes with credits for users to pick the plants they want), which is helpful in terms of success. But in my case, this resulted in a massive whitefly and aphid outbreak. A search through Lettuce Grow's Farmstand Community Facebook group revealed pest-infested seedlings to be an extremely common issue. Because the water cascades down over plant roots instead of the plant cups having constant contact, the Lettuce Grow is best with seedlings. So for my second grow, I used bare-root strawberries I bought from a different vendor. However, these too eventually became infested with aphids and spider mites. (For my third grow, I plan to grow my own seedlings.)
It's also worth noting that the 20-gallon reservoir renders the unit immobile once it's full, making it difficult to empty and refill. Lettuce Grow sells a dolly for $60, but I wish it were included. I also highly recommend using a smart plug to control the timing for the lights and pump. Lettuce Grow sells its own for $25, but it disconnected daily from the Lettuce Grow app in my testing. I didn't find much to like about the Farmstand app, so I used a different, Amazon Alexa–compatible option.
Light CycleCustomizable, 14 to 17 hours recommendedPump CycleCustomizable, 15 minutes every hour recommendedSpots for Plants18 to 36, depending on modelNutrients IncludedTwo 1-pound bags of Jack’s plant food: 5-12-26 and 15-0-0.Plants to Choose From100+Maintenance NeedsTop off tank and check/rebalance pH once a week.Ease of Resetting After Each Planting (Out of 10)4/10 (roots all grow into the center, so you'll only need to clean the rings where the pods are, though getting the water out of the indoor model is a challenge without a hose, and refilling takes forever)Can You Grow Your Own?No option offered by Lettuce Grow, but I used foam cloning collars to hold the bare-root strawberries on my second growDimensions22''-diameter base X 62'' H (requires 4 sq ft)Power Consumption96 wattsWarranty3 yearsHow was test unit obtained?Press sample from companyWhere is it now?In quarantine after a spider mite infestation; awaiting continuation of long-term testingWIRED/TIREDAccordionItemContainerButtonLargeChevronWIRED
- Unique space-age vibe
- Roots grow into the center, so it's easy to clean
- Maintenance is relatively simple
TIRED
- Lettuce Grow's proprietary seedlings could introduce pests
- Twenty-gallon water reservoir makes it difficult to move and empty
- No vacation mode

Best for Beginners
- Photograph: Kat Merck
- Photograph: Kat Merck
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AeroGarden
Bounty
$180
Amazon (Basic)
$275
Scotts Miracle-Gro (Elite)
AeroGarden and I go way back. I’ve had multiple AeroGardens since the brand’s inception in 2006, which is why I was sad when the company announced it was going out of business in late 2024. But now it’s back with a spiffed-up line of systems, including the flagship Bounty. It comes in two iterations: the Bounty Elite (pictured) with Vacation Mode, 50-watt lights, a color touchscreen, and slick sunrise/sunset lighting; and the Bounty Basic, with 30-watt lights and none of the other features. Both systems hold nine plants, have telescoping stems for the lights, and come with a removable, cage-like trellis that can support and corral wayward herbs or vegetables.
The general form factor is the same as the OG tabletop gardens, but now with the ability to see the water level on the screen (the Basic has one, but it’s not color or touchscreen), as well as more efficient lights, quieter pumps, and the ability to adjust light intensity and set a schedule. The pump runs about every half-hour and is not noticeably audible unless the water level is at 50 percent or less, at which point the garden sounds like a pet drinking water. ("Is that your cat?" a friend asked after a couple of hours of sitting near the unit when it was low on water.) Lights stay on about 16 hours, and you can choose which hours in AeroGarden's app. (The app is handy but not necessary—I abandoned it after about a week of it repeatedly “forgetting” my garden.) The Elite also has Vacation Mode, which is rare for these tabletop gardens and a critical feature if you're frequently away from home.
Each AeroGarden comes with a set of branded sponge-and-basket pods preloaded with herb seeds. My press tester also came with the Salsa Garden kit, which consisted of six tomato pods and three jalapeños. The tomato plants are hardy, healthy, and ready to flower, but because they germinated first, they've overtaken the poor jalapeños, which are anemic-looking and barely visible beneath the tomato leaves. A variety of AeroGarden refill kits are available, but I can tell you the AeroGarden baskets take the same generic refill sponges I recommend for the LetPot below, so do what you will with that information.
Light CycleCustomizable, but 15 to 17 hours recommendedPump Cycle5-ish minutes every 30 minutesSpots for Plants40Nutrients IncludedOne 3-ounce bottle of liquid MiracleGroPlants to Choose From14 sets, but can be DIY'dMaintenance NeedsWater and nutrient refills when indicatedEase of Resetting After Each Planting (Out of 10)7/10 (just remove the pods and clean the holes, top, and reservoir)Can You Grow Your Own?YesDimensions (Elite)17'' x 11'' base, light telescopes from 14'' to 34''Power Consumption (Elite)40–50 wattsWarranty1 yearHow was test unit obtained?Press sample from companyWhere is it now?Office storageWIRED/TIREDAccordionItemContainerButtonLargeChevronWIRED
- App not required due to screens and buttons on the front
- Bounty Elite has Vacation Mode
TIRED
- App isn't the most reliable
- Pump noise can be loud if water is low
Best for Growing Microgreens
Photograph: Kat MerckSave to wishlistSave to wishlist
InstaFarm
Automated Indoor Microgreens Garden
$499
Amazon (Instafarm)
$23
Amazon (Seed Tray Sampler)
$449
Instafarm
Microgreens are a bona fide health powerhouse, and I've found there's no easier or more successful way to grow them than the InstaFarm. This unit arrives completely assembled—just open the box, plug it in, and fill the water reservoir. You will need to use InstaFarm's proprietary compostable trays, which come pre-filled with soil and organic microgreens seeds, with nutritional information printed on the lid. InstaFarm president Philip Hartman says this garden intentionally uses soil rather than hydroponics because it's easier to control the variables.
"Hydroponics is very much dependent upon the pH of the water, so depending upon the water used, you will have varying germination and growth results, which can be frustrating," he says. The InstaFarm is blessedly frustration-free. A nozzle moves along the three levels every 90 minutes, sensing the plant height, humidity, and temperature, and dispensing an appropriate spray of water. It will also sense when there is no tray, so you can add as many or as few trays as you'd like.
And unless you're eating copious amounts of microgreens each day, I'd recommend starting with just a few trays—they grow a lot of microgreens, and fast. I had more than I knew what to do with in about five days. In my monthlong test of the InstaFarm, the only issue or hassle I had was finding a place for it when I found it did not fit under my kitchen counter, and when the sensor seemed confused by a tray of red beet greens (but only the red beet greens) and consistently overwatered, overflowing the tray. Other than refilling the water reservoir, which easily clicks in and out of place with a magnet, maintenance has been nearly zero.
Trays come in packs of nine for $22, and are available for purchase individually or as a subscription, which knocks $2 off the price. (You can also get a discount on the InstaFarm itself if you lock into a monthly tray subscription.) Individual cultivars are available, as well as blends for smoothies, salads, hormonal balance, and more. You can also buy just-dirt trays to grow your own greens or garden starts.
Light Cycle24/7; or night mode button turns lights off for 10 hoursPump Cycle90 minutesSpots for Plants9Nutrients IncludedNone neededPlants to Choose From12+Maintenance NeedsRefill water tankEase of Resetting After Each Planting (Out of 10)10/10 (just remove the tray and place a new tray; no cleaning needed)Can You Grow Your Own?Yes, with InstaFarm's soil-only traysDimensions17.5" W x 6.1" D x 17.5" HPower Consumption12.5 wattsWarranty60How was test unit obtained?Press sample from companyWhere is it now?Finishing testingWIRED/TIREDAccordionItemContainerButtonLargeChevronWIRED
- Arrives fully assembled
- Extremely easy to use
TIRED
- Only uses proprietary trays

Best Budget Option
Photograph: Kat MerckSave to wishlistSave to wishlist
LetPot
LPH-SE Senior Hydroponic Growing System
$200 $96 (52% off)
Amazon
$120
LetPot
A bounty of AeroGarden dupes litter the “hydroponic garden” search pages on Amazon, having gathered momentum after AeroGarden went out of business in late 2024, but LetPot is the best established. Instead of AeroGarden's max-size nine-pod Bounty models, LetPot's LPH-SE “Senior” features 12 holes for pods. You can grow whatever you want, though the top-mounted light will ultimately be limiting at 16 inches for tomatoes, peppers, or other fruiting plants. I used a packet of rainbow chard seeds, also from Amazon, and had immediate and sustained success. (As of the time of this writing, this same chard has been producing in the LetPot for almost eight months.) Even though the Senior is LetPot's second-largest model—the “Max” has 21 pod slots—I like that it's still about the size of a breadbox. In fact, I keep it right on my dining room table so it's easy to snip off a small bowl of baby chard for salads. (It would also be great for starting seedlings for other gardens, like the Lettuce Grow, above.)
To start, fill the 5.5-liter reservoir with water and add 15 milliliters of each of the included nutrients, which come dehydrated but reconstitute to 100 milliliters—enough for six or so water fills. A water-level gauge on the top sticks up like a thermometer and is easy to view from across the room. There is an accompanying app in which you can set the 16-hour window you want for the 24-watt lights, but this feature did not work with my test model, despite my syncing and resetting it multiple times. I ended up having to turn the whole system off when I went to bed and on when I woke up, which admittedly wasn't ideal. However, this was the only issue I've had so far in the six or so months I've been testing the LetPot, which is otherwise exceedingly easy to use and maintain.
The LetPot comes with a pack of plastic inserts, peat plugs, and germination stickers, but they're not proprietary—many vendors offer the same kind for as little as 5 cents each. This, combined with the LetPot's already low price, makes this garden one of the few that is likely to pay for itself in a reasonable amount of time.
Light Cycle16 hours (customizable in app)Pump CycleEvery 30 minutes when system is onSpots for Plants12Nutrients IncludedTwo bottles of “A” and “B” plant nutrients; each reconstitutes to 100 ml eachPlants to Choose FromExclusively grow your ownMaintenance NeedsRefill water and nutrients when neededEase of Resetting After Each Planting (Out of 10)7/10 (just remove the pods and clean the holes, top, and reservoir)Can You Grow Your Own?YesDimensionsApprox. 16'' x 7'' x 9.8''Power Consumption0.424 kilowatt-hour/dayWarranty1 yearHow was test unit obtained?Press sample from companyWhere is it now?Still in long-term testingWIRED/TIREDAccordionItemContainerButtonLargeChevronWIRED
- Easy to clean and maintain
- Pod refills are inexpensive and easy to find
- You can grow whatever you want
TIRED
- App is unreliable
- Light height is limiting for fruiting plants
Best for Growing Herbs Only
- Photograph: Kat Merck
- Photograph: Kat Merck
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Auk
Mini
$259
Auk (Oak)
$284
Auk (Walnut)
$259
Auk (Cork)
The Auk Mini is one of the best-looking tabletop hydroponic gardens, available in three wood finishes (cork, walnut, or oak) and featuring a contemporary Nordic flair. Setup and operation are about as simple as it gets. Just plant whatever you'd like in the four pots (which are designed to work with provided coco coir), fill the reservoir, add pumps of the provided nutrients, and plug it in. The lights will be on for the next 17.5 hours while the coco coir absorbs the enriched water through slots in the pot bottoms. Sprouting took just days, and I had fully harvestable cilantro, parsley, and basil—enough for pesto, even—within a few weeks. In fact, it's been almost three months since I first set up the Mini, and I am still harvesting these same herbs. They look worse for wear at this point, with floppy, dead stems and leggy parsley sprigs stretching every which way, detracting from the aesthetic, but I share some of the blame for not keeping up on my harvests.
Unlike other systems, the Auk requires no pH tests, pumps, tubing, or timers, and no futzing with an app. The only downside is the price compared to similar-sized tabletop systems like the LetPot (above), which have more plant slots, as well as the limitations of the light bar height. There is a light program for tomatoes and peppers (tap the button three times to activate), and Auk sells seeds for these, but in my experience, fruiting plants like these will grow well past a 17-inch light bar before they have a chance to flower. So it's probably best to stick to herbs only.
Note: Auk just launched its Auk Mini 2 planter $199, a smart version of the Auk Mini with five color options, including terra cotta and sage. It's available for pre-order and ships mid-June.
Light Cycle17.5 hoursPump CycleNo pumpSpots for Plants4Nutrients Included2 bottles, or 6 months' worthPlants to Choose FromAny: Comes with basil and parsley, but Auk offers most popular herbs, as well as seeds for lettuce, cucumbers, tomatoes, and peppersMaintenance NeedsRefill tank w/water and nutrients whenever the dial is on the red dotEase of Resetting After Each Planting (Out of 10)8/10 (just dump out pots, take apart, clean, and refill)Can You Grow Your Own?YesDimensions17.5'' x 8.5'' x 14.5''Power ConsumptionApprox. 9 watts/dayWarranty100 daysHow was test unit obtained?Press sample from companyWhere is it now?In office storageWIRED/TIREDAccordionItemContainerButtonLargeChevronWIRED
- Stylish Nordic design
- Easy to maintain and clean
- Grow whatever you want
TIRED
- Not ideal for fruiting plants
- Out-of-control herbs will detract from the planter's stylish design
- No Vacation Mode

Best for Growing Garden Starts
- Photograph: Kat Merck
- Photograph: Kat Merck
- Screenshot: Kat Merck
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LetPot
SS-Pro Smart Seed Starter Kit
$88
Amazon
$120
LetPot
There are many options for grow-light-enabled seed starters on the market, but LetPot's SS-Pro has more features than most and has done well in my testing. It's got a broad (12 x 7 inch) 24-watt light on top to prevent legginess, 40 spaces in the tray for seeds, a sensor for soil temperature and EC (electrical conductivity, which measures dissolved solids—essentially, the amount of nutrients in your soil available to the plants), and a 24-watt heating pad underneath. A plastic lid with adjustable vents on either end sits on top. I tried the system with onion, carrot, and parsnip seeds (note that you will need to provide your own seeds and dirt/substrate), and while the germination rate was more like 70 percent, not 99 percent per LetPot's claims, it was pretty good given the admittedly questionable age and provenance of the seeds.
The SS Pro connects to LetPot's app and can recommend a temperature range and light duration based on what you're growing, maintaining the light schedule and heating pad thermostat accordingly. This isn't required, though, as most of the functions can be adjusted via buttons and a screen on the front, which displays the soil temperature and EC level, as well as days since germination. The power adapter makes a high-pitched sound when the lights are on, the EC sensor only works intermittently, and auto-mode erases whenever it's unplugged, but given how new this system is, bugs are to be expected. If you grow your own starts from seed each year, it's still an option worth considering.
Light Cycle16 hours recommended (customizable)Pump CycleNo pumpSpots for Plants40Nutrients IncludedNonePlants to Choose FromAnyMaintenance NeedsOpen and close vents when needed, fill/refill with water when neededEase of Resetting After Each Planting (Out of 10)8/10 (just remove the seedlings, take apart, clean, and refill)Can You Grow Your Own?YesDimensions9'' x 14''Power Consumption48 watts when light and heating pad are onWarranty1 yearHow was test unit obtained?Press sample from companyWhere is it now?In office storageWIRED/TIREDAccordionItemContainerButtonLargeChevronWIRED
- Light and heat schedules take guesswork out of the equation
- Screen displays the temperature, EC level, and days since germination
- Successfully germinated even old and questionable seeds
TIRED
- Doesn't come with dirt or seeds
- EC and temperature sensor can be buggy
- Power adapter makes a high-pitched noise
Best for Large Harvests
- Photograph: Kat Merck
- Photograph: Kat Merck
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Rise
Rise Garden 3
$1,499
Rise (3-level, up to 108 plants)
$1,199
Rise (2-level, up to 72 plants)
$899
Rise (1-level, up to 36 plants)
There are multiple sizes of the Rise 3 garden, but all of them follow the same design playbook: A metal frame with a cabinet hiding a water tank, multiple levels of shallow reservoirs, and an LED-light “roof" above each level. I tested the three-level version; each level's reservoir had a lid with varied numbers of pod slots adding up to 48 for the whole system, but you can buy lids with more slots to allow your garden to hold up to 108 plants. The water is pumped from the tank in the bottom cabinet and flows through each level's reservoir. The plant roots just spread out inside the reservoir.
The Rise has far and away the biggest capacity of any non-DIY indoor garden I’ve seen and would be more than enough to keep a large family in nightly salads for months. Overall, it's a pretty traditional form factor—in fact, I'm pretty sure I saw one of these in the corner of my college biology class. Since it's so large, assembly was a bit tricky, and vague instructions weren't helpful. However, Rise does come with a smart plug for the lights and pump, as well as an app that offers reminders on when and how to add water and nutrients and balance the pH.
Unfortunately, I didn't find out until after I had already set it up that the peat pods need to germinate first in plastic-lidded “nurseries.” My test unit didn't come with enough nurseries for the number of seed pods I had, so I had to improvise with shallow plastic containers, with the pods weighted to keep them upright in water. After a few days, I noticed the containers—all of them, including the provided nurseries—had begun to grow algae, and the black-plastic surface of the Rise trays was noticeably warm. I brought out my infrared temperature gun to test—the 195-watt LEDs paired with the black plastic had brought the surface up to 95 degrees Fahrenheit. For reference, all of the other indoor gardening systems were room temperature, in the mid-70s.
Once the plants were grown, the temperature came down to something warmer than “normal” but more reasonable: 83 degrees Fahrenheit. Still, this is something to consider in terms of room placement and what plants might thrive. Over time, I noticed herbs and lettuce bolted faster in the Rise 3 than in other gardens, likely due to this heat, which also puts plants at risk for cases of root rot. I'm still a big fan of the Rise's form factor and its capacity, and I think it would be a first choice for heat-tolerant crops like tomatoes and peppers. In fact, the tomatoes I did grow in the Rise were notably bigger and better tasting than the ones grown in other systems. Also note that, unlike other gardens, the Rise 3's pump runs continuously, resulting in an audible splashing noise—if this bothers you, it may not be the best choice for small spaces.
Light Cycle16 hoursPump CycleContinuousSpots for Plants36 to 108Nutrients Included1 bottle pH balance solution and 1-ounce sample bag of Sprout, enough for one application. You will need to purchase nutrients.Plants to Choose From100+Maintenance NeedsTop off water reservoir once a week, check/rebalance pH once a week.Ease of Resetting After Each Planting (Out of 10)2/10 (even after draining, each level will still have some water in its reservoir that's difficult to remove, and roots have a tendency to grow down the tubes to the next level)Can You Grow Your Own?Yes; rise offers pouches of seedless pods; 12 for $13.DimensionsApprox. 65" H x 36" W x 16" DPower Consumption195 watts (for 3-level)Warranty3 yearsHow was test unit obtained?Press sample from companyWhere is it now?Donated locally via Buy NothingWIRED/TIREDAccordionItemContainerButtonLargeChevronWIRED
- Possible to grow a huge variety and volume of plants
- Despite the height limit imposed by the roof, tomatoes and peppers had sizable harvests and tasted great
TIRED
- Lights can run hot
- Continuous pump is noisy

Like Nespresso, but for Plants
- Photograph: Kat Merck
- Photograph: Kat Merck
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Click & Grow
Smart Garden
$250
Click & Grow (Smart Garden 9)
$125
Amazon (Smart Garden 3)
$125
Click & Grow (Smart Garden 3)
Click & Grow Smart Garden's seed pods come in a Nespresso-evoking plastic three-pack with a tear-off cover. (Pods run about $3 to $5 each.) Put a nutrient-packed “smart soil” seed pod in one of the Click & Grow’s cups with the wicking bottom, fill the reservoir, and that’s it. In what was one of the most simple watering systems I tried, a wick at the bottom of the cup will bring water up to the pods, and the roots stay in the cups. Plug it in, and the LED grow lights will stay on for the next 16 hours. No fuss, no mess.
I tested the Smart Garden 9 with three pods each of lettuce, basil, and tomato plants. Overall, there are about 75 pods to choose from, including herbs, flowers, leafy greens like arugula, and vegetables. There is a Smart Garden Pro that connects to Wi-Fi and has app control, but despite the “smart” in the name, this is not that—there's no app needed or required for the non-Pro version.
All in all, this garden was refreshingly low-maintenance. A little bobber on one end tells you when the water level is low and needs a top-off simply by floating lower than the growing surface. That’s it. No adding nutrients or checking pH or worrying about pumps. It's also small, so you can plop it on a shelf or countertop.
At the same time, this was also one of the slowest-growing gardens I tested. I had it set up the same week as my first grow in the Gardyn Home, and had already been harvesting months’ worth of greens and vegetables by the time I got one Click & Grow lettuce leaf. One of my lettuce pods didn’t even sprout at all. After two months, I had harvested a handful of basil and lettuce leaves (literally, one handful), and the cherry tomatoes had grown past the lights without making a single flower. Meanwhile, the Lettuce Grow, which was started after the Click & Grow, had at least 15 visible tomatoes by that time. Still, this isn't a terrible option for busy people who are interested in growing something like flowers, where yields aren't a concern.
Light Cycle16 hoursPump CycleNo pumpSpots for Plants3 to 9 (for Smart Garden)Nutrients IncludedAlready in the pods; no applications necessaryPlants to Choose From75+Maintenance NeedsTop off reservoir as neededEase of Resetting After Each Planting (Out of 10)9/10 (just dump out water and dispose of cups; roots grow fully inside the cups)Can You Grow Your Own Plants?Yes; Click & Grow offers “Grow Anything” pods for $2 to $3 each.DimensionsApprox. 24" W x 16" H x 7" DPower Consumption13 wattsWarranty1 yearHow was test unit obtained?Press sample from companyWhere is it now?Office storageWIRED/TIREDAccordionItemContainerButtonLargeChevronWIRED
- No pH tests, pump maintenance, or nutrients needed
- Very easy to clean and reset
TIRED
- Growth rate is unimpressive
Most Giftable
- Photograph: Kat Merck
- Photograph: Kat Merck
- Photograph: Kat Merck
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AeroGarden
Harvest Lite
$98
Amazon
$100
Scotts Miracle-Gro
This six-pod little countertop buddy is about as simple as it gets. No app needed—all functions can be controlled by pushing or holding a single embossed AeroGarden logo on the top. (Once for on or off, five seconds for changing the time of day when the light comes on, etc.) If you know someone who's hydroponic-curious but intimidated by apps and pH testing and the thought of daunting maintenance, consider this system, which is regularly on sale for under $100 and makes a great gift. Just make sure you include some sponges and baskets—generic ones are usually available for under $20—as this garden does not come with any.
The 15-watt, top-mounted light can expand up to 12 inches, and the pump, which comes on every half hour or so, is nearly inaudible. Like all AeroGarden models, maintenance is limited to just refilling the water and adding nutrients—a light will flash on the top every two weeks as a reminder.
My test unit came in the Amazon-exclusive Cherry Red (it also comes in Green, Black, Cream, Charcoal, and Amazon-exclusive Mocha), along with a pack of AeroGarden tomato pods, though as noted above, those aren't typically included. The tomatoes were extremely successful, producing an impressive amount, given the garden's size. As I mentioned with the Bounty models above, a variety of AeroGarden pod refill kits are available.
Note that some Amazon reviews mention a faulty light and pump, but my test unit has been through two successful grows now with no issues.
Light Cycle15 to 16 hoursPump Cycle5 minutes every 30 minutes or soSpots for Plants6Nutrients IncludedOne 3-ounce bottle of liquid MiracleGroPlants to Choose From14 sets, but can be DIY'dMaintenance NeedsWater and nutrient refills when indicatedEase of Resetting After Each Planting (Out of 10)7/10 (just remove the pods and clean the holes, top, and reservoir)Can You Grow Your Own?YesDimensions6'' x 9'' basePower ConsumptionAbout 15 wattsWarranty1 yearHow was test unit obtained?Press sample from companyWhere is it now?Still in long-term testingWIRED/TIREDAccordionItemContainerButtonLargeChevronWIRED
- Functions only require one button
- Comes in six colors
- Quiet pump operation
TIRED
- Only six spaces for plants

Most Decorative
Photograph: Kat MerckSave to wishlistSave to wishlist
Lettuce Grow
Counterstand Set
$149
Lettuce Grow (With Lamp)
$99
Lettuce Grow (No Lamp)
$149
Amazon
New from the makers of the flashy Lettuce Grow Farmstand, above, this simple, no-pump setup consists of three amber beakers that look straight out of a high school chemistry lab, plus an optional 18-inch LED lamp that runs on a 16- or 18-hour timer. It relies on the Kratky method of hydroponics, invented by horticulturist Dr. Bernard Kratky, where the plant sits in a cup above a nutrient-enriched water source. In the Counterstand's case, a wick draws water up to the seedling until its roots can grow into the water.
You can buy the Counterstand Set without the light, if you can ensure six to eight hours of daily direct sunlight. Note that while Lettuce Grow touts the Counterstand Set as being able to fit under a countertop, it may not be able to do so with the 18-inch lamp. Mine was not. Included with your order are three credits for live seedlings of your choice. My test unit is growing parsley, basil, and butter lettuce. The yields are small, as is typical with most Kratky systems—I'm averaging a handful of leaves total a week. But this is more of a cool living decor piece than a high-functioning garden, and makes a great gift for someone who loves herbs and gardening but doesn't want to commit to a full pump setup.
Light Cycle16 or 18 hoursPump CycleNo pumpSpots for Plants3Nutrients IncludedTwo 1-ounce dropper bottles of liquid plant foodPlants to Choose From24Maintenance NeedsRefill beakers with water and 3 half-droppers of nutrients when half-emptyEase of Resetting After Each Planting (Out of 10)8/10 (just remove the seedlings and wash the beakers)Can You Grow Your Own?YesDimensionsBeaker: 4.25“ D x 6.5” H; LED lamp: 18'' HPower Consumption7 wattsWarranty90 days (1 year for the light)How was test unit obtained?Press sample from companyWhere is it now?In long-term testingWIRED/TIREDAccordionItemContainerButtonLargeChevronWIRED
- Doubles as a design piece
TIRED
- Doesn't produce voluminous yields
- May not fit under countertops
Best for Growing Mushrooms
- Photograph: Kat Merck
- Photograph: Kat Merck
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North Spore
Boomr Bin Automated Mushroom Monotub
$175
Amazon (Spore Version)
$165 $150 (9% off)
North Spore
If you're looking to get in on the functional mushroom trend, or just like to eat and learn about fungi, this is an easy, out-of-the-box way to start your own indoor mushroom-farming operation. In the vein of the other hydroponic gardening systems, this setup isn't for those who already know how to build a monotub/fruiting chamber with spare parts from the hardware store. However, if you've never grown mushrooms indoors before, especially harder-to-cultivate varieties like enoki or shiitake, the Boomr Bin takes out some of the guesswork. And yes, I did say “some,” as it doesn't come with paper instructions for the whole setup, just the mechanical components. There's a tub with a lid, filters, a hygrometer, a humidifier, and a fan to maintain airflow. Luckily, North Spore has a well-curated YouTube channel detailing just about anything you'd need to know, including setting up the bin (with substrate) and prepping fruiting blocks.
I've run the Boomr Bin through several harvests now, each with fruiting blocks (North Spore sells them, but you can use any brands’). In a little over one week, I had more oyster mushrooms and lion's mane than I knew what to do with, and to my surprise, the blocks continued to fruit over and over and over again—friends and neighbors began avoiding me on the street or the grocery store, lest I stick them with another bag of fungus. The only periodic maintenance I performed on the Boomr Bin was making sure the humidifier didn't have a water plug blocking the fog, and that it hadn't run empty, though I only had to refill once a month or so. Note that water plugs can be avoided entirely by placing the humidifier below the bin.
Another pro tip: If you'd rather not deal with an automated setup, North Spore sells individual-block spray-and-grow kits ($30) that are also quite prolific, though the mushrooms will not be as large or as plentiful as in the bin.
Light CycleNone neededPump CycleIncluded humidistat keeps humidity at 80 to 85 percentSpots for PlantsHolds up to 25 pounds of substrate or three fruiting blocksNutrients IncludedNone neededPlants to Choose FromAnyMaintenance NeedsMake sure humidifier is clear and full, turn up or down fan if needed, clean betweenEase of Resetting After Each Planting (Out of 10)7/10 (just disassemble, wash, and sanitize, though the filters that stick on the sides may eventually discolor and need to be replaced)Can You Grow Your Own?YesDimensions22” W x 15” D x 11” HPower ConsumptionUses a small computer-type fan, humidifier, and humidity controllerWarrantyNoneHow was test unit obtained?Press sample from companyWhere is it now?Office storageWIRED/TIREDAccordionItemContainerButtonLargeChevronWIRED
- Bountiful harvests
- Easy to maintain
TIRED
- No paper instructions, and there's a learning curve with setting up

Interesting but Not Recommended
- Photograph: Lisa Wood Shapiro
- Photograph: Lisa Wood Shapiro
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Plantaform
Smart Indoor Garden
$750
Plantaform
Plantaform is “the world's first smart indoor garden that uses fog to grow plants,” according to the company's press release, and it has definitely garnered attention, winning an Innovation Award at 2025's CES. The “fogponics" technology, ostensibly building on NASA-developed aeroponics, delivers water and nutrients to plants' roots via an ultrafine mist.
We were certainly captivated by the futuristic look of the egg-shaped planter, but contributor Lisa Wood Shapiro tested it to grow lettuce (read the full review here) and found that you can't combine different types of plants (i.e., you can only grow lettuce at one time, or tomatoes, or herbs) and the machine also degraded her indoor air quality, as tested with an air quality monitor. Users are to add an included fertilizer mix to the water, with the resulting concoction being what's aerosolized in the container. Which, as Wood Shapiro found, was not airtight. She suggested the Plantaform's use in a basement or other space where air quality wasn't as much of a concern, but it's probably best to hold off on this one until Plantaform can work out some more kinks.
Light Cycle14 hoursPump Cycle15 minutes on, 45 minutes offSpots for Plants15Nutrients Included6-month supply of 10-7-20 plant foodPlants to Choose From6 plant mixesMaintenance NeedsRefill tank w/nutrients every 2-3 weeksCan You Grow Your Own?NoDimensionsApprox. 24" H x 24" W x 24" DPower Consumption60 wattsWarranty2 yearsHow was test unit obtained?Press sample from companyWhere is it now?Donated locallyWIRED/TIREDAccordionItemContainerButtonLargeChevronWIRED
- Fascinating design
TIRED
- Degrades your home indoor air quality

Honorable Mention

Image may contain Herbal Herbs Plant and Potted Plant

Pictured: one EZ Microgreens Planter. (The set includes two.)

Photograph: Kat Merck

Vego EZ Microgreens Planter (2-pack) for $60: This system for growing nutrient-packed microgreens for salads, smoothies, and sandwiches isn't smart, but it is nifty enough to warrant a mention. Just fill each half-gallon reservoir (made of food-safe plastic) with water and cover it with the optional humidity dome. From there, bamboo-fiber capillary grow mats on top will absorb water to germinate your microgreen seeds (not included). Set near a sunny window, use a grow light, or add on Vego's 10 x 20 dome with a grow light built into it ($100), which is made to fit over both planters. I placed my planters on a Ferry-Morse pop-up plant stand with a grow light from LetPot and had consistent success across multiple grows.