Hydroponics System Reviews 

AeroGarden Ultra (LED) w/ Herb Seed Pod Kit

If you are looking to dip your toes in the waters of hydroponics, consider purchasing a Miracle-Gro AeroGarden system.  AeroGarden kits allow you to garden indoors and all year round. All models feature proprietary technology which makes indoor gardening intuitive and fun. If you are searching for a care-free introductory into the world of hydroponic gardening, look no further than Miracle-Gro AeroGardens.

AeroGarden kits come packaged with their own brand of pre-seeded pods to start you off. These Pod Seed Kits are a bit pricey to buy on their own, but they make growing herbs, vegetables, and perennials a breeze. To save money, simply buy seeds or seedlings at your local garden center and grow them in your AeroGarden.

Although there are several different AeroGarden models, our favorite is the AeroGarden Ultra (LED) because it provides quality features at a reasonable price. This set-up can grow 7 plants at once and benefits from a built-in 30-watt full spectrum LED light for abundant harvests and a rapid growth rate. The interactive and fully-automated LCD screen control panel reminds you when to add water and nutrients, gives you helpful growing tips, and automatically turns on/off the LED light at the proper times. It’s easy to have a green thumb when this amazing little hydroponic system does practically everything for you!

Miracle-Gro’s AeroGarden kits are perfect for everyone – kids, classrooms, apartment dwellers, or just folks who want a stress-free gateway into the world of hydroponic gardening.

AutoPot Systems Gravity-Fed Watering System

Like the AeroGarden Ultra LED, the AutoPot 4-Pot System is another easy hydroponics kit for beginners. It’s a unique watering system because it requires no electricity, pumps, or timers to operate – just valves (included) and gravity.  Despite its simplicity, the system is still extremely versatile and highly effective at growing healthy and robust plants.

How does it work? Once you fill the reservoir with nutrient solution, the system’s AQUAvalves will automatically feed your plants with the optimal level of a nutrient solution. With just a minimal amount of monitoring, all that’s left for you to do is sit back and watch your plants grow! Note: If 4 grow sites isn’t enough for your gardening ambitions, you can extend your AutoPot system with additional pots (linking to the single reservoir).

General Hydroponics Rainforest 66

The Rainforest 66 is a six-site (w/ 6″ inserts) aeroponics system. The Vortex Sprayer mists bare cuttings or roots to provide an ultra-humid, super-oxygenated, and constant nutrient solution to the root zone. If you want to grow medium to large size plants using aeroponics, the RainForest 66 is your best option.

The kit includes:

• 17-Gallon Reservoir with Lid
• Six 6 inch Lid inserts
• Vortex Sprayer
• 6 inch Grow Cups
• 3-Part Flora Kit

General Hydroponics Rainforest 236 

The Rainforest 236 is General Hydroponics’ 32-site (w/ 2″ inserts) aeroponics system. Like other RainForest models, the Vortex Sprayer emits a super-oxygenated nutrient solution from the reservoir.  With enough room to grow up to 236 cuttings, this model is ideal for quick seed starting. We recommend the RainForest 236  for seeds, seedlings, and transplants.

This kit includes:

• 17-Gallon Reservoir with Lid
• Six 2″ Lid inserts
• Vortex Sprayer
• 2-inch Plastic Cups
• 3-Part Flora Kit (nutrients)

General Hydroponics RainForest 318

The RainForest 318 is eighteen site aeroponics systems with 3” inserts.  The General Hydroponics Vortex Sprayer mists and oxygenates the root zone with ease. This unit can be used to propagate up to 90 cuttings into 3″ rooted plants for transplantation into another hydroponics system or to grow up to 18 small plants from the cutting-stage all the way to the harvest-stage. Because of its dual-use capabilities, the RainForest 318 is the most adaptable RainForest model and works best for growing small plants.

The kit includes:

• 17-Gallon Reservoir with Lid
• Six 3″ Lid inserts
• Vortex Sprayer
• 3 inch Grow Cups
• 3-Part Flora Kit

DWC Bubbler Bucket Kit by PowerGrow Systems

PowerGrow Systems 4 Bucket DWC kit is an inexpensive and easy way to grow hydroponic marijuana or any other hydroponic plant. The Bubble Bucket kit can be set-up in no time, and the kit includes everything you need to start growing right away.

DWC bucket kits work by immersing the plant’s roots in an oxygen-infused and nutrient-rich reservoir (in this case, four 5-gallon FDA approved buckets). The Bubble Bucket kit allows you to start your plants small and grow 4 plants to full maturity. A high-power oxygen pump and 4 air stones are included.

The only downside to the Bubble Bucket Kit is that the pump it a bit noisy and grow media (and grow lights) are not included. Aside from that, this is an inexpensive DWC system, includes a 1-year warranty, is easy to operate, produces fast growing and high-quality plants, and has received very positive customer feedback.

Hydro West AquaBuckets DWC System

Hydro West’s AquaBuckets system does a great job of continually circulating an oxygen-rich nutrient solution, just as an efficient DWC system should. This continuous circulation (24 hrs/day) ensures plants roots get a healthy mix of nutrients, CF, and pH stabilization.

With the AquaBuckets Deep Water Culture hydroponics system, the grower is in total control.  You can move each cell up to 2 ft. in any direction, increase wattage and footprint as desired, and change water and nutrients with ease.

Hydro West’s kit includes everything you will need to get started and is compatible with 3’x3′, 4’x4’ and 5’x5′ grow tents. This is a simple and easy to operate hydroponics system for both beginners and expert hydroponic growers.

HTG Supply Bubble Brothers DWC Kit

HTG Supply’s Bubble Brothers kits include a larger commercial pump and quality air stones to ensure a highly oxygenated and well-dispersed nutrient solution. Like the AquaBuckets and Bubbler Bucket kits, the Bubble Brothers kit is another highly-rated bucket kit for simple Deep Water Culture hydroponics.

Setting the Bubble Brothers kit up is a sinch. All you really need to do is provide the plants, light, and nutrient solution, cut tubes to your desired length, then hook them to the air pump and air stones. Then fill the buckets with water, place your seedlings or plants in the grow medium-filled net pots, and you are ready to go! HTG Supply offers single bucket DWC kits, as well.

General Hydroponics WaterFarm Module

This classic, hugely popular “plug ‘n’ play” single bucket system is designed to a be a stand-alone drip system for plants of any size or variety –  mother plants, cannabis plants, perennials, veggies, etc. It’s easy to set up and highly versatile – it can be used indoors or outdoors and moved from one room to the next with relative ease. The unique square design allows you to pack modules close together to create high-density installations.

General Hydroponic’s WaterFarm kit includes an air pump, clay pebbles (grow media), and the nutrients to get you started. If you want to give the drip system a try, this may be the entry point you are looking for. It’s not the highest quality General Hydroponics system, but it is their best selling and most affordable.

General Hydroponics FarmController (8 Modules)

Looking for something bigger than the single module WaterFarm kit? Then consider the General Hydroponics FarmController. The systems connect eight WaterFarm module units to one General Hydroponics Controller- an integrated 13-gallon reservoir and an 8-gallon controller unit. The controller ensures that each module is topped off with the right amount of nutrients.

Note: No grow media is included (you will need about 70L of clay pebbles to fill each module).

The kit includes:

• 8-WaterFarm modules
• 8-gallon controller
• 13-gallon reservoir
• Blue tubing & fittings
• Air line & fittings
• Dual diaphragm air pump
• 3-part Flora Kit

General Hydroponics PowerGrower Eco

A step above the WaterFarm single module, General Hydroponics’ PowerGrower Eco is capable of growing small, medium, and large plants up to tomato, cucumber, and pepper size harvests. These modules are fully compatible with General Hydroponics controller systems and consists of an integrated reservoir below and a single growing chamber at the top. Group 7 together and the footprint is only 4 feet wide!

This is a great unit for large plants. Clay pebbles are included with this kit, as well as everything else you need to start growing right away. Highly recommended!

Note: General Hydroponics also offers an 8-unit PowerGrower Eco.

Viagrow Flood and Drain Kit

Viagrow’s 2′ x 4′ Complete Flood & Drain tray kit is a highly efficient hydroponics system. It has the capability of growing up to 10 plants in a limited (2′ x 4′) space. Because of the automated features, Viagrow’s Flood & Drain system delivers just the right amount of oxygen, water, and nutrient for rapid growth, increase nutrient, high yields, and better overall flavor and aroma of your plants. Sure, these units cost a lot, but the functionality really sets them apart. Nutrients (and grow lights) are not included, but everything else is. For a larger footprint, Viagrow also offers a 4’ x 4’ Ebb & Flow set-up.