Grow Freedom – Musings on Aerogarden-Type Setups

Grow How, What, and Where You Want.

We continually hear from customers who started their indoor gardening journey with an “all-in-1” system such as an AeroGarden, and have come to appreciate the freedom they have to grow more economically and abundantly when they unplug the all-in-1 and plug in a Happy Leaf LED grow light using any one of the methods we teach that are based on passive hydroponics. If you want to jump right in, head on over to our YouTube Channel ( Happy Leaf LED Grow Lights – YouTube) and get growing! We also wrote a book on the topic of growing food indoors, Grow Lettuce In Your Living Room.

We don’t want to discourage you from using your automatic grow system if you love it. We are not those folks. If your AeroGarden got you started on a path, then it served you well. But, if you want to do more than the system allows, or you have found another reason to search for an alternative way to grow with more freedom, welcome to all things Happy Leaf LED.

Why AeroGardens Limit Your Indoor Garden Setup.

The “all-in-1’s” are by definition limiting because the space is defined and usually pretty small. Some of these systems, like AeroGarden, also make it a requirement to use their own materials that you have to replenish with the company that sold the all-in-1. Some of these systems cost hundreds or even thousands of dollars. We ask ourselves, why would someone spend that much money for so many limitations? Just in terms of physical space, you can grow 4-5 times as much lettuce and herbs with a Happy Leaf Procyon 2.0 33″ light on a single 4 ft wire shelf than could be grown in a typical all-in-1.

Why an Open-Source Approach to Indoor Gardening Simply Works.

We understand that most people feel that if they spend $100 – $300 on a grow system, the light that is provided will probably do what they expect. They are trusting the manufacturer to give them a good grow light. It is difficult to truly know what a grow light can and should do, so we feel that is where these types of products can be a disappointment.

If you want to dive into the particulars of how to evaluate a grow light, we wrote a great article on the subject, What You Really Need to Know About Grow Lights. Overall, we can’t say we have seen an all-in-1 system that offers a grow light that matches our 33″ 2.0, let alone our 33″ PRO light in terms of optimal production and efficiency – with a 5 year warranty from a USA manufacturer.

Efficient, Effective & Versatile

Efficiency is also an issue with all-in-1’s, not just with the efficiency of the lighting, but also with the power draw from running the hydroponic tank that comes with the all-in-1’s we have looked at. (Note, there is a running pump sound with the AeroGarden.)

We all have “bottom lines”. For some it’s cost, for others it’s flexibility, efficiency or effectiveness. We at Happy Leaf want you to know that no matter what your “bottom line” is, Happy Leaf LED grow lights will satisfy your needs and expectations in ways that no all-in-1 systems can. Guaranteed!

As you may or may not be aware, we at Happy Leaf are very much dialed into the passive hydroponic method of growing indoors (aka the Kratky Method) – combining this method with our best-in-class LED grow lights, is an entry into limitless indoor gardening opportunities. You can learn all about this magical method of growing from videos on our Youtube channel or by reading the book we co-authored – Grow Lettuce in Your Living Room.

Here is what some of our satisfied Happy Leaf LED customers are saying,

I am very pleased with how these lights have improved my spring planting success. The plants are on a much higher level of health and vitality. They look stronger and are growing faster than any plants I have ever grown….”

“These lights are amazing! I just ordered my 2nd one. I started out using a Spider Farmer SF2000 light that I found on Amazon. The Spider Farmer light was using 200 watts but the growth was slow and my tomato plants leaves were turning dark and shriveling. I bought the Procyon Pro and within 4 days my plants completely rebounded. They grew considerably and the leaves filled out and turned bright green. I now see several flowers… I also love how lightweight the light is. The 33″ fits perfectly in a window and I’ve attached it to the bottom of my blinds to make it easier to raise and lower the light. I’m recommending this light to everyone I know.”

“Excellent American made quality. Beautiful lights that look like daylight. Great warranty and service. My plants are very happy. I called ahead for pickup and was warmly greeted and had a very knowledgeable salesperson. I plan on buying more lights.”