Aerogarden sponge alternatives with price comparison and 2 weeks test results

[@arielafina]

Ive been looking for this!!! I think you're the only one who is actually making a large comparisons like this. You've videos have been a blessing since I got my hydroponic system.

[@becca1858]

This video is outstanding. Your detail, and the price chart is very helpful. Thank you for taking the time to put this together and sharing it!

[@peaches911]

Thank you for doing this experiment! I was wondering what would work in place of Aerogarden sponges. Now I know

[@alfsilvia1]

Thank you. I didn’t want to marry only with Aerogarden, which it is expensive. Thank you for you experiments!! I can keep planting and not expense a fortune!!!

[@alexandrabavcevic9643]

Love your channel. I just found you about a week ago. I ordered my first AeroGarden Bounty, it hasn't arrived yet, and I want to use it as economically as I can. I have found your videos to be very easy to follow and I appreciate your education on not only how to best grow certain vegetables but how to grow them economically. I look forward to learning as much as I can from your methods. Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge.

[@aerogardenexperiments]

Thank you so much for your kind words.

[@idahogardengirl942]

Great experiment. I already had learned about the rock wool from Khang Starr, but you have done an excellent job with the comparison. I have heard some companies have very firm/hard sponges which make it difficult for the plants to grow well. It is good to know companies that have good quality, economical and eco-friendly alternative. Thank you.

[@tbone3988]

Thank you for your content! I just bought and IDOO and Areogarden, can't wait to start this journey and follow along with you.

[@makeoversbymeme2077]

How’s it going so far ?

[@taradrolma2774]

Your. Videos are so practical, easy to understand and helpful. Thank you.

[@ScarletCrazed]

Just came across your video and I enjoyed it with one exception. Rock wool is not biodegradable. I use my AeroGarden’s exclusively for seed starting my summer garden delicacies so using rock wool plugs is definitely not an option.

[@aerogardenexperiments]

Thanks so much for the details.

[@sandravalani359]

Excellent experiments...thankS deeply for sharinG!!!😃I ordered some Shtuuyingg pods from Walmart and they turned out to be too short for my Aerogarden pod baskets and I haVe had mold issues because of thiS!😥😱I will add a lil sponGe for my next experiments but I also need to order the alternatives of what you suggested!!!👍HaVe a wonderful Summer fellow Aerogarden experimenter!!!✌😍🙏😇🌎🌍🌏🌹🍅🍅🍅🌹

[@ExquisitelyPink]

Thanks for the video! Did you find that bits of the rockwool would dissolve and leave a residue in the water? I'm worried that the sediment would affect the motor.

[@aerogardenexperiments]

Yeah, I see residue in the bowl and I am sure that's from Rockwool. I see similar issue with some sponges as well. But this residue pretty much stays at the bottom and I don't see any issues with motor so far. I am using Rockwool in 4 Harvests at the moment. I recently started cleaning (at least dump water and rinse) the bowls on monthly basis so that I can get rid of this residue and anything else building up in the bowl.

[@syhoover]

@@aerogardenexperiments Hi, and thank you for your videos! It's been 10 months since this response, and I'm wondering if you have an update as to whether the rockwool has any negative effects on your system? Or if you have come to prefer one type of sponge over the others? Thanks again!

[@prayerworks61]

AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@huguettearmstrong2591]

hello I just subscribed and I am a beginner when you sow the seeds directly in the aerogarden do you put nutrients or only water at the beginning?

[@aerogardenexperiments]

I add water only at the beginning. I will start adding nutrients once I see the seedlings.

[@MattGarver]

Excellent video, great topic and visuals.

[@anonymousfriend897]

I use jiffy Peet pellets. I soak them in water and put them in the plastic holders. You do get a little fungus with them.

[@StockingMyPantry]

Do you prefer the rock wool or the other sponges?

[@aerogardenexperiments]

My preference is sponges for Aerogarden as they are easy to use. For seed starting and outdoor transplant, I always go with Rockwool.

[@StockingMyPantry]

@@aerogardenexperiments great, thank you.

[@akswun]

👌 I use my aerogarden to start seeds for my garden. Do you have a general liquid nutrient you use instead of Miracle Grow?

[@aerogardenexperiments]

Not really liquid nutrition but I found this great alternative. Hope this helps. kzbin.info/www/bejne/aGmriHqwrsyZeK8

[@sumgai7]

I used to work with a hydroponics tech company that made automated hydroponic greenhouses (and am now "head of growth" and innovation with another AgTech company focused on growing media and nutrients) -- we used Masterblend fertilizer that's specifically for hydroponics use (it's extremely soluble and won't clog circulation systems) -- I still use it in my own systems. It's available very inexpensively from Amazon or better yet a distributor like PowerGrowSystems in Utah (I like them a lot - I have no business relationship with them). I use the tomato formulation (4-18-38 - even for leafy greens - works fine - but they also have a more balanced formula). The 5 lb kit - $25 - keeps an entire greenhouse "fed" for probably 4-5 months so it's an incredibly good deal, compared to Aerogarden or Miracle-Gro. The kits are a much better deal than buying the components (fertilizer, epsom salt (magnesium sulfate) and calcium nitrate separately.

[@nodescriptionavailable3842]

Does the rock wool get itchy in your skin?

[@aerogardenexperiments]

No, I never had any itchiness while or after dealing with rockwool.

[@scrathd13]

I used to be an insulator and I would definitely use rockwool over fiberglass. Rockwool is made from iron and spun like cotton candy. Plus it wasn't as itchy as fiberglass

[@p2_40]

Could you do a similar vid for the IDoo 12 pods system? All the replacements I’ve seen on Amazon including the one from moistenland has mold and algae problems.

[@passionfruitgrowerinpots4202]

What size were the rockwool cubes before you cut them? 1 1/2" is my guess but they are also available in 2", 1" and 1.6".

[@aerogardenexperiments]

It is 1.5" cube.

[@passionfruitgrowerinpots4202]

@@aerogardenexperiments Thanks so much. After watching your video, I'm going to try using rockwool. Also buying some cheap aftermarket pods to use with my own seeds. I'm starting off with the Aerogarden International Basil selection (12 pods) but I'm afraid the Genovese basil will grow so much faster than the opal (Purple) and the Thai basils. Should I just grow the fastest growing Genovese basil by itself and then the Thai and Opal in a batch by itself?

[@aerogardenexperiments]

I think you can still manage all Basil varieties in the same garden as long as you harvest aggressively.

[@passionfruitgrowerinpots4202]

@@aerogardenexperiments thanks for all your help.

[@emilytischer2902]

Parkseed comes in 3 sizes, which size are you using that fits best in the Aerogarden baskets?

[@aerogardenexperiments]

It is 60 cell refill pack (Item # 96413-PK-60) that works for Aerogarden pods.

[@GetUrbanLeaf]

Thank you very much!

[@ter8330]

What a neat video!!!!

[@gardeninggalaxy3343]

Nice upload 👍

[@outofbody4788]

I read aero garden sponge is actual peat? So isn’t it biodegradable?

[@aerogardenexperiments]

Aerogarden sponges are peat and they are biodegradable.

[@sami-g6087]

Plz put the name of the items use in the description below.

[@aerogardenexperiments]

Done! Please check it out now.

[@joshuaj2960]

Doesn't look like you presoaked the rock wool, soaking before hand in a 5.5ph solution for several hours is recommended

[@aerogardenexperiments]

Hi, thanks for these details. I used Rock wool several times and it just worked for me fine without soaking. I will try soaking in 5.5ph solution next time to see the difference.

[@huguettearmstrong2591]

hello I just subscribed and I am a beginner when you sow the seeds directly in the aerogarden do you put nutrients or only water at the beginning?

[@aerogardenexperiments]

Thank you. I only add water at the beginning. I will start adding nutrients once I see the seedlings.