The 6 Best Indoor Garden Systems, Tested by BHG

Indoor garden systems are designed specifically for hands-off gardening thanks to automatic features that grow and maintain fresh herbs, greens, edible flowers, and more with little oversight.

Srijana Shrestha, Metro Master Gardener program assistant professor of practice, says, “These systems enable year-round cultivation regardless of outdoor climate, making them ideal for locations with limited growing seasons or extreme weather.”

“They also maximize space efficiency, especially in compact areas like apartments or schools, with vertical and modular designs that allow for growing more in less space,” Shrestha says. They’re also optimized for sustainability. “Hydroponic and aeroponic systems use up to 90% less water than traditional soil gardening.”

System Type

There are two main types of indoor gardening systems: hydroponic systems and soil systems. Hydroponic systems grow plants using water and specialty soilless growing mediums, which are more compact and less messy.

Often, these pods are pre-sown with seeds, like the basil three-pack that comes with the Click & Grow indoor herb garden kit. Drop them into the system, plug it in, the system’s advanced features will automate regular gardening tasks.

Soil systems, like the Amazing Creation stackable planter, tend to be basic with no smart features or accessories like grow lights, seeds, or growing medium. This makes the upfront cost much less expensive, but you’ll need to find an indoor spot with good lighting.

During our testing period, we noticed that the hydroponic systems performed better than the soil systems. Shrestha points out that advanced automated setups are typically less demanding than traditional gardening.

Because these systems can self-regulate or even alert growers when an issue needs their attention, the plants have a better chance at thriving in a home environment. Soil systems, on the other hand, require constant care and attention.
Plant Capacity

It’s important to know how many plants you can grow in your indoor gardening system. Hydroponic systems typically have a fixed number of slots for seed pods.

For example, the Click & Grow indoor herb garden kit can grow three plants at once while the inbloom hydroponics growing system kit can grow 12 plants at once. Soil systems may have more room to squeeze in plants.

If your indoor gardening system is equipped with a grow light, it’s important that its arm is adjustable so it can be raised as plants can grow tall and strong. When you’re placing your plants, you’ll want to consider how close together the seed pods sit.

A quick-growing herb like basil could shade out a slow-growing plant like parsley if they’re placed too close.
Light Type

Most hydroponic garden systems come with LED grow lights made to mimic natural sunlight. They provide a similar light spectrum, usually a combination of red and blue lights, which are especially beneficial for plant growth.

However, we found during testing that some grow lights were overly bright and distracting in our living spaces. This may be something to consider, especially if you plan on using your indoor garden in an open floor plan or place the system in a window in close proximity to your neighbors.

That said, many indoor gardening systems automatically turn the grow lights on at sunrise and off at sunset, so you shouldn’t have to worry about grow lights disturbing your sleep.
Features

Indoor gardening systems can come with lots of features, and it’s important that they match your goals, space, and lifestyle. Basic considerations include cost, size, aesthetic appeal, and ease of use.

Many indoor gardening systems have smart features designed to make growing easy for beginners or busy gardeners. These smart systems often include timers for lights, automatic watering systems, and reminders to water and fertilize.

Many even have a vacation mode for when you’ll be absent, making it easier than ever to grow a garden.

What We Tested

To find the best indoor gardening systems, we tested popular products in our own homes for 12 weeks. We observed and recorded how easy each system was to set up, the resulting plant growth, and what kind of maintenance and hands-on gardening each system required. We also considered the quality of the included accessories and seeds, and the price of the system in our evaluations.

In addition, we consulted Srijana Shrestha, Metro Master Gardener Program assistant professor of practice.

For more information on how we tested indoor gardening systems, check out our testing process below.

Credit: Amazon

We found the AeroGarden Bounty Basic to be the most simple to use and successful to grow during our testing. Given its features, quality, and continuously bountiful results, it’s well worth the price—our tester hasn’t needed to purchase herbs for the six months since setting it up on her kitchen counter.

Step-by-step directions made assembling the grow deck and adjustable 30-watt LED grow light easy. After moistening and inserting the provided sponges for the hydroponic device, we filled the large reservoir with water and added pre-mixed liquid plant food as directed.

To start growing plants, simply place a seed pod into each of the nine openings. You can plant a variety of seed pods. We liked that the instructions reminded us to label the pods so we knew what we were growing where. While we found the initial programming of the timer and controls to be confusing, set up only took about 15 minutes total.

We found the rest of the indoor gardening system to be largely hands-off from then on. The digital control panel on the device’s base automatically dialed in the schedule to turn the grow light on at sunrise and off at sunset to give the plants the right amount of light.

We’ve found the self-watering system’s performance to be both efficient and unexpectedly quiet. Our tester didn’t have to water or feed her plants for weeks at a time, so busy days or vacations won’t get the best of them. When it’s time to add more water or food, a red flashing light alerts you.

The most effort our tester has had to make is trimming her thriving plants every few days, which has become a dinnertime ritual for her and her daughter.

“Just a quick snip from the plant and I can add some flavorful greenery to whatever I’m making that day.,” —Better Homes & Gardens tester

The additional taste and aroma has made cooking at home more fun, appetizing, and convenient for her and her family.

Product Details: System Type: Hydroponic | Dimensions: 17.25 x 11.25 x 34 in. | Plant Capacity: Nine | Lighting Type: LED | Programmable: No

The AeroGarden Bounty Basic has nine openings for different seed pods, offering a large variety.
Credit: Better Homes & Gardens
It will notify you when it’s time to water and fertilize, plus it has a vacation mode.
Credit: Better Homes & Gardens

Amazon inbloom Hydroponics Growing System Starter Kit

Credit: Amazon

For a low-effort and low-cost indoor gardening system, we recommend the inbloom Hydroponics Growing System Kit. This compact countertop device is easy to use for both beginners and experienced gardeners alike.

The setup instructions were clear and assembly was easy and intuitive. It took about 10 minutes to get the hydroponic system filled with water and ready to grow. We chose the optional step to soak the grow sponges for two hours before inserting them into the compartments and popping in the included seeds.

Regular maintenance increased as plants grew. At first, we had to fill up the large self-watering tank about twice per week, but as time passed, we only refilled the tank every few days. Even if you can’t closely monitor your plants, the low-water-level alarm warns you when your water level dips so you know exactly when to fill the tank back up.

Although you’ll have to manually adjust the built-in grow light to suit the height of your plants, the lighting system is pre-programmed. The 24-watt LED sleeps for eight hours and glows for 16 hours with added far-reaching red light that can support more rapid growth.

The basil seeds sprouted within seven days and grew into healthy, flavorful plants that our tester regularly added to dressings and pasta. Other seeds, like cilantro, took longer to sprout and didn’t perform as well as the basil during our testing period.

After several weeks, our tester swapped out her first round of plantings, which had gotten limp, for new plants. Cleaning the self-watering system between plantings went as expected. We found no mold growth thanks to its quality pump that kept the water constantly moving.

Product Details: System Type: Hydroponic | Dimensions: 15.94 x 6.49 x 6.96 in. | Plant Capacity: 12 | Lighting Type: LED | Programmable: No

Basil sprouted within seven days with the inbloom Hydroponics Growing System.
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Better Homes & Gardens

An AeroGarden Harvest Elite indoor garden with herbs growing under an LED light

The AeroGarden Harvest Elite indoor gardening system reliably grew staples like Genovese basil and parsley as well as specialties like Thai basil. It took our tester about five minutes to set up this self-watering system with room for six plants.

This included filling up the spacious tank with water and the prescribed amount of plant food, inserting the seed pods, and managing automated settings on its illuminated digital control panel.

We never had to guess if the herbs were going to sprout or when they needed more food. Each seed pod (sold separately) came with an estimated sprouting time range, and most of the herbs sprouted right on schedule—except for the notoriously slow-growing parsley, which sprouted a week after it was due.

When the nutrition level is low, a red button lights up, prompting us to add more about every two weeks. The same happens when the water level is low.

We found the system very easy to maintain, even as it required more daily maintenance as the herbs grew. Once they were established, we trimmed the herbs to sprinkle on scrambled eggs or burrito bowls and found that the flavor and freshness were comparable to herbs from the farmers market.

The herbs that sprouted first eventually started to shade out the slower-growing ones, resulting in some spindly growth. However, this could be mitigated with more regular and strategic trimming.

Product Details: System Type: Hydroponic | Dimensions: 6.25 x 10.5 x 17.4 in. | Plant Capacity: Six | Lighting Type: LED | Programmable: No

The AeroGarden Harvest Elite only took about five minutes for us to set up during testing.
Credit: Better Homes & Gardens
The spacious tank has plenty of room for water and plant food, making the system low maintenance.
Credit: Better Homes & Gardens

Credit: Amazon

Why You Should Get It

Its small footprint, simple setup, and full automation makes this self-watering system a great pick for starting an indoor garden.

Squeeze a fresh garden into the smallest living spaces with the Click & Grow indoor herb garden kit. At less than a foot long and only about five inches wide, this self-watering system is designed to comfortably start three plants from seed.

Living up to its name, the system was incredibly simple to set up. We unboxed it, dropped the included basil pods into the three openings, filled up the water reservoir, and plugged it in. An adjustable strip of energy-efficient LED grow lights automatically turns on for 16 hours, and then turns off for eight hours.

Since our tester could see the system from her bedroom, she set it up to sync with regular daylight hours so the plants have the same bedtime as she does. Although it’s not a smart system, it comes with an app. However, the app doesn’t control any of the indoor gardening system’s functions, so we didn’t use it.

The basil seeds broke the soil after five days and fully sprouted after a week. Two of the pods sprouted slightly before the other, but the difference wasn’t drastic. At three weeks, the plants were healthy enough to harvest leaves for lasagna toppings.

Thanks to the water level indicator, we knew exactly when to refill the tank to keep the plants going. After a month, the basil plants became root-bound, and once we repotted them in larger containers, they did just fine.

Because the seed pod packs contain three of the same plant, we couldn’t grow different plants at the same time without purchasing multiple additional seed pod packs. We found the Click & Grow pod packs to be affordable and full of variety, including woody thyme and wild strawberries, though these have not yet been tested.

Product Details: System Type: Hydroponic | Dimensions: 9 x 4.9 x 12.5 in. | Plant Capacity: Three | Lighting Type: LED | Programmable: No

The Click & Grow Smart Garden 3 is great for small spaces at under 1 foot long and 5 inches wide.
Credit: Better Homes & Gardens
The basil seeds we planted fully sprouted after one week with this indoor gardening system.
Credit: Better Homes & Gardens

Credit: Amazon

Why You Should Get It

It’s a sturdy, sculptural way to garden indoors. It also bypasses the stress of seed-starting with its proprietary, non-GMO seedlings that are shipped to your door.

If you have ample, airy living space to dedicate to an indoor garden, consider the Lettuce Grow farmstand. This striking self-watering system looks like a living sculpture. It has a stark white, funnel-shaped water reservoir and modular glow rings: circular, 96-watt grow lights that look like halos hovering above the central tiered planters.

We tested the smallest, least pricey model, deceptively called Tiny. It stands nearly 4 feet high and takes up 2 square feet of space. Beside its size, the system is also very heavy.

It weighs more than 150 pounds when its water tank is at full 20-gallon capacity. We agree with the company’s recommendation to assemble it on a dolly with wheels (sold separately) to facilitate moving it. Parts shipped separately and were delivered several days apart. Once it all arrived, the system took about 45 minutes to assemble and fill.

Our tester found the setup to be a bit complicated due to its size, intricate design, and functional requirements. It needs to be stationed near an electric outlet with two open sockets, and it’s helpful to have a water source nearby to refill the garden as needed.

Unlike other hydroponic indoor gardening systems, this one doesn’t come with seed pods or packs. Instead, you redeem a bundle of proprietary non-GMO seedlings using a QR code on the packing slip. This bypassed the stress of seed starting (but it also further delayed us getting started).

The convenience of ordering plants online and receiving them ready-to-grow—one less errand to run—is a modern perk. And the assortment is impressive: When you’re ready for the next round of planting, you can choose from over 100 vegetables, fruits, greens, herbs, and edible flowers.

However, our tester found the seedlings to be expensive compared to what you’d find at a local garden center, especially considering their small size.

Product Details: System Type: Hydroponic | Dimensions: 22 x 44 x 22 in. | Plant Capacity: 12 | Lighting Type: LED | Programmable: No

The Lettuce Grow Farmstand weighs over 150 pounds when the water tank is filled to capacity.
Credit: Better Homes & Gardens
The indoor gardening system does not come with seed pods—instead, you need to order them online.
Credit: Better Homes & Gardens

Credit: Amazon

The Rise Gardens Personal Garden and Starter Kit won us over by pairing a refined design with integrated Bluetooth and Wi-Fi technology. Its clean, geometric shape is softened by its recycled-wood frame that gives the system a more natural-looking appearance.

The self-watering tank also connects to Bluetooth and Wi-Fi and can be controlled using voice-command devices or a dedicated app. We found the app to be particularly helpful and easy to use.

After we created an account, we input the plants we were growing to monitor their cycles and get real-time care reminders, such as when to change out the water and add nutrients. It also allowed us to control the timers, the 50-watt LED light, and the automatic watering system from a smart phone. Both assembly and app setup took us just under 30 minutes.

The smart notifications streamlined ongoing maintenance, which consisted of changing out the water tank every week or so. The getting-started process was more hands on than other hydroponic systems, which some indoor gardeners may enjoy.

It consists of two steps: starting seeds in the provided nursery tray first, then transplanting them to the tank where they grow nice and strong. We liked that the system came with a variety starter pack of seeds so we weren’t restricted to growing eight of the same plant.

Product Details: System Type: Hydroponics | Dimensions: 18 x 11 x 16 in. | Plant Capacity: 12 | Lighting Type: LED | Programmable: Yes

The Rise Gardens Personal Garden has a refined design and advanced smart features like Wi-Fi.
Credit: Better Homes & Gardens
Smart notifications for the system help streamline the maintenance process.
Credit: Better Homes & Gardens

The Bottom Line

The AeroGarden Bounty Basic is the best overall choice for a productive indoor gardening system that basically looks after itself. If you’re looking to exclusively grow herbs with a low touch, the AeroGarden Harvest Elite was the most successful at growing staple and specialty herbs during our testing.

Our Testing Process

We spent 12 weeks testing 19 indoor gardening systems. The testing process began as soon as we unboxed the garden. We used a timer to track how long it took to assemble the device and noted how easy the instructions were to follow.

Once the garden was assembled, if it came with an app, we downloaded and connected the app and rated how easy or difficult the app was to set up.

If the garden came with a grow light, we set up the garden away from a window to test its full capabilities. If not, the garden was placed near a window, southern-facing when possible. For the gardens that did not include seeds, we used identical packs of basil seeds for testing purposes.

We used the gardens according to the manufacturer’s instructions and tried to keep the humidity (measured with a hygrometer) and the temperature consistent. If the humidity rose too high, we adjusted using fans; if too low, we added humidity using humidifiers.

We checked and measured seedlings at three weeks and six weeks to chart growth. Throughout testing, we noted any issues with the plants or the garden and the ease of using various apps and smart settings, if included.

We gave them a taste test to evaluate their quality. At the end of testing, we checked that the system was still working up to our standards.

The Rise Gardens Personal Garden has a dedicated app that we found helpful and easy to use.
Credit:

Better Homes & Gardens

Your Questions, Answered

What plants can you grow in an indoor garden system?

“Indoor gardening systems offer great versatility, allowing gardeners to cultivate a wide range of plants,” Shrestha says. Typically, the best-suited plants include herbs, leafy greens, and microgreens—all of which require minimal space to grow.

Additionally, compact vegetables like cherry tomatoes and dwarf cucumbers can set fruit under artificial lighting conditions, while medicinal plants like chamomile and lavender thrive indoors.

“Ultimately, the choice of plants often depends on the indoor gardening systems capabilities, such as available lighting, space, and technology, as well as the gardener’s goals,” Shrestha says.

It’s good to check if an indoor gardening system will only grow proprietary seed pods, like the Lettuce Grow Farmstand, which delivers non-GMO seedlings to your door. If that’s the case, the variety of food you can grow depends on what that brand offers.

Do plants grow better in soil or hydroponics?

“Hydroponics typically outperforms soil in controlled environments, producing higher yields faster,” Shrestha says. “Whereas soil systems offer simplicity, lower costs, and suitability for organic cultivation.”

When it comes to indoor gardening systems, ease and efficiency seem to be priorities. That’s why so many systems on our list are hydroponic, self-watering systems. Our overall best pick, the AeroGarden Bounty basic essentially looks after itself and alerts you on its digital control panel when more water and nutrients are needed.

While this ticks the box for convenience and quality, Shrestha notes that there’s often a higher initial investment for hydroponic systems along with ongoing energy costs, “especially for systems requiring pumps, sensors, and grow lights.”

Are indoor gardens high maintenance?

“Generally speaking, modern indoor gardening setups are designed to minimize the gardener’s workload,” Shrestha says. “Though specific maintenance needs depend heavily on the chosen system type, plants, and technology involved.”

If you’re looking for a low-maintenance system, Shrestha advises you look for automated systems that significantly reduce daily maintenance tasks like watering, lighting, and nutrient dosing.

Keep in mind that a low-maintenance system isn’t a no-maintenance system. Tasks like regular monitoring for equipment malfunctions, periodic cleaning and disinfecting, and regular pruning and harvesting are still up to the gardener.

Who We Are

Kate Puhala is a writer for Better Homes & Gardens who is based in Portland, Oregon. To write this piece, she reviewed our testing insights, researched indoor gardening systems, and consulted Srijana Shrestha, Metro Master Gardener Program assistant professor of practice.

What is BHG Recommends?

Next to all of the products on this list, you may have noticed our BHG Recommends seal of approval. Products that earn the seal have been put through rigorous testing to make sure they’re worth a spot in your home. We buy most of the products we test ourselves, but occasionally we are provided samples by companies if buying isn’t an option. In these cases, we use the same testing criteria we use to test the purchased products.

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The 6 Best Indoor Garden Systems, Tested by BHG

System Type

Plant Capacity

Light Type

Features

What We Tested

The Bottom Line

Our Testing Process

Your Questions, Answered

What plants can you grow in an indoor garden system?

Do plants grow better in soil or hydroponics?

Are indoor gardens high maintenance?

Who We Are

What is BHG Recommends?