In the age of modern technology, it’s no surprise that gardening has evolved. For those of us who do not have space for a traditional garden or just don’t have a green thumb, homegrown produce may seem like a far-fetched dream.
However, with the Gardyn hydroponic system, anyone can grow clean and organic produce from the comfort of their own home. In this blog, I will share my experience with the Gardyn system, as well as the benefits and drawbacks I have encountered.
I received a complimentary Gardyn system in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own and I was not paid to give a positive review.
What is a Gardyn Hydroponic System?
A Gardyn Hydroponic System is an innovative way to grow vegetables and herbs indoors without the use of soil. The system works by providing a nutrient-rich solution directly to plant roots, allowing for faster growth and healthier plants.
The Gardyn system uses NASA-inspired technology to ensure optimal growth for your plants. You won’t need to worry about fertilizers or harsh chemicals because the Gardyn ensures that your plants receive the perfect amount of nutrients and light.
The system uses artificial intelligence, LED lights, and cameras to make it a completely hands-off way to garden. It is also self-watering, so there’s no need to worry about over or under-watering your plants.
This technology makes it space-efficient, low maintenance, and environmentally friendly; not to mention clean!
Gardyn is certainly an ideal choice for beginners who may not know much about gardening.
How Does Gardyn Work?
The Gardyn Hydroponic System consists of three main components: a water reservoir, a pump, and an aeroponic pod. The water reservoir stores the nutrient-rich solution and provides the necessary oxygenation for healthy plant growth.
The pump circulates the solution throughout the system while also providing oxygenation to the plants’ roots. Finally, the aeroponic pod holds the plants securely in place while delivering them with plenty of oxygenated nutrient-rich solution.
The Benefits of Using a Gardyn System
The benefits of using a Gardyn hydroponic system are numerous.
1. Grow Fresh Produce All Year Long
One of the biggest benefits of using the Gardyn system is having access to fresh produce all year long! In cooler climates, like New Jersey where I live, this is amazing that I don’t have to wait for summer to have freshly grown produce.
2. Grow a Wide Variety of Produce
Although, I haven’t seen many fruits available to grow with the Gardyn system, you can grow so many different types of lettuce, herbs, tomatoes, and even strawberries with the system.
For my first kit, I chose a variety of 30 lettuces, vegetables, and flowers. This is a good place to start, so now for the future I have an idea of what grows best and which ones I get the most use out of.
I was able to try numerous lettuces and produce that I probably would have never tried before so that was a good experience.
After the first variety kit, I opted for more basic herbs and lettuce that I eat regularly, such as romaine, endive, cucumbers, and celery.
3. Faster Growth
Plants grown in this type of system mature more quickly than those grown in soil due to the added oxygenation provided by the nutrient-rich solution circulated through their roots. They also seem to live forever!
With most of the herbs and produce, I will trim them back or use a large portion, and it grows back so fast! It’s almost not even needed to buy new y pods unless you’re just getting bored with your selection.
4. Use of an App to Give You Reminders Anytime
The Gardyn app shows you exactly when to harvest your crops, ensuring that you never miss the optimal time for picking. I rely on these notifications to tell me when to add water and refresh the tank because I often forget.
5. AI Assist to Optimize Growth
Gardyn offers a membership that includes the AI Kelby Assist which specifically tailors your settings to optimize plant growth. I love the AI assist that gives me reminders and keeps track of my plants.
6. Low Maintenance
Additionally, because they are grown indoors, they require less maintenance as they do not need to be watered or weeded like traditional outdoor gardens. Hydroponic systems also use fewer resources since there is no need for fertilizers or pesticides which can harm both humans and nature if used incorrectly.
This makes it an ideal choice for anyone looking to lead a healthier and more sustainable lifestyle.
Cons of the Gardyn System
Although I do believe in this system, it’s not for everybody. Here are my biggest cons:
1. The Cost
The biggest con of the Gardyn system is clearly that it is quite expensive for most people. At $899 for the basic model, it is certainly not the most budget-friendly option for gardening.
Additionally, you will have to regularly replace the plant pods and buy additional plant food, which can add to the cost.
2. Additional Features to Pay For
A majority of additional features are locked behind a paywall, meaning that there are additional costs that add up. They are not neccessities, but definitely advantageous to use that you may feel like, if you’re already spending that much money, you might as well get the added feature.
The Kelby Assist that maintains the correct settings so it’s a hands-off approach, in my opinion should be offered with the Gardyn system, and not as part of the membership.
3. Bright LED Lights
The lights can feel blinding when you first turn them on, and they are supposed to be on for at least 16 hours a day. If you have limited space and have to put the Gardyn in your main living or eating space, the lights can be bothersome.
However, you can switch the lights so that they are on while you’re sleeping and off during the day living in that space.
4. Not Great for Smaller Spaces
Lastly, the Gardyn tower can take up quite a bit of space, so it may not be the best option for those living in smaller apartments or homes. We have plenty of space in our home so this wasn’t a con for us.
However, Gardyn offers different pots of all sizes so you can choose one that works for your space.
5. Takes Time for Produce to Grow
Honestly, I have never had my own real garden so I can’t speak on whether or not Gardyn takes longer to grow. However, I do know that waiting for my little tomatoes and peppers have been torturous since I can’t harvest any after 3 months!
Maybe that’s a normal timeline to grow vegetables, but since these start from seedlings, I imagine that it takes much longer than if you bought a plant that was already blossomed.
Gardyn Set-Up
Firstly, let’s discuss the Gardyn‘s setup. The system consists of an indoor tower that can fit up to 30 different plant pods. The installation process was relatively simple, with clear instructions that allowed me to set everything up within an hour.
There were a lot of parts, but they were not complicated to put together. Plus, it came with a great step-by-step instructional video that showed exactly how to place each piece.
My husband helped me with setup, but it could easily have been done by just myself.
App Functionality
The Gardyn App is great to have as it allows you to check on your plant’s settings to make sure that everything is set (water, light, food) for maximum plant growth.
There were a couple times so far that my app let me know that there wasn’t enough water in the tank and that I had to refill. This makes it a no-brainer for the black thumb gardeners like me!
One thing I didn’t like about the app, was that sometimes I did not get the push notifications for water replenishment and I didn’t notice until I check in the app.
Plant Growth Timeline
I was surprised at how quickly the plants began germinating! Within about 3 days, I noticed some germination and within about 1 week, 90% of the pods had germinated.
The lettuces seemed to be the quickest growers, while the herbs and vegetables were the slowest. At this time, I sowed my seeds/pods 8 days ago and the dill and mint have yet to germinate.
Plant Growth Timeline after 3 Months
After about 3 months, I can say that I have been using my Gardyn system regularly. The lettuce is growing abundantly. Even after I harvest almost a whole pod of lettuce, it starts growing right after.
I have been loving making salads every day with the produce that my Gardyn system has produced!
Is the Gardyn system worth it?
Overall, the Gardyn hydroponic system is an incredible innovation in the world of gardening. With its easy setup, self-watering capabilities, and fresh produce at your fingertips, it’s ideal for anyone who wants to grow clean and organic produce from their own home.
While it may not be the most cost-effective option out there, the benefits of having fresh produce year-round through an eco-friendly system certainly make it worth considering!
Personally, the biggest asset to having a Gardyn system is for the lettuce. It constantly produces large batches of lettuce which is well worth it to me.
If you’re looking for more vegetables to be grown such as sweet peppers, cauliflower, or tomatoes, it may not be worth it for the long wait time and small vegetables that it produces.
Overall, a Gardyn hydroponic system is an excellent option for anyone looking to grow healthy fruits and vegetables indoors with minimal effort or maintenance required. If you enjoy fresh produce (specifically lettuce) grown quickly and organically, the Gardyn is for you!
With its efficient design and easy upkeep, it is becoming increasingly popular among home gardeners who want quick results with minimal effort spent tending their garden.
