Aerogarden is a popular indoor gardening system that can bring the beauty of the outdoors into your home. Its ease of use and compact design makes it easy for almost anyone to grow their plants in limited spaces, such as apartments or offices. Aerogarden is a self-watering system with an LED light, making it easy to grow plants indoors regardless of space and lighting conditions.
However, like any other electronic device, it’s not immune to issues. Common problems with aerogarden vegetables and herbs include herbs like dill falling over, aerogarden seedlings, like aerogarden thyme not sprouting, spices, like aerogarden basils turning yellow or brown, or produce like aerogarden lettuce that tastes bitter. If you see one or more of the common Aerogarden plant problems, don’t worry. You can troubleshoot and fix them quickly with these tips.
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My Aerogarden Seeds Won’t Germinate
If your seeds are not germinating, it could be because the pH level of your water is not suitable for the seeds you are growing. Aerogrow recommends using seeds made for hydroponics when growing in the Aerogarden. Seeds made for growing in soil may not germinate when using the Aerogarden. If the seeds are produced for hydroponics, you can adjust the water pH to ensure it’s right for the growing seeds.
Check the seed packet to see if they recommend a specific water pH level. You can use a pH meter to test the water if they don’t recommend one. If your water’s pH is too high or low, you can use a pH adjuster to bring it to the right level.
Keep in mind that Aerogarden guarantees that their seeds will germinate. If after 3 weeks they still have not sprouted - reach out to their customer service and they’ll send you a new pod.
My Aerogarden Thyme is not Sprouting
Something may be wrong if your herb seeds have been in the Aerogarden for more than six weeks and still not sprouted. For example, thyme is a fast-growing plant that grows quickly inside the Aerogarden. To troubleshoot this issue, double-check the water pH and make sure it is between 5.5 and 6.5. Also, make sure there is enough water, but not too much. The plant should have just enough water to allow the roots to soak but not enough to make the roots float fully.
My Aerogarden Basil Leaves are Turning Yellow or Brown Brown
Aerogardens use water and nutrients like ammonium nitrate, calcium nitrate, and potassium nitrate to feed the plants. These chemicals are necessary to keep plants healthy and growing. When leaves turn brown, it’s usually a sign that the plants need more nutrients. You can correct this issue by adding more water or nutrients to your aerogarden.
You should also check the plants’ pods to ensure they are still moist and have not dried out. When the pods are dry, they can become brown and stop holding water and nutrients that the plants need to stay healthy. Make sure the pods are moist and add more water and nutrients if needed.
Nutrient level issues may be to blame if your basil leaves turn yellow or brown. If the level of nutrients is too low, the leaves will turn yellow before dying. A too high level can cause brown leaves, leading to disease and death in the plants.
Aerogrow recommends keeping the nutrients between 30 and 50 ppm. You can do this by using a nutrient supplement designed for hydroponics.
My Aerogarden Dill is Falling Over
If your dill plant is falling over, it may be because the water level is too low in the Aerogarden. Dill is a very thirsty plant, so you should fill the water level to the line marked ‘dill.’ The dill plant may fall over or droop if the water level is too low.
You can check the water level every few days to ensure it’s high enough. If the water level is too low, you can add more water to the system. Make sure to use water treated with a pH adjuster to keep the water at the right level for the plants.
My Aerogarden Lettuce is Bitter
Aerogarden plants are used to produce tasty fruits and vegetables, but sometimes the taste can be less than desirable. A few different issues can cause bad-tasting crops. The first thing to check is that the pods are moist. Dry pods will cause yields to taste bad, so make sure the pods are wet.
Bad tasting crops can also be caused by the type of seeds you are growing. Some types of seeds produce plants that are naturally bitter or sour. Another issue that can cause crops to taste bad is if the pods are old. Depending on the pod type, you should replace the pods every three to six months.
If your lettuce is bitter, the cause could be that the temperature is too high. The lights in the Aerogarden have sensors to detect when the temperature gets too high. When this happens, the lights automatically shut off to protect the plants. Move the Aerogarden to a cooler area to turn the lights back on. Another possible cause is that the lettuce seeds were old and no longer viable.
Other Issues? It’s likely your pH Level Is Out of Range.
A pH level that is too low or too high can cause different issues in plants. In an Aerogarden, a pH level out of range can affect the plants’ nutrients. It can also lead to nutrient deficiencies and problems with plant growth.
Too high
If the pH level of your water is too high, it can prevent the plants from absorbing the nutrients they need to grow.
Too low
If the pH level of your water is too low, it can leave your plants susceptible to disease and pests.
Add a pH adjuster to bring the level back to an optimal range to solve this problem. Aerogrow recommends checking the pH level every two weeks and adjusting it as needed. Make sure to use pH adjusters made for hydroponics since other pH adjusters may cause nutrient issues.
In Summary
The Aerogarden is a great way to grow plants indoors, but it does have a few common issues. However, these issues are easy to avoid or fix if you know what to look for. With these tips, you can ensure that your Aerogarden keeps growing great plants.