Dropped $150 on a hydroponic herb tower that grew mold instead of basil

I bought this fancy countertop hydroponic system from a brand called AeroGarden knockoff last spring. Within three weeks the water reservoir turned into a science experiment with green slime everywhere. The customer service basically said I wasn't cleaning it often enough, but who has time to disassemble a machine every two days? Anyone else get burned on one of these indoor garden gadgets?

3 comments

3 Comments

drew9652mo ago

Switched to a cheap Kratky jar setup and never looked back. No pumps, no electricity, just a jar of water and net cups sitting on my windowsill. Lost the fancy look but gained way less hassle and actual basil.

grace_knight701mo ago

Hold on, you're growing basil in a jar on a windowsill without any plugs? @thomas275 your mom might be onto something, but this is next level.

thomas2752mo agoMost Upvoted

My mom has the same philosophy with her whole kitchen - she stopped buying fancy gadgets and just uses a chef's knife, a cutting board, and a cast iron pan for everything. It's funny how stripping stuff down to the basics usually works better than all that overpriced gear.