24 of 25 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
My second Aerogarden purchase, January 12, 2009
This review is from: AeroGarden Extra Elite (Lawn & Patio)
I already owned a Classic version. I liked it enough that I wanted another and decided to go with the Pro 200 mainly for the extra light output. The unit is very energy efficient pulling an average of 61 watts when the lights and pump are on according to my kill-a-watt meter. The Classic version pulls a little bit less at 47 watts. The design of the bulbs on this model is much better as it delivers a more uniform light. The hood can also be adjusted higher than the Classic model making this model excellent for trying to grow your own seeds especially with the added Master Gardener Kit. Definately worth the extra money to buy this version. The Classic is great, but if I did it again I would have bought 2 of these. (And I haven't had an issue with smoking bulbs)
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16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Baby tomatoes in 4-5 weeks!, May 15, 2009
This review is from: AeroGarden Extra Elite (Lawn & Patio)
I love the Pro 200! I bought a Space Saver 6 originally and liked it so much I decided to get a Pro 200. The Pro 200 is so much quieter than the other Aerogarden and it pumps the water up over the roots so that even if the water level starts to get low, the roots still get water. The Space saver 6 lets the roots just sit down in the reservoir tank and the pump agitates the water. This can be a problem if you have new plants with short roots and forget to check the water level for a while (happened to me).
I started tomato seeds in the Pro 200 and then 4 days later in some Jiffy peat pellets for transferring outside. Currently the tomatoes in the peat pots are about 6 inches tall and spindly (very similar to previous years), however the tomatoes in the Pro200 are ~14 inches tall and 18 inches wide with 40+ blooms and some baby tomatoes started! I have never seen such thick tomato plants, even outside! I think the main difference is the extra grow light. This thing is bright! If I forget to close my bedroom door, it frequently wakes me up at 3AM when the lights come on.
I'm growing amazing lettuce in the other Aerogarden and it is doing well. Both work well, but if I had to choose I would pick the pro 200 in a heart beat.
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16 of 17 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Grows beautifully all year round - Bonus for those that suffer with S.A.D., November 27, 2009
This review is from: AeroGarden Extra Elite (Lawn & Patio)
I am thoroughly impressed with this Aerogarden. It has been a couple of weeks and everything is sprouting up and is growing amazingly fast and GREEN.
Amazon shipping fiasco:
First one Amazon shipped to us it was in a cheap cardboard box, you know the kind it is a flimsy cardboard you can tear through with a finger nail. It was inside a larger Amazon box but it was smashed on one side. Inside of the cheap box was the Aero garden smashed and all of the bulbs were broken. Amazon sent us one the next day along with a UPC for the outside of the box for the RMA. The next one was in a COMPLETELY different box, like from another company all together. I am not sure how we could get 2 different products from one manufacturer in 2 different boxes. The second box was a full color nice cardboard with all of the parts intact.
S.A.D.
If you have Seasonal Affective Disorder your psychiatrist or MD will probably prescribe a full spectrum light for you to have near you for the winter months. This grow kit contains 3 of those lights and if you place this near you say, when you are watching TV you will get many hours of natural light, while watching your plants grow!
Bonus plant growth:
That being said the lights are amazingly bright. They have to mimic the sun for goodness sake. I have this in my kitchen next to other house plants. As an added benefit is if you place the Aerogarden next to your other house plants they will get the benefit of all that extra light. I have succulents and cacti next to it and they are all growing MUCH better. Setting the lights to turn off at night is a breeze. Just hold the light on/off button on until the light button blinks meaning it took the time. It will then turn on 8 hours later.
Pros:
>> Grow anywhere at any time of the year
>> VERY easy setup - took 5 minutes from opening box until all set.
>> Pretty much fool-proof
>> Lots of extra light that will turn off at night automatically.
>> 7 spots vs 6 in a smaller model
Cons:
<< Bulbs will need to be replaced at $20 a pop x 3 is a bit extravagant
<< Chance to get a lemon from Amazon seems random due to the 2 separate ones they sent us. Makes me wonder.
<< Manual said to "Add 2 tablets to the water" on setup yet our kit only had these liquid nutrient things, which made us wonder if we needed to add 2 of those or are they more potent than the old tablets. Seems better to have liquid, just wish the directions were easier.
Overall a really cool way to grow all year and to have fresh herbs and other veggies at arms reach when cooking. Once the herbs are done we will be growing wheatgrass to use with our
Omega J8005 Nutrition Center Single-Gear Commercial Masticating Juicer, Chrome and Black
Thank you for reading my review.
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