“Like a coffee capsule machine, but for plants,” reads Click & Grow’s marketing copy. Sure enough, Click & Grow Smart Garden seed pods come in Nespresso-evoking plastic three-packs with a tear-off cover. (The pod is running around $3 to $5 each.) Place a nutrient-rich “smart soil” seed pod into one of the Click & Grow cups, fill the “Best Indoor Garden Systems” reservoir, and that’s it. In the simplest watering method I’ve tried, a lamp at the bottom of the cup will bring water up to the pod and the roots will remain in the cup. Plug it in, and the LED grow light will be on for the next 16 hours.
I checked Smart Garden 9 Lettuce, basil and tomato plants with three pods each. In total, there are about 75 pods to choose from, including herbs, flowers, arugula and vegetables. There is a Smart Garden Pro That connects to Wi-Fi and “Best Indoor Garden Systems” has app control, but despite being “smart” in the name, it’s not—the non-Pro version doesn’t need or require an app.
All in all, this garden was refreshingly low maintenance. A small bobber on one end tells you when the water level is low and a top-off is needed while floating below the rising surface. That’s it. No worries about adding nutrients or checking pH or pumps. It’s also small, so you can place it on a shelf or countertop.
Best Indoor Garden Systems
At the same time, it was also the slowest-growing garden I’ve ever tested. I set it up the same week as the curtain above and was already harvesting months worth of greens by the time I got a Click & Grow lettuce leaf. One of my “Best Indoor Garden Systems” lettuce pods sprouted even. After two months, I had collected a handful of basil and lettuce leaves (literally a handful), and the cherry tomatoes had grown in front of the light without producing a single flower. Meanwhile, Lettuce Grow, which started after Click & Grow, had at least 15 visible tomatoes. Still, it’s not a bad garden by any stretch, and it’s a viable option for busy people interested in growing something like flowers, where yields aren’t a concern.
Best Indoor Garden Systems
| light cycle | 16 hours |
| pump cycle | No pump |
| Stains for plants | 3-9 (for Smart Garden) |
| Includes nutrition | Already in pods; No application required |
| Choose from plants | 75+ |
| maintenance required | Close the top of the reservoir as needed |
| Ease of resetting after each planting (out of 10) | 9/10 (just drain the water and discard the cup; the roots grow completely inside the cup) |
| Can you grow your own plants? | Yes; Click and increase offer “Grow Anything” pods For $2-$3 each. |
| dimension | Approximately 24″ W x 16″ H x 7″ D |
| Energy consumption | 13 watts |
| warranty | 1 year |