“Like a coffee capsule machine, but for plants,” says Click & Grow’s marketing copy. Sure enough, Click & Grow Smart Garden seed pods come in a plastic three-pack that evokes Nespresso with a removable lid. (The centuries are running $3 to $5 each.) Place the nutrient-filled “Smart Soil” seed pod into one of the Click & Grow cups with the absorbent bottom, fill the reservoir, and that’s it. In the simpler watering system I’ve tried, the wick at the bottom of the cup will bring water to the pods, and the roots stay in the cups. Plug it in, and the LED grow lights will stay lit for the next 16 hours.
I’ve tested Smart Garden 9 With three pieces each of lettuce, basil and tomatoes. Overall, there are about 75 pods to choose from, including herbs, flowers, leafy greens like arugula, and greens. there Smart Garden Pro It connects to Wi-Fi and has app control, but despite the word ‘smart’ in the name, this isn’t it – no app is needed or required for the non-Pro version.
Overall, this garden was refreshingly low maintenance. A small popper on one end tells you when the water level is low and needs a topping simply by floating lower than the growing surface. That’s it. No need to add nutrients, check pH, or worry about pumps. It’s also small, so you can place it on a shelf or countertop.
At the same time, this was also the slowest growing garden I tested. I made it the same week as the Gardyn above, and I had already harvested enough greens and veggies to last for months by the time I got a single Click & Grow lettuce leaf. One of my lettuces didn’t sprout at all. Two months later, I had harvested a handful of basil and lettuce leaves (literally, a handful), and the cherry tomatoes had grown past the lights without producing a single flower. Meanwhile, Lettuce Grow, which started after Click & Grow, had at least 15 tomatoes visible by then. However, this is by no means a bad garden, and is a viable option for busy people interested in growing something like flowers, where yield is not a concern.
| light cycle | 16 hours |
| Pump cycle | No pump |
| Places for plants | 3-9 (for smart garden) |
| Nutrients included | Already in centuries. No apps necessary |
| Plants to choose from | 75+ |
| Maintenance needs | Top the tank as needed |
| Easy reset after each transplant (out of 10) | 9/10 (Just empty the water and dispose of the cups; the roots grow completely inside the cups) |
| Can you grow your own plants? | Yes; Click & Grow Offers Antlers “grow anything.” For $2-$3 each. |
| Dimensions | almost. 24″w x 16″h x 7″d |
| Energy consumption | 13 watts |
| a guarantee | 1 year |