Tue, 2010/09/07 - 9:05pm
I just ordered my first AG. I've heard that people save their pods and plant whatever they want with the sponges you can buy online. I'm curious to know if any modifications have to be done to the pods or if I need any spare parts to reuse them?
Thanks!
Wed, 2010/09/08 - 2:25pm
#2
Hi djroberts and welcome. 
Pretty much as Gisette said, all you need are some AG sponges or alternatives, good thread here, and then nutrients when you use all yours up. You can buy the standard AG nutrients, or, if you want to try something different, buy proper hydroponic nutrients and mix your own custom strength feed for your plants.
Labels can be re-used a number of times, if they don't stick then warm a knife up under a flame and press this against the label which is on your pod for a second. The glue will melt and it will adhere to the pod when it cools, print more labels here if you want some fresh ones.
Wed, 2010/09/08 - 3:43pm
#3
Wow, wonderful information. Thank you both.
I'm starting with the kit it comes with which is the Gourmet Herb. I've been learning outdoor gardening as well. I've got lot's of trees planted, strawberries, onions, garlic and working on snow peas in raised beds I built.
I love the hobby so far!
Wed, 2010/09/08 - 3:52pm
#4
Uvw, DJ. 
You'll like the herb kit - well, if you like cooking with herbs. FWIW, the herb and lettuce nutes aren't very different. If any of the herbs don't germinate you can ask for a replacement pod from AG and - rather than wait for it to arrive - wash the failed pod and put lettuce seeds in it. 
Sounds like you're having fun!
Thu, 2010/09/09 - 7:20pm
#5
Is it not possible to use a potting mix in the re-used seed pod? Why does it have to be a sponge?
Fri, 2010/09/10 - 2:15am
#6
Hi, Jimmy, welcome.
No, potting mix would just turn to mud and slither through. The sponges are bound potting mix.
Sat, 2010/09/11 - 7:51am
#7
Thanks Gisette. The aerogarden I have is the space saver 6 elite. Can I grow regular tomatoes, bush variety such as better bush, in my aerogarden? If not, what are your suggestions for tomatoes?
Sat, 2010/09/11 - 11:55am
#8
Hi, Jimmy,
No, the spacesaver 6 is far too small for bush tomatoes, I think. I've never succeeded with tomatoes in an Aerogarden. But others have gotten harvests from Tiny Tim tomatoes and the AG tomato kit - all very small cherry tomatoes.
A real mid-size tomato is a large plant. Even the compact mid-size plants dwarf the Aerogarden.
Sat, 2011/06/04 - 7:18pm
#9
Actually I have had success with re-using sponges from post seasoned herbs. I have a 3 pod Aerogarden which came with basil, thyme and dill. Once the basil and dill got to maturity it required that I add water to the garden every 2 days. Unfortunately, I had to be away from the garden for a couple of days and because the thyme’s roots were not as mature I lost the thyme after only 2 good harvests. I used the sponge from the thyme and planted cherry tomato seeds which came from a fresh cherry tomato I had just sliced. It seems to be doing just fine.
I do appreciate this forum because I am learning some great tips. I did not know that I needed to completely drain, clean and refill the garden till I found this forum. Heck I’ve had my AeroGarden since Christmas of last year and have never drained it. Time to clean house.
Sat, 2011/06/04 - 10:47pm
#10
I tried an experiment using rockwool in place of the sponge type medium that comes with AeroGarden and it does work but I think the sponge actually works better. The sponge seems to promote quicker results.
Fri, 2011/06/10 - 11:02pm
#11
You will really love your new hobby after your first harvest of the herbs. You will be sad that you don't have at least two or three more gardens. You can easily start tomatoes from seeds from a fresh sliced tomato or take a snip of a healthy tomato plant and put it into your AeroGarden and watch it grow right before your eyes regardless of the time of year. :)
Welcome, dj! I'm sure you'll love your AG. Even if we've found the need to go beyond them, that's only because they got us started (or started again, in Peat's case
).
Yeah, I saved pods and use new sponges and new nutrients. Each pod is basically 4 parts: the seed-embedded sponge, a plastic "pod" (sponge-holder), a laminate collar, and a greenhouse mini-dome. The sponge can't be re-used, and the nutrients get used up, but the pod, collar, and mini-dome are worth saving to use again.
You can buy nutrient and sponge refills direct from Aerogrow, or start exploring. More on that after you've gotten well into your first grow.
Speaking of which - whatcha growing first?