Control Panel Basics
Select
Use the ‘Select’ button to choose the type of plants that you
will be growing. Each plant type has a specific light cycle that is
pre-programmed for best growth. The numbers below the plant
type indicate how many hours the grow lights will be ON during a
24-hour period.
12-hour and 24-hour lights cycles can also be selected. Many
non-flowering plants grow well for the first month with 24-hour
lights. Some flowering plants can produce more flowers with a
12-hour light setting.
When starting a new seed kit, press and hold the ‘Select’ button
for 3 seconds to reset the garden. After 3 seconds all control panel
lights blink on/off 3 times. The blinking lights confirm that the
AeroGarden has reset all relevant timers (pump, nutrient, grow
lights).
Reminders
Add nutrients to the water bowl when you first plant your seed kit,
and when the ‘Add Nutrient’ light blinks (every 2 weeks). Follow
instructions on nutrient packaging for feeding amounts.
The ‘Add Nutrients’ light and the ‘Add Water’ lights blink
concurrently as a reminder to top up the water level when you add
nutrients. Once nutrients and water have been added, press and
release the ‘Reset’ button to restart the nutrient timer and turn off
the blinking lights.
‘Replace Grow Lights’ blinks after 6 months of use as
a reminder to replace all 3 Grow Lights. Uplug your
garden and allow the grow lights to cool for a few minutes
before replacing. Once replaced, press and release the ‘Reset’
button to restart the Grow Light timer and turn off the
blinking light. For best results, replace grow lights every six
months. Replacement lights model 100340 can be ordered at
AeroGarden.com
Grow Lights
The ‘Grow Lights’ On/Off button will temporarily turn the grow
lights on or off. Once pressed, lights will stay on/off until the
next time grow lights are set to go on/off. This will not affect
the timing of your light cycle and occasional use will not harm
your plants.
The ‘Grow Lights’ On/Off button also allows you to change the
time that your Grow Lights automatically come on each day.
To reset the time that your Grow Lights come on, follow
these 2 steps:
1) Choose the time that you want the Grow Lights to come on
each day.
2) At that time, press and hold the On/Off button for 3 seconds
then release.
The panel lights will blink three times to confirm that the
change to the timer was successful. The Grow Lights will now
come ON at this time every day. You may reset the timer as
often as you like.
Pump
Pump settings determine how many hours the pump will run
each day. When your AeroGarden is plugged in the first time
the pump will start, and the pump setting will default to the
Germination cycle. Your pump will continue to start at this
same time each day, regardless of any changes made to the
pump selection.
Germination – 1/11 hr: On this cycle the pump runs for 1 hour
of every 12 hours, beginning with the hour it was plugged in
or selected. Pump runs for 1 hour, then shuts off for 11 hours,
and this cycle will repeat continuously throughout the 2-week
germination cycle.
High Growth – 24 hrs: On this cycle the pump runs
continuously for maximum oxygenation of the nutrient
solution. The Pump cycle will automatically change to High
Growth at the end of the 2-week germination period.
Interval – 5/55 (mins): On this cycle the pump runs 5 minutes
of every hour.
Add Water
When the water level drops about halfway down the ‘Fill to
Here’ indicator, the magnetic float inside the indicator will
activate and the ‘Add Water’ light will blink. Once water is
added to the fill line, the blinking light will turn off.
The ‘Add Water’ light also blinks concurrently with the ‘Add
Nutrient’ light at a 2-week interval as a reminder to top up
water when nutrients have been added. In this case, the light
will shut off once the ‘Reset’ button is pressed to reset the
nutrient timer.
A few “Bonus” tips for maximum harvests
Planting
}
Many seed pods are labeled for height. Gardens grow and
look their best when tall plants are placed in back, medium
plants on the sides, and short plants in front. If plants are all
the same size, like Salad Greens, they can be planted anywhere.
}
Do not remove Labels from seed pods. The labels identify the
plant type and plant height, show the germination time, and
inhibit algae growth.
}
Grow Domes help regulate moisture and temperature for
optimal germination. Leave them on until plants are nearly
touching the domes.
}
Large plants like tomatoes and peppers often receive fewer
than 7 pods to compensate for the large plant size. Place
seed pods in each back/side opening and in the center front
opening. Put plant spacers in the remaining openings.
Germination
}
Some seeds germinate in less than 24 hours. Some take 24 days
or more. Most labels give an estimate of how long your seeds
will take to germinate but many factors impact germination.
}
As a rule of thumb, if you are comfortable, so are your plants.
However plants are impacted by temperature. Cold weather
plants like Salad Greens germinate better in cooler weather.
Heat lovers like tomatoes and peppers will germinate faster in
warmer temperatures (above 70 degrees F). But don’t sweat it!
While they may take a bit more time, your seeds will germinate.
}
If you are growing your own seeds, plant 5-6 seeds per pod and
check the seed packet for information regarding temperature
and days to germination.
Pruning
}
Lower your plants, don’t raise your lights! You will achieve more
compact, beautiful growth and
bigger harvests if you prune plants
to keep the lights closer to all
plants.
}
Fast growing plants (like basil)
make gardeners want to raise the
lights too soon. Resist! Pruning
the plant just above a new leaf
set (Diagram A) and leaving the
lights at the lowest position will
ensure that slow-growing and low-
growing plants in your garden get
all the light they need to flourish.
}
Not pruning is the number one
mistake made by new AeroGardeners!
Prune early and often and enjoy the
small harvests!
}
Plants compete for light. Left
untended, more aggressive growers
can actually block enough light to
suppress growth of their slower
growing neighbors, and eventually
they can die off due to lack of light.
Spreading leaves must be trimmed
(Diagram B) to ensure sure that slow
growers get enough light to thrive and produce big yields.
}
Finally, pruning = harvesting. Each time you prune you get to
enjoy fresh herbs in a salad, soup, on pizza or a sandwich. And,
a full, bushy garden looks much better than one giant, spindly
plant surrounded by straggly, light starved neighbors. Pruning
also releases a wonderful scent. So Prune!
}
Learn more about pruning your plants at
www.AeroGarden.com/Help.
Lights
}
Plants love light! Always keep your grow lights as close to your
plants as possible. Plants should be 1-2 inches below grow
lights.
}
Always check to see if you can prune plants instead of raising
grow lights.
}
After pruning, lower your lights back down to within 1-2 inches
of plants if necessary.
}
Grow Lights should be replaced every 6 months for best growth.
Water
}
While the AeroGarden control panel will remind you when water
gets low, best results are achieved by topping off water regularly.
}
Plants grown in the AeroGarden are designed to thrive with
most municipal tap water. Improved results can be seen with
distilled water or reverse osmosis water, but this is not needed in
most cases.
}
Do not use well water, as most well water contains a high
amount of dissolved solids that upset the balance of our
nutrients. This can result in plants suddenly browning, or just
not growing well.
}
Do not use softened water as it contains too much sodium and
will usually harm your plants.
}
Do not fill Bowl past fill line mark.
Nutrients
}
In general, your plants will need nutrients every two weeks
when the ‘Add Nutrient’ alert activates.
}
Always shake nutrients well
before adding.
}
Follow instructions printed
on the nutrient packaging
for feeding amounts. Add
nutrients into the water bowl
through the water fill port.
}
Nutrient requirements may
change as plants grow. See
nutrient packaging for details.
}
“More” isn’t better. Resist the temptation to add “just a little
extra.” Too much nutrient can hurt your plants.
The included
Trellis
System
will support
your large plants,
such as tomatoes and
peppers, by wrapping
around the plants as
they grow.
Once your plants reach
a height where they
would benefit from
extra support, attach
the
Trellis System
to the
top Lamp Arm section
as pictured. The
Trellis
can be repositioned as
plants grow.
To give plants the best
light for growth, do not
add
Trellis
until needed.
}
For best results, try a “Rinse and Refill” once a month when
it’s time to add nutrients. Simply empty all water from the
bowl, add fresh water and nutrients and reset your ‘Add
Nutrient’ reminder. This balances the nutrients, delivering
an instant pick up to plants.
Harvesting
}
Many first-time growers are hesitant to harvest. Don’t
be! Most gardens will produce more, for a longer period,
with frequent harvests. You almost can’t begin to harvest
(prune) early enough.
}
AeroGardens work best with a harvesting method called
“cut and come again.” Simply put, you enjoy frequent small
harvests and then watch as the plants rapidly re-grow,
ready for harvest again and again.
}
Enjoy frequent, smaller harvests for the first month or two
until plants mature and larger harvests are available.
}
Never harvest more than 1/3 of the plant at a time.
}
When salad greens are ready for harvest (at about 4 weeks)
cut the top 2 inches off the entire garden, or harvest large
leaves individually by cutting off at the base of the plant.
Tomatoes and Peppers
Because most people don’t have bees in their home, you
will need to start pollinating your tomato and pepper plants
once they begin to flower (approximately 4 – 6 weeks after
planting). To pollinate, use one or more of the following
methods:
}
Place an open hand inside plant branches and gently
move your hand back and forth to shake the plant and
spread the pollen.
}
Place a fan near your plants and the moving air will
pollinate your plants.
}
Touch the main stem of the plants with an electric
toothbrush and allow the vibration to spread the pollen.
Cleaning and Sanitizing
After each planting, you should clean and sanitize your
AeroGarden to reduce the risk of root pathogens that can
destroy your crop. Here’s how:
}
Fill the Bowl ¾ full with water and add ¼ cup of chlorine
bleach.
}
Let the water pump or aerator circulate the bleach solution
for five minutes.
}
Empty the bleach solution from the Bowl, rinse well, and
then fill ¾ full of clear water (no bleach).
}
Let the pump or aerator circulate the clear water for five
minutes.
}
Empty and rinse once more to ensure that all bleach is
rinsed from Bowl.
OR without bleach
}
Add 5 cups of distilled white vinegar and fresh tap water to
the Bowl and follow the instructions above.
Diagram B
Diagram A
Too High
Cut Here
Starter
Leaves
Planting and Harvesting Tips
Using The Trellis System
FILL LEVEL
Water/Nutrient
Fill Port
1
) Snap on each part separately to
top section of the Lamp Arm.
2
) Then push together for a snap
fit until pins connect.
Trellis assembled
Trellis Top-down
view on Lamp Arm
Trellis pieces
Lamp Arm
How to assemble
©2013 AeroGrow International, Inc
.
0
130808
This connection is
permanent once made
Fill Bowl
up to
Fill Line Mark
Water Port
3
) Connect the trellis pieces in front by lining up the connecting pins and snapping
together. Once the front pieces are snapped together, that connection is permanent.
If the trellis needs to be removed or repositioned, the trellis pieces should be detached
from the lamp arm, not from the front connection.
LIMITED WARRANTY
What Is Covered – This warranty covers any defects in materials or workmanship, with the exceptions stated below.
How Long Coverage Lasts – This warranty runs for one (1) year on this AeroGarden and six (6) months on the Grow Lights(s),
from the date of original purchase, for the original purchaser/user.
What is Not Covered – The warranty shall not apply to problems arising from: normal wear; failure to adhere to enclosed
operating instructions; serial numbered products if the serial number has been removed or defaced; products subject
to negligence, accident, improper use, maintenance or storage; products damaged by circumstances beyond AeroGrow
International Inc.’s control; loss or damage to removable parts; or products modified (including, but not limited to,
modifications through the use of unauthorized parts or attachments) or repaired by anyone other than AeroGrow
International, Inc., or its designee. This warranty excludes all incidental or consequential damages.
What AeroGrow Will Do – AeroGrow International, Inc., at its option, will repair any defects in materials or workmanship or
will replace these products with ones of similar features and price. AeroGrow International, Inc.’s sole obligation and your
exclusive remedy under this warranty shall be limited to such repair or replacement.
To Return This Product – If you have questions or concerns regarding your AeroGarden, please contact Customer Service
at 1-800-476-9669. Please do not return any product without contacting AeroGrow for return authorization. Unauthorized
returns, as well as C.O.D. shipments, will be refused. For more information regarding returns, please see the Customer Care
section at www.AeroGarden.com.
Due to continuing improvements, actual product may differ slightly from the product described herein. Some states do not allow the
exclusion or limitation of incidental or consequential damages, so the above limitation or exclusion may not apply to you. This warranty
gives you specific legal rights, and you may have other legal rights that vary from state to state.
If you have any questions please feel free to contact our customer service representatives at 1-800-476-9669.
AeroGrow International, Inc., P.O. Box 18450, Boulder, CO 80308
NEED SUPPLIES, ACCESSORIES OR INFORMATION? Call: 1-800-476-9669
Visit Our Website: www.AeroGarden.com
U.S. CAUTION
–
You are cautioned that any changes or modifications not expressly approved in this manual
could void your authority to operate this equipment.
To reduce the risk of electric shock, this furnishing has a polarized plug (one blade is wider
than the other). This plug will fit in a polarized outlet only one way. If the plug does not fit
fully in the outlet, reverse the plug. If it still does not fit, contact a qualified electrician to
install the proper outlet. Do not change the plug in any way.
CAUTION:
TO PREVENT ELECTRIC SHOCK, MATCH WIDE BLADE OF PLUG
TO WIDE SLOT, FULLY INSERT.
Model number: 100602- BLK Electrical rating: 120V~60Hz, 1A
DO NOT SUBMERGE
Household Use Only
Do not immerse cord in water or other liquid, and unplug cord from outlet when not in use.
Disconnect power before
servicing or replacing lamp.
Use only AeroGarden
Grow Light #100340
