Using your own seeds. Can you use your won seeds instead of buying the expensive seed pods?
1015073
I am using my own tomato seeds. Actually, I saved the little plastic inserts that held the sponges--they clean up fine. For seed starting I replaced the little sponge with half a rockwool mini cube. It works great. I was thinking of buying the master gardeing kit but I haven't yet. I'm still on the fence about that, cause I have my own nutrients that I can add to the garden instead and I don't have to spend $40.
1015074
According to the site, they have a kid with the pods and pellets so you can grow any seeds you like. The pods are just a means of circulating the water and nutrients through the sponges the seeds are suspended in. I'm thinking of trying it. I have a "black thumb" and even I can grow something in this!
1015075
I'm thinking of getting this as a gift for someone. I just spoke to customer service. You can use your own seeds using the Master Garden Kit (on the website). According the rep I spoke to you can grow almost anything but they don't recommend anything branchy like rosemary or blueberries. He said he's seen mini pumpkins and mini cucumbers. So it seems it will grow almost anything as long as it's not branchy or doesn't grow on a tree.
1015076
Rockwool is a substrate for embeding seeds. It gives plants something to grow roots into for hydroponic gardening. They are inexpensive. They can be used individually to start plants and then planted into soil. They can be used for "hydroponic potted planting" by filling a planter with a similar volume of cubes as you would potting soil and then feed hydroponically.As to the Aerogarden, I don't know if you would use just one cube per plant or several.
1015077
Hi, thanks I will try it, but what is a rockwool mini cube and where would I get it? Thank you.
1015078
If you chop off the top of the pepper plant, it will be fine and will grow lots of side sprouts. It slightly slows the harvest but makes up for it in quantity.
1015079
The "Master gardener" kit is $40 and includes a year's worth of pods and supplies to grow the seeds of your choice in the aerogarden. I'm sure there are limitations on what it is feasible to grow (i.e. no Big Beef tomatoes). If you live in an area with a short growing season, or in an apartment, it is probably worth a try if you don't care for their other packets. You can see all their kits here: http://www.aerogrow.com/store_seedkits
1015080
Save your money:I purchased cherry tomato seeds, hot pepper seeds, use rock wool for a seed base, and kitchen plastic wrap for pod covers (less than $10 spent). Cleaned out the pump real well (use vinegar to dissolve hard water deposits). I use a dilute (half the recommended concentration, for now) Miracle-grow solution for fertilizer. Tomato plants are doing well, peppers have been a struggle to get to sprout but are doing fine once they get going. Hope they dont get too large for the aerogarden :)
1213625
I don't usually separate out non germinated seeds in a jar or any sprouter. It is up to you if you feel it is necessary then go ahead.
2191193
I myself just use regular birdseed, it has some sunflower seeds in it. I can't keep mine full enough.
2271860
It's really not that expensive. If you price them at the grocery store you will see what a good deal this is. Imagine how many seeds you get in a pound; A LOT! I bought these about a year ago and we use them quite often in various recipes and I still have plenty left. It's a very good deal really and I would order again; hope this helps you.
1813356
As far as I can tell these seeds are fine. We are currently using them and planted them last year as well. If you want to, you may want to check out publications like Mother Earth News to get more background on seed (companies). Through that magazine we have started using Southern Exposure Seed Exchange because of their reputation (and they are in NO way fully or partially owned by Monsatan, Syngenta, Cargill, etc)
2027715
I started with shelled cracked sunflower seeds which practically fall out of the slot. Then when the birds got the idea I slowly added in whole seeds over time. Birds love shelled cracked seed but it is more expensive and harder to find.
1821872
I don't know, but it seems like you could. They are live seeds, so why not? I know you cant use seed packaged to plant for sprouts because they put 'treatments' on those seeds, like to keep it from molding, etc. I would think that you could get seeds to plant cheaper though.
1402254
You could use your own coffee and put in a small filter, but I use the pods, they are easy and taste very good.
2022828
No, these use little round pods that look like tea bags - hard to find and singular in brand. You can make your own pods but it's a lot of work. Better off biting the bullet and get a Keurig or the Mr Coffee that brews k-cups, in my opinion.
281429
Dear Matthew, thank you for your question. This is Lisa, the owner of Zziggysgal. These do make a lovely Mother's Day gift, for beginner gardeners, too, because each set comes with a 24-page colored, fully illustrated Growing Instruction Booklet. If they are all going to be planted together in a decorative herb planter, then here's my personal favorite method: 1) Plant much fewer seeds for each type2) Eat some ice-cream so that you can use the ice-cream sticks to write the names of the herbs and use them as plant markers3) The instructions on the seed packets will tell you how long they take to germinate, so group the different types of seeds with those that have a similar germination period. Dear Matthew, thank you for your question. This is Lisa, the owner of Zziggysgal. These do make a lovely Mother's Day gift, for beginner gardeners, too, because each set comes with a 24-page colored, fully illustrated Growing Instruction Booklet. If they are all going to be planted together in a decorative herb planter, then here's my personal favorite method: 1) Plant much fewer seeds for each type2) Eat some ice-cream so that you can use the ice-cream sticks to write the names of the herbs and use them as plant markers3) The instructions on the seed packets will... » Read More Dear Matthew, thank you for your question. This is Lisa, the owner of Zziggysgal. These do make a lovely Mother's Day gift, for beginner gardeners, too, because each set comes with a 24-page colored, fully illustrated Growing Instruction Booklet. If they are all going to be planted together in a decorative herb planter, then here's my personal favorite method: 1) Plant much fewer seeds for each type2) Eat some ice-cream so that you can use the ice-cream sticks to write the names of the herbs and use them as plant markers3) The instructions on the seed packets will tell you how long they take to germinate, so group the different types of seeds with those that have a similar germination period. « Show Less
478470
I put seed in a can - pour some on and stir it in. It costs it but it isn't wet. Then, I fill the feeders.
980260
yes, usually. I forget when I got mine if some came with it, but I order them 50-100 at a time so I never run out. some people make their own pods too for this, but I think they are reasonable priced on amazon and ebay.
980261
A small supply of free pods came with my podmaker, but I ordered the large box of pods at the same time as the maker. So, yes, you have to eventually buy pods,but they are very reasonable in price. I'd suggest ordering at the sametime as ordering the podmaker and get it over with.
672966
I don't know, I don't have the seed starter kit. They look the same in the picture as the refill for the starter kit.I do know that they work great in the AeroGardem baskets for the 6 pod machine.
2053635
I can say Yes to untreated seeds. Check with Renee's Garden Seeds for certified organic
811730
Nope, I purchased mine separately at the Seed Bank in Petaluma, CA, totally random find. :)
2010711
Yes you do, but you can come out with your own recipe mix. You can buy the mixes online too.