For a first time grower with no experience growing anything? Doubtful. The Aerogarden is simplicity squared. It's virtually impossible to screw up. Just be sure not to use the Aerogarden nutrients. If you absolutely must, use 1/4 strength, and only sparingly. I would strongly suggest you invest in quality hydroponic nutrients, such as the FoxFarm line.

But DOTS is right. I'm convinced it's a great way for beginning growers to learn the basics, but you won't be able to take any more than three plants all of the way, due to size restraints, topside and in the reservoir. This is unless you decide to do Screen of Green. In that case, you can utilise all of the growing sites.

It is absolutely perfect for the early vegetative stage, but it will need to be modified slightly, as it is inadequate beyond this stage. The primary concern is lighting; you'll need to supplement the hood with additional lights as your grow progresses. I've outlined all of this a couple of times before; check out the other Aerogarden grows on the website for a how-to.

~Ethno

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This user does not in any way advocate the breaking of any law, as these laws are generally in place for a good reason. This user does, however, encourage others to question the conceptual framework of their reality, to search for objective truth, and to fight for freedom, both external and internal. Inherent in the right to life and the pursuit of happiness is the freedom to speak and believe as one pleases, and the freedom to use their minds and bodies as they see fit, free from external control, so long as they cause no harm to anyone else in the process.

"For it is not what goes into your mouth that will defile you; rather, it is what comes out of your mouth that defiles you." - Jesus of Nazareth

"An if it harm none, do what ye will" - Wiccan Rede

This user, like anything purported to be said or done by his person, is completely fictitious in nature. That being said, I reject your reality and substitute my own.

Ok, so first, I've been a believer in the AG since day one. I mean, sure it's not the ultimate grow system, BUT it most definitely seems to be the most complete, turn-key operation that's truly perfect for a novice. The only real mod that's absolutely necessary if you want a plant of any kind of size is the lights, but the base seems like it should be able to support a decent sized plant.

Anyway, I'm sure you experienced growers know more than I do for the most part, so I'm not going to argue, but I do want to try it and give it the best care all the way through while in the stock base and see what happens. I mean, the other systems have way more parts that require manual configuration; that's why people love the aerogarden, not because is so damn powerful and high-tech, but because you don't have to put together s#!t really.

All of that isn't the reason I posted though... ok, so are you ready?

Frickin' Aerogarden is making their system more viable for growing... They've upgraded the stock lights AND added 24in to the lighting arm.... BOOO-F*CKIN-YAH! That's a step in the right direction boys... we're now looking at accomodating 3-footers stock. This is going to get absolutely ridiculous. Soon, they're going to have a floor-standing unit that has a 5ft light arm and side lights, you wait.... oh, this is soooo exciting, I can see the nationwide legalization of marisol on the horizon already.

...oh, and in case anyone is wondering what the heck that has to do with my journal... needless to say, I'll be ordering mine in time to transplant honey-baby to the s-class of ag's.

honestly your wasting time and money ....the only useable part of the AG is the bottom.... which is small... you could prolly get a better setup pre-made online for the same price.... how much you gonna spend on the AG ? and how much space you have to grow?

Yes, AG is a waste in my opinion. Nothing beats a custom setup or even better SOIL.

Hydro grows have a distinguishable taste in my experience, and not a pleasant one always.

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Check out my Blueberry/Bagseed grow:http://www.rollitup.org/grow-journal...erry-grow.html

...but it's so cool looking lol. No, but seriously I want to try to make it work; and you're right if I want any kind of real plant I'll be replacing the lights in a few weeks. The most space that I could dedicate to it would be like 4' x 8'. That's why I was so stoked about the ag. It was $150. The beginning of next year I may dedicate a room to it, but i don't know. Really I want to see if I can even do it, which I'm sure I can... once I'm confident that I can handle this, then I might start looking at the more complex stuff. I just dont want a super complicated system that if something goes wrong I can't fix.

Here's a couple of pics of honey baby before I moved her...







Oh, so just in case there's any other newbies out there who are trying to figure out which of these routes to use when germinating: I did nothing more than get a paper towel, folded it in half twice, then wet it (but not really sooaked it, basically it shouldn't drip), put my baby near the middle, then folded the other side over the side my baby was on. After that I took a country crock container, put my baby on the lid (still in the paper towel), and ultimately laying it to rest on top of my laptop power cord box thing. I did that because I read that it should stay warm, so I figured if I left it on there and just took it when it started to get too hot, that would be good. I think the most cable boxes would be good, but mine isn't warm on top.

im not saying you need a complicated system... there is several choices... as cheap or cheaper then the AG which will give you 10x better results...

A. put soil in a pot and put lights around it...( really cheap and simple)
B. buy a hydroponics/ebb n flow system of ebay(same as ag and more effective)
C. make a hydroponics/ ebb n flow system ( cheap)

C might be alittle harder... but all it is is buckets withtubes going to them with a pump at the end... or just a big container full with water and a pump to keep it airated... its not exactly brain surgery. youve herd what people have to say and none say AG is a smart decision. so why be an idiot?

Not to go too deep because I know my diesel is still hitting me... but successful people don't allow other people's failures to stifle their vision of what's possible; while still observing other people's success and experience as a guide to avoid those mistakes and realizing those possibilities.

That said, I do think though, that it would be helpful if you or maybe one of the other more experienced growers could give a guestimate of what is the most that you could get out of an aerogarden base, aftermarket lights, and a max clearance of say 6'ish.

See, I think where I still find such a strong urge to give it a go, is because those who have bad things to say about it, have just that, bad things to say about it. How about trying to give it the benefit of the doubt and say "Well, if you absolutely were dead set on using the AG (which "I"-me being you, you being me- think is stupid), then you're going to be looking at a max of ---this many--- plants, having to flower them at ---this many weeks---, and that's going to yeild you about ---this much--- bud at the end of the day; which I personally don't think is worth it."

A post like that is a lot easier to accept if you're a person who so badly wants the ag to work. Because the thing is, the ag can grow bud, it's just a matter of how good and how much; but when those who are in opposition to it say "don't use it at all because it's no good," that's not 100% true, thus making it hard to accept that opinion/advice.

i kinda skimmed throu that... and your an idiot.... but i'd say... if you blocked out every other spot to give the plants room... i'd say you could get around 3 plants in that thing... im not sure how tall you could get them growing out of that little tub... but assuming you got them to around 4 ft... in your 6 ft space.. i'd say you could yeild a good pound if done right... but i would aim for more of like... a few oz's a plant.. atleast 1-2

I would say, for about three plants, probably about a quarter pound or so.
If you get yourself an HPS, use CFL sidelighting, and use all six feet of clearance space, perhaps more.

~Ethno

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__________________________________________
This user does not in any way advocate the breaking of any law, as these laws are generally in place for a good reason. This user does, however, encourage others to question the conceptual framework of their reality, to search for objective truth, and to fight for freedom, both external and internal. Inherent in the right to life and the pursuit of happiness is the freedom to speak and believe as one pleases, and the freedom to use their minds and bodies as they see fit, free from external control, so long as they cause no harm to anyone else in the process.

"For it is not what goes into your mouth that will defile you; rather, it is what comes out of your mouth that defiles you." - Jesus of Nazareth

"An if it harm none, do what ye will" - Wiccan Rede

This user, like anything purported to be said or done by his person, is completely fictitious in nature. That being said, I reject your reality and substitute my own.