November is here and the Christmas countdown has started. If you'd rather skip the socks, the scented candles and yet another gadget that ends up forgotten in a drawer, here's an idea: a hydroponic garden. It's a useful gift that gets used every day, brings the family together and keeps giving long after the wrapping paper is gone.
In this guide we'll help you pick the right garden for each person and each home.
Why is a hydroponic garden a great gift?
- It can be enjoyed all year round. Fresh lettuce, rocket, parsley, coriander or strawberries, harvested in the kitchen, on the balcony or on the terrace.
- No soil, no garden needed. Plants grow in water and nutrients, so everything stays clean and tidy.
- It's easy to get started. Our gardens are complete systems: they come with the structure, pump, timer and nutrient kit.
- It's a family experience. Sowing seeds, watching roots grow and harvesting the first lettuce is a wonderful way for children to learn where their food comes from.
Which garden suits each person?
For someone in a flat with little light
In winter there's little natural light, and even less indoors. That's where built-in lighting makes all the difference. The Mini Hydroponic Tower with LED – 30 Plants holds up to 30 plants in a compact footprint (42.5 x 42.5 x 99.5 cm), has its own LED grow light, built-in wheels and tool-free assembly. Its 20-litre tank only needs topping up about once a month. Note that seeds and plants are sold separately, so it pairs nicely with the extras below.
For something bigger, the Hydroponic Tower with LED – 40 Plants comes with full-spectrum LED bars and an electric timer that automates both watering and lighting, so it can grow in kitchens, living rooms or offices with no direct sunlight.
For someone with a free wall in the kitchen or on the terrace
The Fixed Vertical Garden – 40 Plants uses wall space to grow around 40 plants (25 growing + 15 nursery). It's ideal for a greenhouse, patio or terrace where floor space is limited, and it's also available as a bundle pack.
For someone with a balcony or terrace
Horizontal gardens are the easiest to tend and harvest. The Horizontal Garden 40 Plants – Bundle Pack is ideal for a balcony, terrace or backyard; with more space (and more mouths to feed), the Horizontal Garden 60 Plants – Bundle Pack is the step up.
For a family that wants to grow seriously
The Vertical Mobile Garden 70 Plants – Bundle Pack is designed for indoor use and is mobile, so it can live in the kitchen over the winter and move wherever suits you best later on.
Garden or bundle pack: which one to give?
If the gift is for a complete beginner, we recommend a bundle pack. On top of the garden itself (with its pump, timer and nutrient kit), the bundle adds a pH meter, an EC meter and a phenolic foam sheet for starting seedlings, so they'll have everything they need to start growing on day one.
If the person already has some experience or owns meters, the standard garden is enough. Browse all the options in Vertical Gardens, Horizontal Gardens and Towers.
Stocking fillers for growers
Not every gift has to be big. For someone who already has a garden (or to go with the one you're giving):
- Pelleted seeds: coated in a special clay to make germination easier and designed for germinating in phenolic foam. For this time of year, choose varieties suited to year-round growing, such as Red Batavia, Red Frisée or Red Oak Leaf lettuce. See them all in our seeds collection.
- Nutrient Kit for Leafy Greens: all the macro- and micronutrients for lettuce, herbs and spinach, formulated specifically for hydroponic systems.
- Phenolic Foam Plate: a sterile, pre-drilled substrate, perfect for germinating seeds.
Tips for a strong start in the middle of winter
- Find the brightest spot. Next to a south-facing window or on a sunny balcony. If light is scarce, a tower with LED or an LED bar makes a big difference — we explain how in Shorter Days, Fresh Greens: How to Use LED Light in Your Hydroponic Garden This Winter.
- Start with leafy greens. Lettuce and herbs are the most rewarding crops for the first cycles.
- Germinate first. Sow in phenolic foam and move the seedlings into the garden once they have roots.
- Top up the nutrient solution. Plants drink it and the tank level drops over time. Simply top up the missing volume with water and nutrients, and check the pH and EC.
Not sure what to grow? Our article What can I grow in aeroponics? has plenty of ideas.
Order early
Orders pick up quickly in the run-up to Christmas. To make sure the garden arrives in time to go under the tree, it's best to order a little ahead. Not sure which one to choose? Get in touch and we'll help you find the perfect garden for the person you have in mind.
Happy holidays and happy growing!
