AeroGarden Grow Anything Seed pod kit is an all-in-one set and a wonderful assistant helping you with indoor hydroponic gardening. It evidently comes with a rather high price, therefore, is an expensive replacement after every use.
The solution is to reuse and make the components at home. Creating homemade seed pods will save you big bucks for indoor gardening; this applies to DIY AeroGarden pods as well. Follow our instructions in this article, you will have new, inexpensive seed pods for the next crop.
It is possible to make your DIY AeroGarden pods.
Contents
AeroGarden pods DIY’s preparation
You can either reuse some parts of the seed pod kit or make the whole DIY seed pods. Suppose you choose to reuse the components such as grow baskets. All you need for the DIY process are alternative sponges and nutrients.
If you have more time and want to save more money, you can make a whole new seed pod set from easy-to-find materials. In this article, we will instruct you on how to make DIY AeroGarden pods without plastic. Eco-friendly, yay!
First, you need to prepare the following materials:
- Reused Aerogarden grow domes
- 1 or 2 aluminum trays
- Sponges
- Aluminum foil
- Tools (Knives and scissors)
Caution & Notes
Throughout the process, you will use aluminum and sharp tools like scissors and knives, which might easily lead to injury when not cautious.
We recommend you to carry out the DIY project with care and patience. It is better to take your time than rushing to complete the process and get injured. We also advise to do the process out of children’s reach.
To avoid any interruption during the DIY AeroGarden pods project, you should stock new liquid nutrient or nutrient tablets. They might be empty after your previous crop. You can refer to some nutrient solution brands like FloraNova Liquid Earth, AeroFalls (liquid), or Miracle Go-water soluble powders.
Any of the numerous air conditioning weather stripping seals like Frost King Air Conditioner Weatherseal is acceptable for the grow sponges. You should cut them into pieces with suitable sizes. This weathered seal kit allows the sponges to expand.
If you need a new growing basket, you can use a discarded plastic 35 mm film canister to make a serviceable homemade replacement. It needs to be at a proper diameter.
Using a sharp knife or a Dremel-type rotary tool fitted with a cutting disk to carefully cut three large, longitudinal slots that are uniformly spaced around the canister side.
7 steps to make DIY AeroGarden pods
This DIY AeroGarden pods instruction contains plastic-free ingredients. We like to contribute to protecting the environment in any possible way. More than just creating seed pods, this step-by-step guideline also instructs you to make a tray to carry these DIY seed pods.
This instruction shows you how to create a brand new seed pod from aluminum without reusing grow baskets from the original set. This method is inexpensive; however, it requires a lot of time and effort to copy the original seed pods.
Step 1: Prepare aluminum pieces
You will need an aluminum tray to make the DIY seed pods. Cut the aluminum pieces at the proper length to recreate the round shape of the original seed pods.
Use a pair of scissors to make little slits on the bottom of each aluminum piece. Then, fold these pieces. As the edges of the aluminum pieces’ are sharp, you should be careful when rolling them.
You then need to fold down the tips that you’ve cut before. It would be best if you fold the tip around the ring all the way down to the top of it, so you’ve got a little space for your AeroGarden seed pods. Later on, it will be handy when you put down your little foil.
Step 2: Create holes on the aluminum cylinders
Now, it is the most dangerous step of the process. You need a knife to cut the slits on the aluminum cylinders. These slits will help water go inside the seed pods.
It’s better to cut the slits from the top to the bottom of the DIY seed pods. You can do that by curling and pushing them down. Then, there you go, some nice holes. It would help if you made them clean and seamless.
Step 3: Make the DIY AeroGarden sponges
After the cutting process, make sure that the size of the sponge should be approximately three-quarters of the aluminum pod. You need to make more holes inside the pod before placing the sponge inside.
The first hole to create is the main hole. This hole is at the top of the sponge; the seeds will be there.
You can make holes inside your sponges with a screwdriver. Make sure you’re only halfway through the sponge; you don’t want the seeds to stay too deep in the pods.
Now you should poke in some side holes. The side holes provide roots the space to grow and not suffocate. You should take a screwdriver and start from the edges. When screwing from either side of the sponge, you should try to reach the central hole.
Again, you can easily get hurt while doing this step, so make sure to do it carefully. A small but useful tip from us, place your sponge on a rough surface instead of keeping it in your hands.
Another way to get sponges is to buy the pack of 50 sponges provided by AeroGarden. If you have the store-bought sponges from AeroGarden, the only thing you need to do is insert the sponges into the grow baskets. After that, you can complete the DIY process and go directly to plant new seeds for your next crop.
Step 4: Insert the DIY sponges into the DIY pods
Now, it’s time to insert the sponges into your seed pods to see if they fit. If your DIY sponges fit just right, you might have to push the sponges down the pods a little further.
In case the sponges are too thick, you should cut them to the right size. The size of the sponges can affect the final result of your products and harvest.
Step 5: Enlarge the holes
Once you’ve inserted your sponge, you need to widen the slits you already created. This will allow water and nutrients to get inside and reach to your seed. You can also leave the bottom part open, so any excess water can drip down.
Step 6: Replace a grow label with a DIY aluminum foil
You need to cut some square aluminum foils for the next stage. These aluminum foils should be large enough to cover the top of seed pods. Cover the top of your pod, then fold the edges to ensure the aluminum foil remains in place at all times. After you seal it, you need to make another hole on the top and right in the middle of your aluminum foil cover. The hole will allow the seeds to grow upwards.
If you want to reuse the paper-made grow labels from the original kit, please make sure to keep them away from water to preserve them.
Step 7: Put the cap into the DIY AeroGarden pods
You only need the seed pod caps from the old seed pod kit for the final stage. If you spend time making aluminum seed pods of your own, make sure the lids fit them. The great thing about working with thin aluminum is that you can shape it any way you want; it won’t crack.
Like the grow baskets and the grow labels, you can also reuse old caps. Please make sure to clean and dry them thoroughly after your previous harvest.
Arrange the growing kit for the next crop
After finishing making DIY AeroGarden pods, you can start your next crop right now. In case you don’t have time to make DIY AeroGarden pods, buying the brand new seed pod kit from the manufacturer is another solution.
AeroGarden offers a Grow Anything Seed Pod Kit for people who want to start an interest in indoor gardening. `You can choose from 3, 6, 9, or 12 pod kits. Each kit includes grow sponges, grow baskets, grow labels, a detailed growing guide, and a 3-ounce bottle of liquid nutrients. These kits can work any kind of AeroGarden from bounty to sprout.
Besides seed pods, you should prepare to have the grow lights, the water pump, and the alert system. These components are all you need to get your AeroGarden ready for the next crop.
In conclusion
It is not difficult to create DIY AeroGarden pods, isn’t it? You can reuse some parts of the original set like grow baskets or caps. Or, you can make a brand new plastic-free set following our seven-step instruction.
Now it’s time, roll up your sleeves, and start the DIY project! We can’t wait to see your DIY seed pods.
Take photos of your homemade AeroGarden seed pods and share them with us! Everyone is warmly welcome!