Average Reviews:
(More customer reviews)I lucked into a deeply discounted Prepara Power Plant Professional with included grow light and the herb saver at my local Marshall's. I'd never seen one of these before, but I'd tried my hand at various types of indoor hydroponics before, and it looked well designed.
The first thing I must say is this: Aerogarden seed kits cost a lot of money because they make sure the seeds are viable and the whole thing is idiot proof. They pick miniaturized plant types that work well for mini-container gardening, knowing that anyone who plants an indeterminate tomato plant in their product is not going to be satisfied. You can save a lot of money by using your own seeds with the Prepara Power Plant, and I really love that about the product, but you have to make sure the seeds you use are viable. (Nose around GardenWeb and find out how to do that.) If you've bought off-season 10-cents-per-pack seeds at Walmart, and most of your seeds fail to germinate or rot, don't blame the Prepara Power Plant. Also, don't expect seeds that germinate under very different conditions and have different rates of growth and lighting needs to do well together. Lettuce sprouts quickly; cilantro, not so much. You have to understand what the different seeds/plants need. The "foolproof" products that cost a fortune are for people who don't want to have to learn how to garden.
Now, all that said, I think rock wool cubes would work better than the little grow sponges that come with the Power Plant, and I happen to have plenty of those from my last hydroponics experiment. I would start seedlings in the cubes in a seed-starting tray (an old meat tray, perhaps), or maybe a makeshift lettuce-raft type hydroponics setup, then move the strongest plants into the Power Plant when they are ready to really take off. But I have to say that the design of the little pods that hold the plants looks PERFECT for just buying some small herb plants, washing the soil off the roots very well, and trimming them down to work the roots through the holders, sans sponges. That's what I'm going to do with my next batch of plants so I've always got fresh herbs growing in my kitchen.
This is NOT a good product for seed-starting and then transplating the plants to another area. That's what you save your styrofoam meat trays, old cut-up toilet paper rolls, and paper cups for. It's for kitchen herbs and lettuces, maybe strawberries. Green garlic might do nicely in this unit.
I do very much like the way the Prepara Power Plant is designed, and I LOVE the sound of the water running inside of it. It's got all the charm of a feng shui water feature but with the functionality of being able to grow fresh edibles. It fits neatly on my countertop, and the clean lines are quite appealing.
A word of warning: if you have cats in the house, they are going to be absolutely fascinated by the sound of the water inside the Power Plant. They are going to be constantly sneaking up to it and biting off the heads of your young plants when you aren't looking. Don't expect much growth from the Prepara Power Plant if you have cats in your house. But, still, it's a hoot to watch. And if you really want to have a good time, put some catnip plants in your Prepara Power Plant. Multiple trips for multiple cats....
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How would you like healthy plants at your fingertips year-round? With the Prepara Power Plant Professional, you won't have to worry about overwatering or forgetting to maintain your plants. The Power Plant Professional automatically dispenses nutrient to your seeds and plants, so you won't have to remember. Grow herbs, fruit, and fresh flowers right in your kitchen, 365 days a year. Growing is so easy, you'll be thrilled to experiment with a variety of seed. At your supermarket, hardware store, or home finishing store, you'll find a plethora of affordable seeds that you'll want to try. The Power Plant Professional's clean, svelte design looks great on any counter or window sill. No green thumb is required. Just set it up, plant your seed, and let the Power Plant Professional do all the work. It can grow up to 50% faster than potted plants do. With no dirt involved, you won't have to worry about bugs and worms either. Just use water, nutrient, and air to grow abundant harvests. You get 6 grow sponges, 6 grow baskets, 6 humidadomes, 6 seed covers, nutrients, AC adaptor, and more. Clean the bowl and grow surface between crops using a mild detergent. 10.4 x 10.4 x 8.6 inches. 5 pounds.
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