AeroGarden’s liquid nutrient solution is fine. It works. I’m not going to tell you it secretly kills plants or something.

But it is expensive. Three ounces every two weeks for a six-pod unit adds up. The bottle is small and the refills cost more than comparable hydroponic nutrients from other brands.

What’s in the AeroGarden Nutrients

It’s a balanced liquid fertilizer designed for the pH range their systems operate at — roughly 5.5 to 7.0. The formula is NPK-based (nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium) with micronutrients included. Nothing exotic. You could replicate roughly similar results with any decent hydroponic nutrient solution.

Alternatives I’ve Used

General Hydroponics Flora Series — the three-bottle system (Grow, Micro, Bloom) lets you adjust ratios based on what you’re growing. For herbs, you run it heavy on Grow. For fruiting plants, you shift toward Bloom. It takes a little learning but it’s not complicated, and the cost per gallon is much lower than AeroGarden’s solution.

MaxiGro / MaxiBloom (General Hydroponics) — dry powder nutrients that dissolve in water. They last forever on a shelf. I’ve used MaxiGro for herbs and it performs identically to the Flora Series in AeroGarden units. The per-application cost is low.

MasterBlend 4-18-38 — the bargain option. Often bundled with calcium nitrate and Epsom salt in a three-part mix. Popular with serious hobbyists. Works in AeroGarden units. You have to mix it yourself, which some people find annoying.

Dosing in AeroGarden Units

Third-party nutrients are usually dosed at higher concentrations than AeroGarden recommends. Start at half strength. Plants in small systems are more sensitive to overfeeding than plants in large reservoirs.

For a typical six-pod Harvest unit, I use about 5–7 ml per gallon of GH Flora Series (equal parts all three). AeroGarden recommends 4 ml of their solution per quart. Different ratios, similar results.

Do You Need to Adjust pH?

With AeroGarden nutrients: no. The formula is designed to keep pH in range.

With third-party nutrients: check pH a day after mixing. Most good nutrient formulas land somewhere near 6.0, which is fine. If you’re using tap water with a high baseline pH, you may need a pH down solution. A pH meter is a worthwhile $20 purchase if you’re switching nutrient brands.

The Bottom Line

Use AeroGarden’s solution if convenience matters more than cost. Switch to GH Flora Series or MaxiGro if you want to reduce ongoing expenses. The plants don’t care either way as long as the nutrients are balanced and the pH is reasonable.

Individual articles in this guide go deeper on specific nutrient problems and crop-specific feeding.