It’s been close to three months since starting my first AeroGarden seed pods.

I think we’re about at the end of the first cycle. The mint and two basil plants are still going strong, but the parsley and dill are showing signs of decline. The cilantro succumbed to mold about a week ago (pictured, front left pod), and the chives never had a chance (back row, second pod from the left).

To be fair, it is not the fault of the AeroGarden or the chives for failing to thrive. No, this failure can be attributed to my lack of attention when thinning the plants, and then the rapid growth rate of the basil shading out the tiny chive seedlings.

Cilantro Mold

There are signs of mold around the base of the stems on most of the plants, but so far only the cilantro has been negatively affected. This being my first experience growing hydroponically, I’m not sure if the mold is a common occurrence, but it seems like it would be since plants stay constantly moist in the AeroGarden.

Regardless, the cilantro lasted just as long, if not longer, as it would out in the garden. Here in Indiana, by the time we reach the last frost date and it is safe to plant tender herbs in the beginning of May, daytime temperatures often have climbed too high, causing cilantro to bolt, or go into flower, before getting much use out of the leaves.

So, to make a short story long, the mold issue may be more of an observation than an actual problem.

Thick and Healthy Herbs

It is truly amazing how thick and healthy the tangled web of roots look that have nearly filled the basin of the AeroGarden. If you need to rearrange the plants to accommodate growth, you should move them around early (within the first month) as it’s next to impossible to do this once the roots have intertwined. Also, expect to add water to the basin at least once a week when plants have reached the two month mark. All those roots really absorb the water quickly.

Next Steps in the AeroGarden

I have really enjoyed having fresh herbs available in winter. And since there was no noticeable increase in my electric bill, I am looking forward to growing the next round of plants in my AeroGarden, although I think I’ll keep the basil and mint around for a while longer.