Sanitizing Your 3- or 6-Pod AeroGarden

at the End of Your Seed Kit

It is very important to sanitize the AeroGarden between Seed Kits to flush out dead plant material and to kill any pathogens. Follow this procedure at the end of every Seed Kit. (If you have a 7-Pod AeroGarden, please click here as the sanitizing instructions are different.)

1) Unplug the AeroGarden.

2) Carefully remove the Bowl and Grow Surface from the Base and take them to a sink. Set the Base and Lamp Hood aside. (Note: Never submerse the Base or Lamp Arm in water.)

3) Remove the Grow Surface from the Bowl and place on a counter near the sink.

4) Empty the contents of the Bowl into the sink. (Note: Don’t use this water on houseplants… the nutrient mixture may be too concentrated for them).

5) Remove the Seed Pods and plants from the Grow Surface:

Pull the Seed Pods out of the Grow Surface openings. You may need to cut away the roots from the bottom of the Seed Pods in order to be able to remove them from the Grow Surface. The plant tops, roots and Grow Sponges may be composted or thrown away, but the plastic Seed Pods are not reusable, unless you are using the Master Gardener Deluxe Kit. If you have Master Gardener Kit Seed Pods, soak them in the sanitizing water in the Bowl in step 7 below.

6) Clean the Bowl and Grow Surface:
Use a soft cloth, sponge or scrub brush to thoroughly clean any plant debris or nutrient residue from the Bowl and Grow Surface. A mild soap may be used, but it is very important to rinse it thoroughly before proceeding to the next step. (Never allow dishsoap and bleach to come in contact with each other, as toxic fumes may result.) Do not use abrasive cleansers or cleaning tools as they may scratch your Bowl or Grow Surface.

7) Sanitize the AeroGarden:

• Fill the Bowl ¾ full with water
• Add 1/4 cup of chlorine bleach
  
• Let sit for two minutes
• Using rubber gloves, use some of the sanitizing water to wipe down both sides of the Grow Surface and the outside of the Bowl.
• Empty bleach water from the Bowl
• Rinse the Bowl and Grow Surface very thoroughly to remove all traces of bleach
• Dry the Bowl and Grow Surface with a towel
• Reassemble your AeroGarden
• Remember that if your AeroGarden Grow Bulbs have been in use for 6 months or more, it is time to replace them