There are many advantages to an indoor herb garden that makes it an appealing alternative to an outdoor garden. One of the main benefits is that indoor gardens can be grown year round, and are not affected by extremely hot or cold weather. Creating an indoor garden also increases the variety of herbs that can be produced. Types of herbs that can be grown indoors include:
- Sage
- Basil
- Thyme
- Rosemary
- Mint
- Dill
- Parsley
- Chives
- Oregano
If you plant to grow an indoor herb garden using dirt, you will want to place your plants near a window where they have sufficient sun. Some herbs will grow indoors with as little as five hours of sunlight, while others may need as much as 8 hours.
The most effective method of indoor gardening involves the use of a hydroponic or aeroponic system that does not require soil. Hydroponics is a way of growing plants using only water and mineral nutrient solutions. Aeroponics is a type of hydroponics in which the plants are held above a system that keeps them wet or misted by water. Both types of systems require a light source in addition to water for the plants to grow.
Studies show that herbs grown indoors using a hydroponic-type method tend to contain more vitamins and even taste better than herbs that are grown in soil. The lack of soil also reduces the potential for plant disease, and eliminates the need for soil-related chores such as tilling and weeding. Hydroponic growing systems also enable more herbs to be grown in less space.
Hydroponic indoor herb gardening has generated a lot of attention over the past few years, and is considered a significant new trend in gardening.
The AeroGarden
One of the most popular hydroponic/aeroponic indoor herb garden system is Aerogarden. Aerogarden grow kits include everything you need to grow herbs all year long. The system regulates the flow of water and nutrients, and comes with its own light that automatically turns on during the day and off at 
night. It takes up minimal space but produces an abundance of herbs such as dill, thyme, basil, oregano and mint. You can even use Aerogarden to grow your own seeds.
The seed pods that are provided include both the seeds and the sponge where the seeds are placed. Sponges can also be purchased separately. The Aerogarden also includes all of the mineral nutrients that will be needed for growing healthy plants. Once the kit has been set up, all you do is add water and nutrients, the system does the rest. It is an easy, foolproof way to grow an indoor herb garden all year long.
Many television shows have featured the Aerogarden, such as The Today Show, The Ellen DeGeneres Show and The View. This unique product has also been covered in The Economist, Woman’s World, Time and The New York Times, and appeared in the Will Smith movie I Am Legend. It was also the “most wished for” item on Amazon for two years in a row.
Aerogarden reviews are extremely positive, with a consistent high rating. The product has been purchased by over 1 million customers to-date, and comes in various sizes, including an Aerogarden 3 pod system, Aerogarden 6 pod system, and Aerogarden 7 pod system. There are many different types of AeroGarden seed kits as well. The system can also be used to grow an indoor vegetable garden as well as flowers.
