I first discovered LetPot earlier this year when I was testing their LPH-SE Senior hydroponic growing system for my guide on the best indoor gardening options. Unlike the classic Aerogarden tabletop systems, LetPot’s countertop gardens (which actually have their own subreddit!) allow you to grow any seeds you choose without needing proprietary pods. Instead, they use affordable baskets and sponges that you can easily find on Amazon for about 20 cents each. While LetPot’s sets come with enough baskets and sponges to get started, they don’t include seeds. I often recommend LetPot’s version as the best budget-friendly choice for anyone interested in hydroponic gardening. Since then, I’ve tried out several smart gardening devices from the brand, which has been based in Hong Kong since 2007 and expanded into the US in 2019. If you’re looking for a gift for a plant lover or gardener this holiday season, here are the products I’ve had the best luck with in my own gardening setups—products I’d happily purchase myself.
LetPot LPH-SE Senior Hydroponic Growing System
The 12-pod LPH-SE Senior, featured in my indoor gardening guide, has been a reliable tabletop companion for several months, yielding organic baby chard that can be snipped every few days for fresh salads. (There’s nothing quite like greens grown just inches from your dinner plate!) The LetPot app has a bit of a quirky design, but you don’t need it once you’ve set the timer for the 24-watt LED lamp, which can be raised and lowered and flipped up for easy access during harvesting. A pop-up gauge lets you quickly check the water level, and the pump runs automatically every 30 minutes. Instructions on how and when to add nutrients are right on the bottle, and it comes with two bottles of dehydrated nutrients. I’ve also tested a couple of Aerogardens alongside the LetPot system, and while Aerogardens have a sleeker app and interface, the end result is similar. The LPH-SE is not only more affordable than the comparable Aerogarden Bounty, but it also accommodates three more plants.
LetPot 100-Watt Grow Light
Second on my list of LetPot favorites is their grow light for houseplants, which would also be great for seedling trays. This light works with the LetPot app, but like the LPH-SE, once you’ve set the timer, the app isn’t necessary. If you want to avoid the app altogether, there’s a corded remote that lets you turn the light on and off and adjust its intensity. The powerful 100-watt light can either hang from the ceiling or sit on its telescoping stand, rotating 360 degrees to direct light where it’s needed. (Just a heads up: 100 watts can get pretty hot, so keep it away from leaves.) I appreciate that the light is large (2 x 3 feet), which prevents plants from becoming too leggy. One downside: while the description claims the stand can extend to 72 inches, it really only reaches about 60 inches. So, if you have tall plants, keep that in mind or make use of the hanging feature.
LetPot SS-Pro Smart Seed Starter Kit
The LetPot SS Pro seed starter is brand-new and shows a lot of promise. It’s currently available for preorder, but I’ve been using it for a couple of months to start onions, carrots, and parsnips. A full-coverage 24-watt light (12 x 7 inches) sits above a plastic vented dome that rests on a seed tray. The tray fits into a shallow container that holds a 24-watt heating pad underneath. Just fill the container with water, add your growing medium (which you’ll need to purchase separately; I used expandable seed starting soil for $12), and plant your seeds.
The LetPot app’s auto mode recommends a temperature range and light duration based on what you’re growing, turning the system on and off accordingly. Alternatively, you can set your own preferences manually. A temperature and EC (electrical conductivity, indicating nutrient levels in the soil) sensor goes into the soil, with a digital screen that displays current temperature, EC levels, and the number of days since planting. While LetPot claims a 99 percent germination rate, mine was slightly lower, but I noticed that the seedlings were healthier and less leggy compared to those grown under just a small grow light. Note that the power adapter makes a high-pitched sound when the lights are on, the temperature and EC sensor sometimes gives erratic readings, and the auto mode resets when unplugged. However, if these minor quirks don’t bother you, the SS-Pro is unique in this space and definitely worth considering.
