AeroGarden PRO100 User Manual

M

ini

R

ose

arden

G

Planting Date:

Planting & Tending Guide

PLANT ROSES IMMEDIATELY UPON ARRIVAL!

planting and what to do if it is not

Please see pages 3 through 6 for directions on

possible to plant immediately.

CONTENTS

Welcome

Thank you for your
purchase of our
AeroGarden. We
have spent years
developing and
refining our technology to
create a growing system that
assures you will have a plea­surable and successful year­round gardening experience.

I sincerely hope you enjoy
your AeroGarden and
sharing your beautiful roses
with family and friends.

Best Regards,

Michael Bissonnette
Founder and Chairman
AeroGrow International, Inc.

Starting Your Garden

Prepare Your AeroGarden .....3

Plant Your Mini Roses ........4

A Note About Shipping

Live Plants.................6

Tending Your Garden

Add Water.................7

Raise Lamp Hood (Light[s]) ....7

Feed Garden

AeroGarden 3/Mini.........8

Other models .............9

Prune Mini Rose Plants ......10

Keep Your Mini Rose

Garden Healthy............11

Plant Problems

and Remedies . . . . . . . . . . . . .12

Appendices

Questions and Answers

– Light(s) ................13

Set Your Light Timer........ 14

Replace Bulb(s) ...........14

Troubleshooting ..........15

Before Getting Started…

Whether this is the first or fifth garden being planted in your
AeroGarden
Start Guide.

If you have planted a garden in your AeroGarden prior to
this one, you will need to reset the nutrient timer. Please
refer to “Replanting Your AeroGarden” in the

Guide

To download the most current version of your model’s Quick
Start Guide, go to www.aerogarden.com.

, you will need to reference your model’s Quick

Quick Start

before you proceed.

Whoever

plants a garden
plants happiness.

– CHINESE PROVERB

tarting Your Garden

S

Plant Your Roses As Soon As They Arrive!

If you are unable to plant roses immediately, keep them sealed in
air-permeable shipping bags and store in refrigerator for up to 24 hours.

Prepare Your AeroGarden

•

Fill the Bowl with water to “Fill To Here” and place Bowl on Base.

• Lower Lamp Hood to lowest setting and plug in your AeroGarden.

• Add one nutrient tablet (AeroGarden 3/Mini) or two nutrient

tablets (all other AeroGarden models).

• Reset nutrient timer (refer to your model’s latest Quick Start Guide

located on our website at www.aerogarden.com).

• Select a plant setting on the Control Panel (select models only):

– AeroGarden Classic - “Flowers”

100,

– PRO
– SPACE•SAVER and AeroGarden 6 models - “Live Plants”

Your AeroGarden is now ready for your Mini Roses.

• Use room-temperature water. Very hot or very cold water will hurt

your young plants.

• We recommend using municipal tap, bottled or purified water. Well

!

or softened water SHOULD NOT be used because the extra minerals
in these sources may be harmful to aeroponically grown plants.

PRO

200

or Deluxe - “Strawberries & Other Live Plants”

Please use the Quick Start Guide included in your original AeroGarden box for
more detailed setup instructions. If you no longer have your Quick Start Guide,

you can nd a copy on our website at www.aerogarden.com.

Starting Your Garden

3

NEED ADDITIONAL HELP?

Call: 1-800-476-9669
Visit Our Website: www.aerogarden.com

Plant Your Mini Roses

To plant your roses:

• Open the top of the air-permeable

shipping bag with scissors, taking
care not to cut the plant.

• Remove Plant Pod from bag by

holding the Grow Basket. Keep
the entire Plant Pod assembled
(i.e., the Grow Sponge, Grow

Basket and plant.)

Short Plant Pod shown. Plant
Pods may also be longer.

(Continued on next page)

Starting Your Garden

4

Starting Your Garden (Continued)

Begin planting:

• Place Plant Pod in the Grow

Surface Opening.

• Press down on edge of Grow Basket

until the rim almost touches
the Grow Surface.

• Record Planting Date on the cover of

this Guide.

That’s it! Your roses are now planted!

Short Plant Pod shown. Plant Pods
may also be longer.

Positioning Your Plant Pods

As your Mini Rose plants begin to grow, you will notice that some of
the plants grow taller than others. When this happens, we recommend
moving shorter plants to the front openings on the Grow Surface.

Starting Your Garden

5

NEED ADDITIONAL HELP?

A Note About Shipping Live Plants

Your plants have been tossed about in planes and trucks on their
journey to your doorstep. As a result, you may see:

• Bruised leaves or broken stems on your plants –

Simply remove the damaged part and your plants will recover.

• Drooping flowers/buds –

These perk up after a few
hours under the light(s) of your
AeroGarden.

• Browning on some leaf edges or

a yellowish cast to the leaves –

As your plants grow, they will
recover from the stress of travel
and new leaves will be green
and will not have browned edges.

(If however, your plants are significantly damaged or blackened,
please contact us at 1-800-476-9669.)

• A delay of about one week until your plants start growing –

This delay occurs because your plants need time to recover
from the shock of traveling.

Call: 1-800-476-9669
Visit Our Website: www.aerogarden.com

Starting Your Garden

6

T

ending Your Garden

A little bit of care for your roses will ensure healthy growth and
plentiful blooms. Please take a moment to review this section
shortly after planting your Mini Rose Garden.

Add Water – All AeroGarden Models

There should always be water in the Bowl of your AeroGarden.
For instructions, see the “Add Water Using a Spouted Container”
section in your model’s Quick Start Guide.

•

Use room-temperature water. Very hot or very cold water will hurt

your plants.

• We recommend using municipal tap, bottled or purified water. Well

!

or softened water SHOULD NOT be used because the extra minerals
in these sources may be harmful to aeroponically grown plants.

Raise Lamp Hood (Light[s]) - All AeroGarden Models

As your roses grow, you will need to raise the Lamp Hood.
Leave 1-2 inches of space between the top of plants and the
light(s). Before raising light(s), we recommend pruning any in-

dividual branches that are taller than the others in your Garden
(refer to “Prune Rose Plants” on page 10 of this guide).

For instructions on how to raise the Lamp Hood (Light[s]), refer to
“Raise Lamp Hood (Light[s])” in your model’s Quick Start Guide.

If Grow Bulb(s) are too close to the plants, the leaves may brown and
burn. If they are too far away, your plants will “stretch” toward the
light(s) and look floppy and unhealthy.

Tending Your Garden

7

Feed Garden – AeroGarden 3/Mini Only

Every 2 weeks, the red “Add Nutrients” light will illuminate.

Follow the rinse directions below before adding nutrients. This will keep
your Garden healthy. You will need a sink, clean counter space and a
mixing bowl or pot that is at least 4” deep and has a top opening of 5-8”.

Unplug AeroGarden and carefully

1

remove the Bowl from the Base and
bring it to a sink.

Remove the Grow Surface from the

2

Bowl and rest it in the mixing bowl.

Empty contents of Bowl into sink.

3

Rinse and empty Bowl. Use only water.

4

Fill Bowl with room-temperature

5

water up to “Fill To Here” and set
Bowl on counter.

Place Grow Surface back on Bowl and

6

replace the Bowl on Base.

Reset Nutrient Timer:

7

• Press and HOLD the button on the

control panel until “Add Nutrient”
light begins to blink (about 3 seconds).

• Release the control panel button.

• IMMEDIATELY press and release the

control panel button again to reset
the nutrient timer.

8

Add 1 Mini Rose nutrient tablet.

Note: We recommend checking for bugs every time you add nutrients.

See Troubleshooting on page 17 of this Guide for details.

Tending Your Garden

8

Feed Garden – All Other AeroGarden Models

Every 2 weeks, both the “Add Nutrient” and “Water Level Low”
lights will blink on and off. At that time…

Follow the rinse directions below before adding nutrient tablets.
This will keep your Garden healthy.

Unplug AeroGarden and carefully

1

remove the Bowl from the Base and
bring it

to a sink.

Remove the Grow Surface from

2

the Bowl and place on a counter
near the sink.

(Hint: Lift the View Door and slide
one hand into the Bowl. Don’t
worry if you gently tear some roots.)

Empty contents of Bowl into sink.

3

Rinse and empty Bowl. Use only water.

4

Fill Bowl with room-temperature

5

water up to “Fill To Here” and set
Bowl on counter.

Place Grow Surface back on Bowl,

6

arranging the roots over Cross Beams.

Carefully replace Bowl on Base and

7

plug in AeroGarden.

Add 2 Mini Rose nutrient tablets and

8

press the “Reset” button.

Bowl

Base

Grow Surface

Cross

Beams

Bowl

AeroGarden Classic shown.

Note: We recommend checking for bugs every time you add nutrients.
See Troubleshooting on page 17 of this Guide for details.

Tending Your Garden

9

Prune Mini Rose Plants

Pruning your rose plants to remove a branch that is taller than the other
branches in your Garden allows you to keep the Lamp Hood low, pro­viding all your roses with the intense light they need to grow.

To Prune Mini Rose Plants

• Remove tall branches that are within an

inch of the light(s) and taller than the other
plants in your Garden.

Garden with a branch that
needs pruning.

• Use scissors or pruning shears to make

cuts. Follow the branch to where it
meets another branch and cut just
above this junction.

The photo at right shows the same Garden
after pruning a tall branch. The Lamp Hood
was not raised.

Don’t be discouraged if you cut a branch
with some flowers or buds. Pruning will help
the plants in your Garden stay healthy and
produce many more flowers.

Tending Your Garden

10

Keep Your Mini Rose Garden Healthy

Keeping a watchful eye on your Garden is not only a joy, but
also a smart way to make sure your plants stay healthy.

As your roses grow, the older leaves will start to brown and die.
This is perfectly normal.

• Remove brown and dead leaves

by cutting with scissors at the
base of the leaf stem.

• Keep the Grow Surface clear of

dead leaves.

Remove Dead Flower Blossoms

Removing dead flower blossoms (deadheading) encourages your plant
to produce more flowers. When your blossoms begin to fade, wilt or
just start to look unattractive, it’s time to deadhead. Each Mini Rose
blossom lasts for about 1 week.

• Remove dead flower blossoms by

cutting with household scissors.

• Cut the flower stem at its base

where it meets another stem.

Watch out for thorns...

These roses are small, but the

tiny thorns are sharp!

Tending Your Garden

11

Plant Problems and Remedies

These pictures show plants that are stressed. Follow the suggestions to
restore your Garden’s health.

Burned – Plant is too close to Grow
Bulb(s). Raise Lamp Hood (see Quick
Start Guide) and/or prune plant (see

page 10).

Wilted – Plant is not getting enough
water. Add water up to “Fill To
Here” in Bowl.

Tending Your Garden

12

A

ppendices

Questions and Answers – Light(s)

Do I need to turn the
AeroGarden light(s) on
and off manually?

No. Your AeroGarden includes
a built-in timer that turns your
light(s) on and off at specific
intervals. These intervals are
designed to maximize the growth
of your roses. The timing system
started as soon as you plugged in
your AeroGarden.

Can I change the time of
day the light(s) go Off?

On select models – yes. Some
models are equipped with this
feature and some are not. If it
is possible to change the time
your light(s) go off, instructions
will be found in the “Personalize
Your Light Timer” section of your
model’s Quick Start Guide (avail­able at www.aerogarden.com).

Does it matter what time of
day the light(s) go off?

Yes. Rose plants require a daily dark
period in order to produce flowers.
If your plants will receive any
room light during the day (natural
or artificial) we recommend that
you set your light(s) to be on during
the day and off at night.

Can I temporarily turn off
my light(s)?

Yes. The “Light(s)” button serves as
an on/off switch. Just push and then
immediately release this button to
manually turn the light(s) off (or
back on). This will not change any
of the settings for your AeroGarden
and your light(s) will turn on (or off)
at the next regularly programmed
time. Occasional use of this feature
will not harm or slow down the
growth of your plants.

NEED ADDITIONAL HELP?

Appendices

13

Call: 1-800-476-9669
Visit Our Website: www.aerogarden.com

NEED ADDITIONAL HELP?

Call: 1-800-476-9669
Visit Our Website: www.aerogarden.com

Set Your Light Timer – All AeroGarden Models

Your AeroGarden has light(s) and a built-in timer that automati-

cally provide your plants with the optimal amount of light needed
to grow an abundance of gorgeous roses.

If the option is available to set the light timer* on your AeroGarden,
you will find instructions in the “Personalize Your Light Timer” section
of your model’s Quick Start Guide.

*Option not available on all AeroGarden models – consult Quick Start Guide
available at www.aerogarden.com.

Keep in mind that roses require a daily dark
period in order to produce blooms.

!

Replace Bulb(s) – All AeroGarden Models

Grow Bulb(s) should be replaced after 6 months of use. Most
AeroGarden models have a “Replace Bulb(s)” indicator on the
control panel as a convenient reminder. See “Replace Grow
Bulb(s)” in your Quick Start Guide for replacement instructions.

Replacement bulbs can be ordered at www.aerogarden.com or by
calling 1-800-476-9669. If you no longer have your Quick Start Guide,

you can nd the latest version at www.aerogarden.com.

Appendices

14

Troubleshooting

What do I do when a Grow
Bulb burns out?

Replacement bulbs can be or­dered at www.aerogarden.com or
by calling 1-800-476-9669. You
should replace your Grow Bulb(s)
after 6 months of use.

What should I do if Grow
Bulb(s) are not working?

Make sure the Grow Bulb(s) are
firmly inserted in the Lamp Hood.
Also check that your Garden is
plugged into a working electri­cal outlet and the Lamp Cord is
plugged into the Lamp Hood.

What if I want to move my

AeroGarden to another
location?

Go right ahead! Keep in mind
that each AeroGarden model has
different features. Unplugging a
Garden in the middle of its
growth cycle could cause your
AeroGarden’s light timer to reset.

Before moving your AeroGarden,
consult your Quick Start Guide to
see how the light timer is affected
when your model is unplugged.

To move your AeroGarden, be
sure to pick it up by holding the
Lamp Arm with one hand and
sliding your other hand under the
bottom of the Base.

H

ow do I take care of my

Garden when I go out of town?

Add water to raise the level up
to “Fill To Here.” If you will be
out of town for several days, we
recommend you make arrange­ments for someone to care for
your plants while you are away.

My Mini Rose Garden doesn’t
look healthy. What can I do?

If you are concerned about the
health of your garden, please go
through the following before
contacting Customer Service…

•

Read “A Note About Shipping

Live Plants” on page 6.

•

Make sure you selected the

correct plant setting on the
Control Panel (see page 3).

• Keep light(s) as close to plants as

possible, without leaves/flowers
touching the Grow Bulb(s).

15

Appendices

NEED ADDITIONAL HELP?

Call: 1-800-476-9669
Visit Our Website: www.aerogarden.com

• If your Grow Bulb(s) have been

in use for 6 months, they should
be replaced. Order replacement
bulbs at www.aerogarden.com
or by calling 1-800-476-9669.

•

Follow the pruning instructions

on pages 10-11 of this Guide.

• Don’t use softened or

unfiltered well water.

• Continually remove dead

flower blossoms and leaves
as described on page 11.

What can I do to reduce the

sound of water dripping from

the Plant Pods into the Bowl?

Keeping the water level in the
Bowl up to “Fill To Here” will
help reduce the sound of dripping
water. As your plants grow and the
roots reach the water in the Bowl,
the dripping noise will go away
completely.

(Continued on next page)

Appendices

16

Troubleshooting (Continued)

What if I see bugs or leaf damage?

Occasionally bugs may decide to visit your roses. They find their way
into homes by hitching a ride on clothing or cut flowers. Spider mites
and aphids in particular, are fond of rose plants. We recommend you
check your plants every week for these bugs.

Check for Bugs

• This image shows leaves with

spider mite damage.

• Look under the leaves for spider

mites, which look like tiny gray dots.

• A heavily infested plant will have

noticeable webs on the underside
of the leaves.

• Aphids also like the underside of leaves, particularly near to where

the leaf meets the stem. If you notice a sticky substance on the Grow
Surface, there are probably aphids in your Garden.

• Another sign of bugs is black

discoloration on leaves – usually on
the leaf’s underside. Along with the
black discoloration, you will see
white, pinprick-size spots on the
top surface of leaves.

17

Appendices

NEED ADDITIONAL HELP?

•

If you notice a white to gray powdery

substance on leaf tops, buds or flower
petals, your plant has powdery mildew,
which is caused by a fungus

If you see bugs or leaf damage from bugs or fungus on your plant:

Call: 1-800-476-9669
Visit Our Website: www.aerogarden.com

.

• Prune out heavily infested or severely damaged leaves and discard the

damaged leaves in a sealable plastic bag.

Remember to remove the Bowl from your AeroGarden before
spraying, as the mist may break the Grow Bulb(s).

• Spray your plants with an insecticidal soap (if you see bugs) –

following the manufacturer’s directions – to eliminate insects.

• For powdery mildew, use a fungicide designed for indoor household

use – following manufacturer’s directions.

(Continued on next page)

Appendices

18

Troubleshooting (Continued)

• Coat the entire leaf with insecticidal

soap (or fungicide) by spraying the
top (photo #1) and underside
(photo #2).

1

• Treat every plant in your Garden,

not just the ones on which you can
see bugs or powdery mildew.

• Repeat as recommended on the

container of insecticidal soap (or
fungicide).

2

To identify bugs, we recommend you visit either:
www.whatsthatbug.com or the entomology (bug) department at
Texas A&M University at http://vegipm.tamu.edu/imageindex.html.

19

Appendices

NEED ADDITIONAL HELP?

Call: 1-800-476-9669
Visit Our Website: www.aerogarden.com

Transplant Outdoors

Although we do not guarantee success, you can transplant your roses
into an outdoor garden or pot if it is the right time of year. Make sure
your soil is workable (not frozen) and properly amended.

Be sure to provide plants with plenty of moisture and cover for
the first few days.

Appendices

20

M

y Garden Notes

NEED ADDITIONAL HELP?

21

Call: 1-800-476-9669
Visit Our Website: www.aerogarden.com

lant Kit Limited Warranty

P

What Is Covered

This warranty covers any defects in materials or workmanship and health of plants,
with the exceptions stated below.

How Long Coverage Lasts

This warranty runs for 48 hours from the Time of Delivery for the live plants and for
6 months for all other components of the Plant Kit.

What Is Not Covered

The warranty shall not apply to problems arising from: normal wear; failure to
adhere to included Planting & Tending instructions; serial numbered products if the
serial number has been removed or defaced; products subject to negligence, ac­cident, improper use, maintenance or storage; products damaged by circumstances
beyond AeroGrow International, Inc.’s control; loss or damage to removable
parts; or products modified (including, but not limited to, modifications through
the use of unauthorized parts or attachments) or repaired by anyone other than
AeroGrow International, Inc. or its designee. This warranty excludes all incidental
or consequential damages. This warranty becomes void if the Plant Kit is used in a
growing system other than an AeroGarden and/or made by any manufacturer other
than AeroGrow International, Inc., or if materials not provided or recommended by
AeroGrow are used in or on the AeroGarden or applied to the plants grown using
this Plant Kit.

What AeroGrow Will Do

AeroGrow International, Inc., at its option, will repair any defects in materials or
workmanship or will replace this product with one of similar features and
price. AeroGrow International, Inc.’s sole obligation and your exclusive remedy
under this warranty shall be limited to such repair or replacement.

How To Return This Product

If you have questions or concerns regarding your AeroGarden or the plants you are
growing, please contact Customer Service at 1-800-476-9669. Please do not return
any product without contacting AeroGrow for return authorization. Unauthorized
returns, as well as C.O.D. shipments, will be refused. For more information regard­ing returns, please see the Customer Care section at www.aerogrow.com.

Due to continuing improvements, actual product may differ slightly from the product described herein. Some states
do not allow the exclusion or limitation of incidental or consequential damages, so the above limitation or exclu­sion may not apply to you. This warranty gives you specific legal rights, and you may have other legal rights that
vary from state to state. If you have any questions please feel free to contact our customer service representatives
at [e-mail].

AeroGrow International, Inc., P.O. Box 18450, Boulder, CO 80308

www.aerogrow.com

© 2007-2008 AeroGrow International, Inc.

22

AeroGrow International, Inc.

P.O. Box 18450

Boulder, CO 80308

NEED ADDITIONAL HELP?

Call: 1-800-476-9669

Visit Our Website: www.aerogarden.com

507118-0000 AA 4/3/08 © 2007-2008 AeroGrow International, Inc. Patents Pending