Trying to decide between the indoor garden systems: Aerogarden Bounty vs Bounty Elite?
When the Bounty hit the market, it instantly became AeroGarden’s most popular indoor counter top garden. Logically, Miracle-Gro thought to improve on the Bounty and came out with the Bounty Elite. So, which should you go for: the popular Bounty or its upgraded successor, the Bounty Elite?
We created this comparison to help you make the right choice between these two products. Here, we compare the AeroGarden Bounty to the its upgraded successor.
Continue reading below to find out the features and capabilities of each model and how they perform with respect to one another.
AeroGarden Bounty – Click here to check price
AeroGarden Bounty Elite – Click here check price
Design and Construction
Both gardens have the same size dimensions. Despite their equal size, the Bounty Elite is heavier than the Bounty. This difference in weight is due to the steel build of the Bounty Elite. stainless steel is more dense than plastic. So, items with similar dimensions will weigh more if the material is steel rather than plastic.
The Bounty and Bounty Elite have the same design style. A bulky, spacious container serves to hold a maximum number of growth pods. A height-adjustable LED lamp is fitted at the back of the container in a centered position so its light rays can reach every corner of the vessel.
The biggest difference between these two models is in the material used for construction. The Bounty is made from a very thick plastic. So, naturally, users worried about its durability and long-term use.
But when they made the Bounty Elite customers were happy with its stainless-steel construction. However, after reading through dozens of user reviews, it is safe to conclude that the Bounty Elite is not any more durable than the Bounty.
Even with its stainless-steel construction, users of the Bounty Elite have the same complaints as the plastic Bounty users. This is of course in terms of parts getting damaged and needing replacement.
Size and Weight
Both gardens have the same size dimensions. Despite their equal size, the Bounty Elite is heavier than the Bounty. This difference in weight is due to the steel build of the Bounty Elite. stainless steel is more dense than plastic. So, items with similar dimensions will weigh more if the material is steel rather than plastic.
Cleaning
AeroGarden models are reputed to be hard to clean and difficult to maintain due to their huge size and considerable weight. So, cleaning the Bounty can be a little challenging and the Bounty Elite even more so.
Color
While the Bounty comes in a matte black finish, the Bounty Elite is available in three color options: simple stainless, platinum stainless, or a red stainless finish.
Growth Pods
The container in both AeroGarden models comes with 9 growth pods, and only one plant can be grown in a pod at any point in time. This means that you should be able to grow a maximum of 9 plants with either the Bounty or the Bounty Elite. However, you would find that achieving this feat a nearly impossible task.
Why? It’s actually a simple matter of inadequate growing space.
Previous AeroGarden models were designed with a maximum of 7 pods. Miracle-Gro released the Bounty and Bounty Elite trying to entice buyers with their greater pod capability. Unfortunately, they didn’t increase the growing space on the container to cater to the increased number of pods.
As one user succinctly said, they just crammed the pods into the available space.So, if you do try to grow 9 plants at once, they would compete between themselves for the available space and won’t be able to grow freely. To ensure the seeds planted grow into healthy and productive crops, you should use only 7 of these pods at any point in time.
Click here see the AeroGarden Bounty
Click here to see the AeroGarden Bounty Elite
Hydroponics and LED Lights
AeroGarden countertop gardens are able to grow plants without soil and sun by using a patented hydroponics technique and a LED lighting system. The growth pods contain water, air, and essential nutrients required for plant growth. The attached LED lamp provides the required light spectrum needed for photosynthesis. It achieves this via red, blue, and white fitted on its downward-facing surface.
The LED lamps for both gardens are rated 45 watts and you will need to replace the lights every 5 years.
What happens as the plants grow? Won’t they end up touching the lights?
Fortunately, you can adjust the lamp height to a maximum of 24 inches. This height can accommodate the increasing height of your growing plants.
Yield Rate and Volume
Both the Bounty and the Bounty Elite are designed to grow plants at a very fast rate. Within weeks, you will have fully-developed plants in your garden. However, these gardens are best suited for growing herbs and vegetables. While both models have a high yield volume, the output of the Bounty is more than that of the Bounty Elite.
Touchscreen Panel
Both gardens come with an interactive and simple-to-use LCD touchscreen control panel. The design of the panel is made to remind you when to replenish the water level or add certain nutrients to the growth pods. It does this via audible and visual notifications. The screen interface displays useful gardening tips for first-time gardeners. It also provides you with key gardening basics such as the planting date and harvest time.
Seed and Nutrient Kit
When you buy either of these AeroGarden models, you get a 7-pod seed kit with different seeds and 3 oz of Miracle-Gro nutrients. These seeds and nutrients can adequately satisfy your planting needs for an entire year even if you use them continuously.
Wi-Fi Models
Almost everything is connected nowadays. So, do you want a connected garden too? If you do, then you can get the Wi-Fi models of either the Bounty or the Bounty Elite. A Wi-Fi connection and the AeroGarden mobile app on your phone are your only two requirements. You can also use the app to choose from several growth options and replenish the nutrients and water level.
Pros and Cons of the AeroGarden Bounty
Pros
- Highest yield
- Helpful touchscreen control interface
- Lighter
Cons
- Difficult to clean
- Insufficient growing space for the available number of pods
Pros and Cons of the AeroGarden Bounty Elite
Pros
- Stainless-steel construction
- High yield
- Helpful touchscreen control interface
Cons
- Heavier
- Difficult to clean
- Insufficient growing space for the available number of pods
Summary
The AeroGarden Bounty and Bounty Elite are great choices for your indoor countertop gardens. If appearance is important to you, then you might choose the Elite. And that’s not the only benefit. The Elite is also sturdier due to its steel construction.
However, despite its plastic body, the Bounty performs better than its stainless-steel successor. And in fact the Bounty remains the top choice among AeroGarden models. Bottom line is that both units are nice models but if you’re still not sure maybe you should check out the Aerogarden Bounty vs Ultra, AeroGarden 6 vs 7 or AeroGarden vs Click and Grow Comparison.
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