Is it easy for roots to rin Aerogarden pump?

I read a comment from someone saying that you should do something on the order of wrapping a woman's short nylon sock around your pump and the stand and it will prevent the roots from growing through the sponge filter and ruining the Aerogarden pump. From anyone's personal experience, do roots typically do this in the Aerogarden and mess with the pump? First of all, is there an actual sponge in there(I've never looked) and if so, you wouldn't this be a common problem that the manufacturer would have addressed by now?

Yes there is a sponge "filter" on the pump. I clean mine every few weeks, never had a root problem. I only clone or pop seeds in the 2 pro 200's tho. I have never tried to do a full grow in it so no clue if roots would be an issue during a full veg/flower cycle.

The good eye: I'm afraid I don't agree with Willy. It's very easy for your roots to get in there past the sponge filter and ruin your pump. That sponge filter will only keep out big things like boulders. You can buy a pump sock/bag from a hydro store for $10 to $15 or you can use a short nylon sock that women wear with flat shoes. If you carefully stretch it over the pump and its tower it will do a better job of keeping the roots out of your pump. The socks are about $2 a pair at Walmart.

I would suggest you order and keep on hand a spare pump. They're about $10 bucks and even though they last about a year, you never know, and in the middle of a grow that's no time to have a pump failure. I hope that helps. HSA

HSA said:

The good eye: I'm afraid I don't agree with Willy. It's very easy for your roots to get in there past the sponge filter and ruin your pump. That sponge filter will only keep out big things like boulders. You can buy a pump sock/bag from a hydro store for $10 to $15 or you can use a short nylon sock that women wear with flat shoes. If you carefully stretch it over the pump and its tower it will do a better job of keeping the roots out of your pump. The socks are about $2 a pair at Walmart.

I would suggest you order and keep on hand a spare pump. They're about $10 bucks and even though they last about a year, you never know, and in the middle of a grow that's no time to have a pump failure. I hope that helps. HSA

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Now see, this is the type of info that should be in those sticky threads for Aerogarden guides. I guarantee most Aerogarden users don't even think about this possibility and it sounds like a critical thing to be aware of. Are the ones you are talking about like those thin socks that shoe stores use for people to try on shoes when they don't have socks? If so, I can get those free anytime. BTW, what does the pump in my Aerogarden 6 Elite actually do... just keep the water circulating? If it does fail, wouldn't a nice sized airstone block keep the water and nutes moving and mixed?

If you read my post I only pop seeds and start clones in an AG with no root issues. I said I had no idea if you grow longer than that in one.

Since this post tho I have decided to grow a SSH clone for awhile in one and eventually turn it into a mother. I'll post pics on any/or not "root" problems.


As far as pump time of use mine are both 3 years old and still going strong. I do keep an extra for each one but have never had to change. The only issue I have had with my AG's is light bulb changes and the two electric contacts between the reservoir and light stand. They bend out of shape and do not make good contact after many changes if you are not careful.(The part on the light stand, not the res)

The Good Eye and Willy Bag Seed: I think the problems with our Aerogardens, (A/G's), depends a lot on how we're using them. I use mine for everything, from planting seeds and growing clear up to harvest. I've also cloned in my A/G's but I found a: cloning tray, rock wool cubes and humidity dome were a lot more efficient, (50 clones instead of 7, 17 or 21 if I put all three to work).

Admittedly, if you're only using your A/G for seed propagation or cloning, you're less likely to have a roots in the pump issue because there's not that many roots to contend with. But if you're growing a couple of plants to harvest, from around the vegging stage on you have a potential for the roots getting into the pump and ruining it. I was told about putting a woman's nylon sock over the pump and tower assembly to protect the pump by a customer service rep at A/G.

And it's not the freebie socks they give the women to try on shoes that I'm talking about. Those are pretty course socks the nylon socks I'm talking about are very sheer. The nylon socks I'm referring to are sold at Walmart for less than $2 a pair. You'll find them in the women's department near the shoes. A pair are packaged in a small clear plastic ball with a flattened end that has a label. The ones I use are: "Queen size," "Knee Hi Sandlefoot," nylon socks. Their bar code on the label is: 04741780824 and they come in a variety of colors, although I don't know why that would be important. Ask your: mom, girlfriend or wife. They'll probably have an extra you can try. Just stretch it over the tower and pump very carefully. HSA