If you’re looking to get the most out of your Aerogarden, pruning is a great way to boost yields. Whether you’re growing herbs, veggies, or flowers, here are some of our favorite tips for trimming your plants.

Lettuce, for example, can be trimmed 2-3 times a week using shears or scissors. This will allow more light and air to reach smaller leaves, increasing their production.

Tomatoes

Tomatoes are a common indoor garden plant and they’re incredibly versatile in the AeroGarden. But they do need some pruning to keep them productive and healthy.

Pruning is essential for tomato plants to maintain their compact growth pattern and ensure a maximum harvest. This is particularly important if you’re growing tomatoes on narrow supports like tomato ladders and twist ties.

In most cases, your tomato plants are only going to need pruning at about 6 weeks old. This is when your plants will start to sprout small green stems that can be thinned out.

Lettuce

Lettuce is one of the fastest-growing plants that can be grown indoors, and you can harvest fresh greens on a daily basis. It’s also a very healthy vegetable to grow, so you can feel good about eating your AeroGarden’s produce.

To maximize your yields, it’s important to prune your lettuce plant properly. This will help the light reach the lower parts of the leafy plant and allow it to grow faster and bigger.

This can be done using a pair of pruning shears or kitchen scissors, so that you only trim the top part of the plant, leaving two-thirds of the leaves behind. The rest of the leaves will continue to grow and mature.

Marigolds

Marigolds are easy to grow, economical, bloom reliably all summer, and infrequently have insect or disease problems. They also repel pests and attract beneficial insects, making them great companion plants.

Many cultivars are sold as part of a series with similar growth characteristics and colors. These include ‘Bonanza(tm)’ series marigolds with double-crested flowers, including ‘Bee’ (burgundy tipped in yellow), ‘Bolero’ (gold with red tips), ‘Harmony’ (mahogany with an orange center), and ‘Flame’ (an orange/burgundy bicolor).

‘Safari’ marigolds have 3-inch anemone-type blooms on compact plants. Colors include ‘Bolero’ (yellow with red tips), gold, orange, and tangerine.

Gypsophila

Gypsophila plants, commonly known as baby’s breath, have delicate white flowers that cascade around the corners of aerogardens and add a pretty pop of colour. They are a popular choice for borders and low hedges, as well as in gravel gardens and cutting gardens.

Species of Gypsophila vary in height from 15 to 90 cm (about six inches to 36 inches). Their leaves are lance-shaped and opposite on erect stems.

The genus contains many perennials and annuals, some of which are useful for rockeries and alpine troughs. They like full sun, but will grow well in part shade too.

Perennial and annual gypsophilas can be sown directly in spring or autumn. They prefer well-drained soil in neutral to slightly alkaline conditions and a fondness for gypsum-rich substrates.

Thyme

Thyme is a low-maintenance herb that is very easy to grow in a DIY hydroponic system. You can either sprout a new plant from seed or propagate from stem cuttings.

Sprouting is the most beginner-friendly way to start a thyme plant in your Aerogarden. Simply plant 4 seeds per site and press them into the soil. Sprouts will appear within 21 days.

Once your thyme plants are growing well and sending up leaves, it is time to prune them.

Pruning thyme stimulates growth and helps limit stress on your thyme plants. Regular pruning will ensure that you have fresh, tender thyme leaves for months to come!

When pruning thyme, be sure to use sterilized garden shears or scissors. Using clean tools will not only keep your plants healthy, but it will also help to prevent diseases and pests from spreading.