The highest-scoring indoor gardens earned a spot on this lineup-however, not all of the products we tested made the cut. All functions on each model were tested, and the plants’ success was monitored. We carefully followed each manufacturer’s seed-sowing instructions and then waited for tiny seedlings to appear. We selected a variety of the most popular indoor gardens to see which ones were best suited for growing healthy plants. But how well do they perform in real-world conditions? To learn whether the claims made by the manufacturers of these growing systems are true, we put them to the test. Indoor gardens can be soil-based systems, but most are hydroponic, meaning the plant’s roots grow only in water. Indoor gardens are fun additions to virtually any space, and they’re especially well suited to those who love cooking with fresh herbs or enjoy colorful blossoms in the winter.