A Stylish Indoor Herb Garden With Nearly Zero Effort: An Auk Mini 2 Review

I was already a fan of the original Auk Mini after testing it for our guide to the best grow lights, so I was curious whether the new Auk Mini 2 actually improved on it or simply gave it a facelift. I tested the Espresso/Walnut model on the same kitchen counter where I used the original: an area that receives virtually no natural light. That meant the plants were entirely dependent on the Mini 2’s built-in grow light. I planted all four included pots with the supplied seeds, two basil and two parsley, and grew them for about a month.

Favorite Indoor Herb Garden

Auk Mini 2

Buy at Auk

Photo: Paul Rankin for BobVila.com

What We Like

• Beautiful aluminum-and-walnut styling doubles as decor
• Extremely easy to set up; requires minimal maintenance
• Grew 4 healthy, harvestable plants in 1 month

What We Don’t Like

• Expensive, with larger plant pots adding another $79

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Product Specs

• Dimensions: 16.93 inches long by 7.48 inches wide by 14.57 inches high
• Water capacity: Up to 0.9 gallons
• Plant capacity: 4 standard pots
• Weight: 3.75 pounds without water or growing medium
• Grow light: LED with optical lens system
• Power: USB-C

The biggest change I noticed right away was the design. The original Auk Mini was already one of the best-looking growing systems I’d tested, but the Mini 2 feels more finished. Its corners are rounder, the transitions between components are smoother, and the whole thing has a more organic shape. I tested the Espresso/Walnut finish again, and it’s still my favorite. The pots have changed, too. Their bottoms are more rounded and extend farther into the reservoir, which appears to give the growing medium better access to water.

Setup is still wonderfully simple. Auk gives you exactly enough prehydrated coco coir for the four pots, and I’ve yet to use another coco coir product that’s as pleasant to work with straight out of the bag. I filled the pots, planted the supplied basil and parsley seeds, scattered the included (and new) small stones over the growing medium, added water and nutrients, and installed the light. That was basically it. The new top layer might seem like a minor addition, but germination and early growth seemed noticeably quicker than with my original Mini. Auk claims the Mini 2 produces 20 percent more growth, and while I didn’t conduct a controlled comparison, my experience certainly supports the idea that plants establish faster in this version.

After roughly a month, all four plants had grown into full, healthy herbs that I was able to harvest for cooking. That’s particularly impressive considering they received no sunlight whatsoever. I didn’t encounter algae, mold, or other growing problems during testing. Maintenance was minimal, too. During the first month as the plants were establishing, I didn’t need to refill the water reservoir. 

Once the herbs became established and started drinking more, I simply topped off the reservoir as necessary. At that point, trimming the herbs to keep their growth under control actually became more work than maintaining the garden itself, and that’s hardly a complaint when the payoff is fresh basil and parsley whenever I want them.

There are other upgrades, including an optional app, a new Slow Mode, a larger reservoir, and optional pots designed for larger plants. Those additions make the Mini 2 more versatile, but I don’t think existing Auk Mini owners need to rush out and replace their current unit. The original is still really well made. My biggest complaint is that at $249, I wish Auk included the two larger pots and longer dowels rather than charging another $79 for them. Still, for someone buying their first Auk, I’d absolutely choose the Auk Mini 2. It’s super easy to use, grows plants effectively with minimal effort, and actually looks good while doing it. 

Where to Buy

Auk Mini 2

Buy at Auk

Photo: Paul Rankin for BobVila.com

 

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