Sainlogic HY01 LED Hydroponics System Review: The (Almost) Perfect Indoor Seed Germinator

Recently, we reviewed several products from Sainlogic, including their SA1 Wi-Fi Smart Weather Station, SA7 Wi-Fi Smart Weather Station, and the SA3 Smart Portable Weather Station. All three are solid performers, so we come to the review of the Sainlogic HY01 LED Hydroponics System with high hopes.

The HY01 is a self-contained LED hydroponics growing system that is easy to set up, requires little care, and can be placed nearly anywhere.

What’s in the Box

• Sainlogic HY01 LED Hydroponics System
• Power Adapter
• Sponge (x12)
• Basket (x12)
• Grow Dome (x12)
• Plant Food A
• Plant Food B

The unit measures 15″ wide by 7.25″ deep by 4.5″ high at its lowest and can adjust vertically to 16.5″.

The unit is made entirely of light blue plastic. The base is 4″ high and features a water level indicator centered on the front panel. The top of the base features a growing tray with twelve holes, where baskets and sponges are inserted. The growing tray also features a removal cap for refilling the water when it gets low.

Centered on the back of the growing tray is the extendable rod, which holds the light panel. The back of the rod features jacks for the power and the internal pump.

The top of the light panel has four buttons: Power, Veg, Flower, and Wi-Fi/Pump.

Setup

The Sainlogic HY01 LED Hydroponics System arrives disassembled and requires that users follow the simple directions to prepare it for use. This is done by attaching the extendable rod to the light panel and then to the base. The growing tray is placed on the base, and the water-filling cap is attached to the tray. The power cable from the filter is then plugged into the back of the extendable rod, as is the power cord. That completes the assembly of the system itself.

Next steps include adding the appropriate amount of plant food a and plant food b to the water and filling the tank. At this point, it is assumed that users have purchased seeds for whatever they plan to grow and have a basic understanding of how to care for their plants, as Sainlogic supplies no further information, nor do any seeds come with the system.

Having never used a hydroponics system before, I purchased seeds for a variety of vegetables and some flowers. For my first batch, I chose to plant peas, green beans, and carrots. I followed the directions and presoaked my seeds in water for an hour prior to inserting them into the pods.

Once ready, I inserted three seeds (for the peas and beans, carrot seeds are tiny, and so I used a pinch) into each sponge and placed each sponge inside a basket. The baskets are then placed in a spot in the growing tray and covered with a grow dome. The light panel is initially positioned at its lowest to assist with germination and is raised as the plants grow.

As mentioned earlier, the top of the Sainlogic HY01 LED Hydroponics System’s light panel has four buttons: Power, Veg, Flower, and Pump. The power button controls switching the unit off and on. When initially turned on, the unit automatically enters ‘Veg’ mode. When in this mode, the light (red, blue, and white LED) will turn on, and the system will automatically turn on and off on a 24-hour cycle indefinitely. The system will light on for 16 hours and then enter sleep mode for 8 hours.

In Flower mode, the system lights only the red and white LEDs, but otherwise works on the same 16-hour on, 8-hour off cycle.

The Wi-Fi/Pump button has two functions. If pressed once, the pump will enter a twelve-hour sleep mode and then run for 30 minutes on and 30 minutes off. Pressing once again will toggle the pump on and off. If this button is held for three seconds, the unit enters standby mode and prepares for linking to Wi-Fi and the app.

Performance

I placed the Sainlogic HY01 LED Hydroponics System in a corner of my kitchen that gets no direct sun at all. I chose this location as it is typically undisturbed, and as the system supplies its own light, it did not need to be near a window.

Maybe it’s the light blue color. Maybe it’s the LED lights. I regularly have new tech in my house, and most of the time, my family members are a bit jaded and barely give new tech a second look, but not the HY01. It is fun. Watching something grow day by day is great for children, but it’s also enjoyable for adults.

I was impressed by how quickly the seeds germinated and started to poke out of the sponges. Sainlogic claims a five-times faster growth rate with the 24-watt full-spectrum LEDs. Within a few days, several had lifted the grow domes, at which time they were removed. It wasn’t long before it was time to begin to lift the light panel to make room for the rising plants.

Out of the initial twelve sets of seeds that I planted, eight were successful. As this was my first effort and the seeds that I purchased were from the end of the season, I thought that my odds were quite good.

The pump is generally very quiet (less than 20dB), with the exception of when the water level drops and the water movement becomes noticeable. When the seeds are in the early stages, the water level does not change significantly, but once the plants are mature, they consume much more water, and the system needs to be topped off every few days.

Smart Life App

The free Smart Life app is available for download by scanning the QR code or searching for it in the App Store. Once downloaded, users follow the simple instructions to pair with the system and create an account.

The app enables users to turn the system on and off, monitor the duration of plant growth, adjust the LED panel’s brightness, change the pump mode, and define and activate lighting cycles.

Next Steps

As I mentioned earlier, this is my first foray into hydroponics, and it is all a learning experience, albeit a fun one. That being the case, I have many questions, and sadly, Sainlogic only answers some of them. In their defense, they do provide an FAQ at the end of their user manual, but it only touches on a few points.

The FAQ does not address questions like “When should I repot or remove plants?” or “What type of seeds work best?” I realize that Sainlogic sells the gear and not the seeds, but it seems a bit of a missed opportunity not to offer additional support.

The Sainlogic HY01 LED Hydroponics System is easy to set up and maintain and is genuinely fun to monitor over time. The light blue color is perky and pleasant, although it would be nice to offer the unit in white and black versions as well to match modern decor. If you wish to germinate vegetables and flowers indoors, the HY01 is a great choice.

The Sainlogic HY01 LED Hydroponics System sells for $99.99 and is available directly from the manufacturer and other retailers, including Amazon (where it is currently on sale for $54.99).  Use the discount code GearDiary on the Sainlogic site for 30% off all products.

Source: Manufacturer-supplied review sample

What I Like: Design; Ease of Use; Performance

What Needs Improvement: The user guide could provide ongoing support; White and Black Versions Would be a Good Addition