When Auk's original Mini 1 herb garden hit the market in 2024, it touched on something that many tabletop gardens had until then failed to consider: if you’re going to give up precious countertop space, it should be for something beautiful. The Auk Mini filled that marketplace gap with its sleek Scandinavian design and utility, turning a run-of-the-mill herb-growing operation into a conversation piece.
When I reviewed the original Auk Mini last fall, I loved that it allowed users to plant their own seeds in widely available coco coir, an alternative to peat moss made from coconut husks. No proprietary pods, no subscriptions, and no fussy app.
When I started testing the brand-new Auk 2 earlier this summer, I wondered what new features could possibly justify a new model. Turns out, there was more room for improvement than I thought. The Mini 2 retains its minimalist design but adds smart watering sensors and a quieter fan to make it even more efficient.
While the Auk Mini 2 is an upgrade over its predecessor, the question remains: has it truly mastered the art of indoor gardening? Will it stand the test of time as the go-to herb garden for tech-savvy plant lovers?
