Why This Intelligent Garden Halted Its Growth

AeroGarden, known for its smart indoor planters equipped with built-in grow lamps that connect to an app, has announced that it will cease operations beginning January 1st of the next year, according to a report by Ars Technica.

The company, which was acquired by Scott’s Miracle-Gro in 2020, has informed users that it will provide updates regarding the “longer-term status” of its app. This app allows users to monitor water levels and adjust lighting schedules. Currently, AeroGarden has stated that the app will remain functional for an “extended period of time.” Users can continue to operate their smart garden gadgets without the app, as guided by the user manual specific to their product. For example, the Bounty Wi-Fi model comes with a touchscreen control panel.

Although these features can still be accessed manually, the Wi-Fi-enabled software capabilities are a major selling point for smart home gardening kits. The potential loss of these functions may impact users significantly. Consumer protection organizations such as iFixit and the Electronic Frontier Foundation have urged the FTC to establish guidelines for hardware that relies heavily on software features.

For AeroGarden purchases made from November 1st onward, only a 90-day warranty will be provided, but the company will honor the original 1-year warranty for items bought prior to that date. While AeroGarden has closed its online store, it assures that its products, parts, and accessories will be available on Amazon through the end of the year. Additionally, AeroGarden notes that there are several third-party seed pods available that could serve as a replacement for their own, allowing users to maintain their garden setups.

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