The COVID-19 pandemic was a fertile time for tech companies to expand or create products that people could use during the long days and weeks they were forced to spend at home. One popular example was AeroGarden, an indoor hydroponic garden setup with its own smartphone app to manage growing conditions.
Last week, parent company Scotts Miracle-Gro, which acquired AeroGarden in 2020, announced it would be shutting down the product line after the end of the year.
Tech reporter and AeroGarden-owner Omar Gallaga spoke with the Texas Standard about the rise and fall of the pandemic fad, and what users can expect next.
Highlights from this segment:
– AeroGarden products are hydroponic gardening devices – requiring no soil and with built-in LED lights. Some models could be connected to with a smartphone.
– Scotts Miracle-Gro acquired AeroGarden in 2020, but announced the division would be shut down this year. Support for the products will still be available, but manufacturing of new ones will cease. Users can also still use the product without needing the app.
– Some have been able to hack into AeroGarden products to utilize it for off-brand uses, such as growing cannabis.
