If you're not worried about the company going bust and are able to get an AeroGarden on the cheap, don't expect to get any customer support after 90 days.
In my experience, aerogardens are quite modular. Replacement parts are easy to find, and they are easy to repair as long as the lights and electronic parts remain working and you keep your equipment clean and well maintained.
Of the three AeroGardens I own, only one still works normally. A Bounty Elite model I owned developed a problem with its LED lighting, and since the device was out of warranty, the company told me it couldn't repair or replace it. I didn't bother looking for any replacement parts on ebay or other third-party vendor sites.
I already had a Harvest model which stopped working within the warranty period and was replaced by the company. I kept the old model for spare parts. The replacement harvest is still going well two years later.
If you're worried about running out of seed pods and the company's proprietary nutrient liquid, don't be. Plastic seed pods can be reused (I have so many of them in my house, I'll never run out), and there are lots of online vendors Offering compatible off-brand pods and conical sponges That go with them. You can put any off-the-shelf garden seeds into these pods, as you can with the AeroGarden grow anything kit,
For liquid nutrients, you can stock up on either large containers of plant foodwhich contains 16 minerals, or use one alternative mixClever growers have figured out and posted online about what's in the mix, but since hydroponic farming is popular beyond the aerogarden community, it's not hard to purchase or find information about it. How to Make Your Own Alternative Nutrient Blend This will work with all types of seeds you are trying to grow.
As long as your aerogarden is functional, you should be able to find supplies and parts to grow plants for years to come.
What happens to the AeroGarden app?
The answer to that question is much less clear. The company has updated its apps for iOS and Android this year but has only said that the app will continue to work “for an extended period of time,” which is uncertain.
AeroGarden models that use Wi-Fi and Bluetooth can be operated without an app, the company explains its user manualIf you're worried about the AeroGarden disappearing from the web, it wouldn't hurt to save a copy of the electronic manual for your model in any case.
What if I want to move on from the AeroGarden?
If you still want to grow your plants indoors instead of outdoor gardening or other types of soil-based planting, other hydroponic equipment also exists.
click and move Makes indoor planters comparable to AeroGardens, with a starting price of about $80 with current discounts. ingarden Microgreens makes a line of growers and nutrients that sell for $149. modern sprout And garden If you want something app-enabled and hydroponic, other options start at $239 and $499, respectively.
The aerogarden may be over, but don't let that take away from the joy of growing your own plants, whether you do it with or without soil, indoors or out, or even without any technology at all ( (gasp!) do it.