Abstract: An indoor gardening appliance includes a liner defining a grow chamber and a grow module rotatably mounted within the grow chamber for receiving a plurality of plant pods. A drive assembly is provided for selectively rotating the grow module within the grow chamber, and includes a turntable assembly configured for receiving the grow module, a bi-directional motor assembly, and a clutch assembly mechanically coupling the motor assembly and the turntable assembly, the clutch assembly having a torque slip threshold beyond which the clutch assembly disengages the motor assembly from the turntable assembly.

Abstract: An indoor gardening appliance includes a liner defining a grow chamber and a grow tower mounted within the grow chamber for receiving a plurality of plant pods. A hydration assembly is positioned within a root chamber and includes a nozzle support frame mounted at a top of the root chamber, the nozzle support frame comprising a plurality of support arms, at least one of the plurality of support arms being off-axis relative to the central axis of the grow tower, an upper nozzle mounted to the nozzle support frame proximate a top of the root chamber, a lower nozzle mounted to the nozzle support frame proximate a bottom of the root chamber, and a water supply for supplying a flow of fluid to at least one of the upper nozzle or the lower nozzle.

Abstract: A gardening appliance includes a liner positioned within a cabinet and defining a grow chamber, a grow tower rotatably mounted within the liner and defining a root chamber, a primary water supply system for selectively providing freshwater into the root chamber, and an auxiliary water supply system comprising a wastewater tank for storing wastewater and selectively providing the wastewater into the root chamber. A controller is configured to determine that a hydration cycle needs to be performed to hydrate the one or more plant pods, determine that a freshwater supply limitation exists (e.g., an empty water supply tank or a full wastewater tank), and operate the auxiliary water supply system to provide the wastewater from the wastewater tank into the root chamber in response to determining that the freshwater supply limitation exists when the hydration cycle is needed.

Abstract: An indoor gardening appliance includes a liner defining a grow chamber and a grow tower mounted within the grow chamber for receiving a plurality of plant pods. A hydration assembly is positioned within a root chamber and includes a nozzle support frame mounted at a top of the root chamber, the nozzle support frame comprising a plurality of support arms, at least one of the plurality of support arms being off-axis relative to the central axis of the grow tower, an upper nozzle mounted to the nozzle support frame proximate a top of the root chamber, a lower nozzle mounted to the nozzle support frame proximate a bottom of the root chamber, and a water supply for supplying a flow of fluid to at least one of the upper nozzle or the lower nozzle.

Abstract: An indoor gardening appliance includes a grow module that is seated on a turntable that is rotatably mounted within a grow chamber and is rotated by a drive assembly. A position sensing assembly monitors an angular position using two proximity sensors, such as Hall-effect sensors, mounted below the sump at the same circumferential position but at different radial positions. The turntable includes a plurality of proximity indicators, such as magnets, positioned at each of three circumferential positions on the turntable and at different radiuses to define a two-digit binary code corresponding to each of the three circumferential positions that is detectable by the proximity sensors.

Abstract: A gardening appliance includes a liner positioned within a cabinet and defining a grow chamber, and a grow tower is positioned within the grow chamber and includes a module support frame including a plurality of vertical support members a plurality of mounting slots. A grow module defines a support body defining a plurality of apertures for receiving one or more plant pods, the grow module further including a plurality of mounting tabs configured for receipt within the plurality of mounting slots to removably mount the grow module to the module support frame.

Abstract: An indoor gardening appliance includes a liner defining a grow chamber and a grow tower mounted within the grow chamber for receiving a plurality of plant pods. A hydration assembly is positioned within a root chamber and includes an upper nozzle mounted to a top wall of the root chamber, an inverted tripod mounted to the top wall of the root chamber for supporting a lower fluid conduit, a lower nozzle mounted on the lower fluid conduit proximate a bottom of the root chamber, and a valve assembly for selectively and independently regulating the flow of fluid through the upper nozzle and the lower nozzle.

Abstract: An indoor gardening appliance includes a liner defining a grow chamber and a grow module rotatably mounted within the grow chamber for receiving a plurality of plant pods. A grow module is provided for receiving pods within apertures of the grow module, which includes locking tabs configured for slidably engaging with slots, which are defined in each pod. The grow module and the pods have complementary tapered interfaces that form a seal when the locking tabs are slidably engaged with the slots.

Abstract: An indoor gardening appliance includes a liner defining a grow chamber and a grow tower mounted within the grow chamber for receiving a plurality of plant pods. A hydration assembly is positioned within a root chamber and includes an upper nozzle mounted to a top wall of the root chamber, an inverted tripod mounted to the top wall of the root chamber for supporting a lower fluid conduit, a lower nozzle mounted on the lower fluid conduit proximate a bottom of the root chamber, and a valve assembly for selectively and independently regulating the flow of fluid through the upper nozzle and the lower nozzle.

Abstract: A gardening appliance includes a grow tower rotatably mounted within a liner, and defining a root chamber, a plurality of apertures defined through the grow tower for receiving plant pods, and a hydration system for periodically charging the root chamber with an aeroponic mist. A training pod is configured for receipt within at least one of the plurality of apertures and includes a frame defining a root containment chamber for receiving a root ball of hydroponic media, a media retention feature extending from the frame for engaging and securing the hydroponic media, and a water collection reservoir positioned adjacent the frame for collecting at least a portion of the aeroponic mist to hydrate the root ball of the hydroponic media.

Abstract: A method for operating a refrigerator appliance includes operating a dispenser of the refrigerator appliance to initiate a flow of liquid water or ice into a container positioned within a dispensing recess of the dispenser in response to a user input at a user input panel of the refrigerator appliance, receiving one or more signals from a sensor positioned at the dispensing recess after operating the dispenser to initiate the flow of liquid water or ice into the dispensing recess, and detecting a presence of the container in the dispensing recess based at least in part on the one or more signals from the sensor only after operating the dispenser to initiate the flow of liquid water or ice into the dispensing recess. A related refrigerator appliance is also provided.

Abstract: A gardening appliance includes a liner positioned within a cabinet and defining a grow chamber, and a grow tower is positioned within the grow chamber and includes a module support frame rotatably mounted within the grow chamber and a grow module mounted to the module support frame to at least partially define a root chamber and defining an aperture for receiving a plant pod. One or more water collecting ribs extend from an inner surface of the grow module into the root chamber, the one or more water collecting ribs being oriented toward the aperture for directing collected condensation toward the aperture.

Abstract: A gardening appliance includes a liner positioned within a cabinet and defining a grow chamber, and a grow tower is positioned within the grow chamber and includes a module support frame including a plurality of vertical support members a plurality of mounting slots. A grow module defines a support body defining a plurality of apertures for receiving one or more plant pods, the grow module further including a plurality of mounting tabs configured for receipt within the plurality of mounting slots to removably mount the grow module to the module support frame.

Abstract: An indoor gardening appliance includes a liner defining a grow chamber and a grow module rotatably mounted within the grow chamber for receiving a plurality of plant pods. A grow module is provided for receiving pods within apertures of the grow module, which includes locking tabs configured for slidably engaging with slots, which are defined in each pod. The grow module and the pods have complementary tapered interfaces that form a seal when the locking tabs are slidably engaged with the slots.

Abstract: An indoor gardening appliance includes a grow module positioned within a grow chamber for receiving one or more plant pods. The indoor gardening system includes a hydration system including a water supply for providing a flow of water into a mixing tank and a discharge nozzle for selectively discharging the flow of water into the grow chamber. The indoor gardening appliance further includes a cleaning assembly fluidly coupled to the hydration system for selectively discharging a cleaning agent into the flow of water to create a cleaning solution to facilitate a self-clean cycle.

Abstract: An indoor gardening appliance includes a grow module that is seated on a turntable that is rotatably mounted within a grow chamber and is rotated by a drive assembly. A position sensing assembly monitors an angular position using two proximity sensors, such as Hall-effect sensors, mounted below the sump, and the turntable includes a plurality of proximity indicators, such as magnets, positioned at various circumferential positions on the turntable. A controller is configured to initiate rotation of the turntable from a first angular position, determine that the turntable should have reached a second angular position, e.g., based on the operating duration or drive signal of the drive motor, and identify a drive assembly fault upon determining that the turntable has not reached the second angular position.

Abstract: An indoor gardening appliance includes a liner defining a grow chamber and a grow module rotatably mounted within the grow chamber for receiving a plurality of plant pods. A moisture management system includes an evaporator plenum in fluid communication with the grow chamber and a fan assembly that recirculates air from the respective grow chambers and/or the ambient environment through an evaporator positioned within the evaporator plenum. In this manner, chamber humidity may be regulated while water is extracted from the air which may be used by a hydration system to hydrate plants.

Abstract: An indoor gardening appliance includes a grow module positioned within a grow chamber for receiving one or more plant pods. The indoor gardening system includes a sealed system and an air circulation system for conditioning air within the grow chamber, a hydration system for selectively hydrating plants, and a lighting system for providing growth lighting. A controller is configured to detect a vacation condition corresponding to a period of decreased usage of the indoor gardening appliance, e.g., based on a user command or period of inactivity, and adjust at least one operating parameter of the indoor gardening appliance in response to detecting the vacation condition, e.g., to reduce energy consumption, conserve water, and slow plant growth.

Abstract: A method for operating a refrigerator appliance includes operating a dispenser of the refrigerator appliance to initiate a flow of liquid water or ice into a container positioned within a dispensing recess of the dispenser in response to a user input at a user input panel of the refrigerator appliance, receiving one or more signals from a sensor positioned at the dispensing recess after operating the dispenser to initiate the flow of liquid water or ice into the dispensing recess, and detecting a presence of the container in the dispensing recess based at least in part on the one or more signals from the sensor only after operating the dispenser to initiate the flow of liquid water or ice into the dispensing recess. A related refrigerator appliance is also provided.

Abstract: An indoor gardening appliance includes a cabinet defining a grow chamber within the cabinet. The gardening appliance further includes an artificial lighting system configured to illuminate one or more back portions of the grow chamber. The gardening appliance also includes a controller. The controller is configured for, and/or methods of operating the gardening appliance may include, operating the artificial lighting system according to a first profile for a first period of time and operating the artificial lighting system according to a second profile for a second period of time after the first period of time.