Abstract: A pitcher assembly comprises a pitcher including a wall connected to a bottom defining a picture volume. The wall defines an opening at the top edge of the pitcher and a spout is formed at the top edge of the pitcher. A lid is removably fitted to the opening, the lid having a vertical wall extending from the skirt at the spout, and a second wall extending into the spout. The first and second walls cooperate with the spout and the skirt to at least partially block liquid from unintentionally splashing out of the pitcher volume. The lid may also include an energy-absorbing material disposed between a vertically displaceable float body and the lid.

Abstract: An autofill pitcher assembly having hidden venting is provided. The assembly includes a pitcher wall defining an opening at a top edge of the pitcher and a lid removably received in the opening. The lid includes a top wall, a skirt extending from a bottom surface of the top wall, a gasket disposed on the skirt, and a vent formed in the skirt between the gasket and the bottom surface of the top wall.

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 sealed system including an evaporator, and a hydration system. The hydration system includes a supply conduit for providing a flow of liquid into the root chamber, a condensate collection tray positioned below the evaporator and defining a condensate collection reservoir for collecting condensate formed by the evaporator while the sealed system is operating, and a condensate return conduit fluidly coupling the condensate collection reservoir and the supply conduit for supplying the condensate into the supply conduit.

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: 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 sealed system including an evaporator, and a hydration system. The hydration system includes a supply conduit for providing a flow of liquid into the root chamber, a condensate collection tray positioned below the evaporator and defining a condensate collection reservoir for collecting condensate formed by the evaporator while the sealed system is operating, and a condensate return conduit fluidly coupling the condensate collection reservoir and the supply conduit for supplying the condensate into the supply conduit.

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 hydration system comprising a water supply tank for storing water, a supply conduit fluidly coupling the water supply tank to a discharge nozzle, a supply pump for selectively urging the water through the discharge nozzle and a water level sensor operably coupled to the water supply tank. A controller obtains a water level of the water in the water supply tank using the water level sensor, determines a conservative water supply schedule based at least in part on the water level, and operates the hydration system to provide the water in accordance with the conservative water supply schedule, the conservative water supply schedule providing the water at a slower average hydration rate relative to the standard water supply schedule.

Abstract: An autofill pitcher system is provided that includes a removable pitcher, a dispenser, and a controller. The removable pitcher includes a magnet supported for rotation between a first position and a second position. The controller is configured to open a valve in the dispenser to direct water to the pitcher when a sensor in the dispenser detects the magnet and close the valve when the sensor does not detect the magnet.

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 refrigerator appliance, as disclosed herein, may include a cabinet, a door, a dispensing assembly, an ice-making assembly, and an ice storage bin. The door may define a dispenser recess having a transverse opening extending vertically from a top recess end to a bottom recess end and laterally from a first recess side to a second recess side. The dispensing assembly may be positioned within the dispenser recess and define an ice delivery passage. The ice-making assembly may be attached to the cabinet. The ice storage bin may include a bin body defining a storage cavity. The bin body may be selectively mounted to the door within the dispenser recess to receive ice from the dispensing assembly. The bin body may extend vertically from the top recess end to the bottom recess end and laterally from the first recess side to the second recess side.

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: 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 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: Retractable soft-close shelf system and assemblies for use with appliance are provided. Shelf assembly includes a fixed shelf with a guide defining a support surface and a movable shelf slidably mounted to the fixed shelf. Movable shelf can be moved between an extended and a retracted position Support surface can include a front portion and a rear portion. Front portion is positioned at a first guide angle and rear portion is positioned at a second guide angle. Movable shelf includes a front boss and a rear boss on opposite sides of the movable shelf. Front and rear bosses are received within the guide and are slidably supported by the support surface. Shelf assembly includes a striker extending from the bottom of the movable shelf and a soft close mechanism. Soft close mechanism is configured to engage the striker when rear boss contacts the rear portion of the support surface.