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ZDNET’s key takeaways
- Gardyn just announced the new Studio 2 smart garden.
- It’s a compact upright garden with a 16-plant capacity that lets you grow pesticide-free produce in only 1.4 square feet.
- The Gardyn Studio 2 has a high-resolution ultrawide camera that uses Kelby, a proprietary AI assistant, to assess plant health.
I love the idea of a smart garden, but many aren’t actually smart and only offer a relatively hands-free gardening experience. A truly smart garden can notify you of the stages your sprouts are in and alert you if you need to add water or when it’s time to harvest.
However, the Gardyn Studio 2 also features an upgraded camera that provides Gardyn’s AI assistant with insight into your plant’s health, further elevating the experience.
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Gardyn launched Studio 2 for preorder today, a smart indoor garden that occupies only 1.4 square feet of real estate, allowing you to grow herbs, leafy greens, and vegetables indoors — eliminating the need for a patio or outdoor space.
“With Studio 2, we’ve taken our most accessible product and made it even more powerful,” said FX Rouxel, CEO of Gardyn. “It brings nature, beautiful design, and health into your home, making it easier than ever to grow fresh food effortlessly, with the same technology and performance found in our flagship system.”
The Gardyn Studio 2 is an upright hydroponic system, but it’s designed so the columns don’t develop buildup. The modules are made of sealed silicone to also eliminate buildup and crystallization, reducing the need for extra maintenance.
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I’m testing the Studio 2 at home and will share a review once I’ve had a chance to harvest the produce. I received the Chef Faves starter pack, which includes basil, kale, spinach, sunflower, thyme, and more.
Thus far, the setup process has been very easy. The unit includes a detailed instruction manual and a QR code to access an instructional video, which may be more helpful for visual learners. The ultrawide camera, which captures the garden’s progression, is attached to the grow light, positioned in front of the plants.
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Once you set up the columns and add three gallons of tap water to the base, you can add the seed pods, which also come with a QR code that indicates the optimal position for each one. Each pod has a set of symbols, and the camera uses image recognition to identify the plants you have and their locations.
The Gardyn app when you talk to Kelby, and the photos that the camera takes.
Maria Diaz/ZDNET
Seed placement depends on each plant’s light needs, so simply slip the pods in and pair your unit with the Gardyn app. Kelby, the AI assistant, processes the photos the camera captures and begins giving you advice once your plants start growing. Though the Gardyn comes with plant food, you don’t have to add it until Kelby notifies you that it’s time.
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Gardyn does require a subscription for access to the AI assistant, plant credits, and free shipping. The subscription starts at $19 a month, though you can get a 30-day free trial during setup. The plant credits help you purchase pods, allowing you to receive free pods each month.
The new Gardyn Studio 2 is now available for sale on the Gardyn website, Amazon, and Home Depot for $549.
