How COVID-19 is causing the gardening industry to pivot

Modern Sprout, seller of in-home gardening products such as hydroponic kits that let budding gardeners grow basil, cilantro and other herbs in sleek tumblers, was doing 85 percent of its business through national department stores, independent gift shops and specialty chains. The remainder of its business was direct-to-consumer orders. Then coronavirus hit, and the same shops that have driven Modern Sprout’s business began canceling hundreds of thousands of dollars of purchase orders as sh