A Beginner’s Guide to Using Apps and Gadgets to Grow Healthier Plants
Some people seem to have a “green thumb” – a natural affinity for houseplants that allows them to grow anything, anywhere. I am not one of these people. The only way to grow anything is to ignore your natural instinct, break things down logically, and follow a strict schedule. But my plants live much longer thanks to technology that helps me not have to guess how much light, nutrients and water my plants need.
Download light measurement apps
Different types of indoor plants grow in different levels of light, but if you’re not sure if your living room ficus is getting “bright, indirect” or “medium” lighting, a light meter can help. These gadgets tell you exactly how many footcandles or lux your plant is getting, and databases like this one can tell you how much they need. You can pay around $1,500 for a very accurate spectrophotometer or buy one on Amazon for ten dollars , but for most of us, the best solution is to download one of the many free light measurement apps on our phone . Different apps have different features, so read a little or just try some free apps.
Buy a cheap soil meter
In cave times, people tested soil moisture for houseplants by poking at it and saying, “Yeah, it’s wet,” but that doesn’t tell you what’s going on below the surface in the all-important rootball, and it doesn’t provide any information. information about your soil’s PH balance that you need to know in order to properly fertilize. This requires a meter. There are many, but this Sonkir kit is a good basic choice that measures moisture and pH, comes with a light meter, and gets great reviews online. And it costs less than 25 bucks.
Use an automatic watering system
If you water or water your plants regularly, you should consider an automatic watering system to keep your human hand, which can make mistakes, out of your home gardening. There are all sorts of solutions for automatic home irrigation, and many of them are surprisingly inexpensive. This USB or battery powered system from sPlant allows you to set different watering schedules for up to 10 houseplants, from a tiny sip for your ponytail palm to full wet soil for your ever-thirsty Cyperus.
Buy an indoor weather monitor.
So, you have your soil pH, moisture, and light adjusted perfectly, but are you providing the right moisture and temperature? To be sure, you need a hygrometer and a thermometer (or a combination) to test. I suggest choosing one of these from Fischer Scientific – they are expensive but can provide fairly accurate readings for scientific cleanrooms and laboratories. Or you can use this “home weather station” that connects to your phone and also measures air quality and ambient sound if someone is yelling at your plants instead of speaking to them in a soothing tone like they should. If you pair one of these with a humidifier or dehumidifier, you can ensure optimal indoor humidity for your indoor plants.
Use Grow Lamps If You Want
It’s time to free our indoor plants from the whims of the oppressive sun! Instead of relying on a distant fireball, you can give your plants all their light, which will make you a god to them. There’s a ton of information and discussion on the internet about the relative merits of fluorescent, LED vs. natural light, warm vs. cold light, and more, so I’m not going to jump into that rough sea, but here’s a good, basic example . review.
Invest in a hydroponic growing system
If you want to grow your plants hydroponically but have absolutely no idea what you’re doing, you can purchase complete hydroponic growing systems online at fairly reasonable prices. For example, this Vivosun Grow Tent is only $339 and features adjustable LED lighting, a fan system, an air filtration system and more, all in a light-tight Mylar tent. If you want your plants to be in a perfectly controlled, sealed environment so they can perform at their best, this is a good option. (I think you could use it to grow weeds too.)
Use slow motion if you want to track growth
Your plant doesn’t just exist in space ; it exists in time too, dude. And nothing tracks your plant’s progress from budding sprout to brown, water-soaked husk like a time-lapse camera. Although your phone can provide slow motion footage, this is not a good solution as you will need to check Twitter. Instead, consider using a dedicated time-lapse camera to point at the plants. You can spend thousands on a camera system, or buy something perfectly serviceable for less than $50. This comparison article from bestreviews.com is the place to start your research .
Use an electric predator to scare off pests
Motion-sensing electric owls are designed to keep pests from messing with plants in your garden, but there is no law that forbids you from using them to guard your indoor plants. This electric predator from Walmart looks like a great horned owl, and it turns on any movement it detects and makes a startling sound. You need a fake coyote and a fake goose . How else can you be sure?