Five Clever Tech Gifts for Anyone Who Loves Plants
Being a houseplant mom or dad isn’t easy—it takes a lot of work with these kids. However, smart technology has made it much easier for me to manage them. If you still have someone on your gift list who will spend all winter tending to their favorite plants, here are some gift ideas they’re sure to love.
Automatic indoor irrigation system
I love my plants, but watering them is a constant chore that I find difficult to cope with, and to be honest, all my plants were getting the same sip of water, even though I knew some should be watered more or less often. The automatic waterer is what saved their lives. Installing it was easy: it’s a pump that draws water from a source you specify (I use a tall jug). You install 1/4″ black poly tubing to each plant with the included stakes and emitters and adjust the emitters for each plant. It can even deliver water vertically, so I was able to run the tubes to hanging plants. Using the app, you tell the system how often and for how long to water. I have two systems: one for plants that need water more often, and another for those that like it more dry.
A smart plant moisture sensor that actually works
Plant sensors have been around for many years; Even Ikea had one. They all failed, but Flora Pod really works – I have several of them. You stick them into the soil around your plant and the app gives you an idea of that particular plant. Obviously, it acts as a humidity sensor, but the Flora Pod can also diagnose plant problems, give you access to experts, and give specific advice for specific plant species. Technically it can work both outside and inside, but I found that it’s not as weatherproof as it purports to be. In my opinion this is for indoor plants and works fantastic.
A way to keep track of my entire plant family
Once you start collecting plants, keeping track of them becomes difficult. Now there’s an app to help make this task easier: Planta . Not only does it function as an inventory of your plants, but it also helps you create a reminder calendar for each of them with special recommendations. One of the best features is the light meter in the app, which allows you to gauge how your plant should feel and whether it’s getting enough light. Planta takes local weather and conditions into account to give you recommendations for adjusting your watering schedule, and has a diagnostic tool. There is a community you can join that gives you an advantage, but what advantage? You can share your plant schedule with other people, such as babysitters. A subscription through the App Store or Google Play costs $36 per year, making a gift card the perfect gift.
Smart plant frames free up space and turn plants into art
Plants take up the space I need. I love sharing my space with them, but they also clutter countertops, hang from the ceiling, and take up floor space. Modern Sprout has designed frames that allow your plants to display on your walls like living art. They’re really nice (and expensive), but they include their own grow light and water tank, and they come in a few different configurations. In short: I want one.
Gift cards for opening marketplaces
I like my local nursery, but that’s not where I get my houseplants, and your houseplant-loving friend is probably the same. In addition to sharing clippings with other plant lovers, they are more likely to purchase houseplants from marketplaces like Etsy and Palmstreet . Gift cards for any of these would be appreciated so your friend can purchase more plants, because if there’s one thing every plant parent has in common, it’s the inability to stop adopting new plant babies.