Monitor Your Plant’s Needs with SmartyPlants

Regardless of age, more people are trying their luck at nurturing and growing plants, and we’ve seen the number rise during the pandemic. Considered to improve one’s mood and mental health state, about 18.3 million new gardeners emerged in 2021. With the benefits plants provide, this growing popularity is expected. There are people who want to try gardening, but they either have no idea where to start or don’t know how to keep one alive. Even for a nature enthusiast with a green thumb, things like weather conditions are beyond their control.

Plants cannot directly speak with a human to ask for its needs. Because of this, plant sensors have been making waves in the green industry for quite a while. One company is London-based SmartyPlants which aims to help plant lovers and novice gardeners monitor the needs of their green friends.

Monitor your plant, anytime and anywhere

SmartyPlants is a smart sensor that monitors a plant’s needs such as its soil moisture, light levels, temperature, humidity, and soil nutrients. This acts as a plant’s diary, giving the plant owner insight into the overall health of their plant. All the user needs to do is simply put the sensor in the plant pot. The device has a dedicated mobile app to help users remotely monitor their plant via WiFi.

Plant parents can also get real-time notifications and reminders about the needs of each houseplant. Apart from the mobile phone app, users can also integrate SmartyPlants with their smart home system to facilitate automatic watering and light adjustment. Supported by AI analysis, users can take a photo of their plant and have the system analyze it for possible plant diseases. Due to its small size, the sensor is easy to carry and move around pots. It uses a USB-C charging cable and can last 6 months with a single charge.

Helping plants thrive

According to Garden Pals, 66% of American households own at least one houseplant, and at least 7 houseplants have been killed by an average plant parent. Ben Beavers, founder and CEO of SmartyPlants, is confident in their device, sharing that it “focuses on helping the 48% of houseplant owners who have accidentally killed five or more plants over the last 18 years.”

Even without a green thumb, SmartyPlants aims to help plant owners nurture their plants better. As of writing, the project has received more than $160,000 in funding through Kickstarter. Their offering starts with the early bird rate promo of £34 which includes 1 sensor. Manufacturing and shipping will start in October 2024 and the product will be available by January 2025.

YouTube: SmartyPlants: Sensors to Revolutionize Your Gardening

Photo credit: The images used are owned by SmartyPlants and have been provided for press usage.
Sources: Katie Mayers (Garden Pals) / Kickstarter