I am guilty of not taking proper care of my plants. I have watched multiple plants died at my hands. Even back in my polytechnic internship days, I had to water several plants in my office, and when I first came, all of the plants were healthy but one was practically dying by the time I was leaving.  My gardening endeavours would have probably been successful if only I had “The Smart Garden”.

The Smart Garden 3

Using smart soil inspired by NASA, the device ensures that the plants receive water, oxygen and nutrients that it needs. It even has a lamp arm, installed with an LED to provide light for the plant.

Pros and cons

(1)

Without experience in gardening, we probably won’t be able to recognise specifically what a plant needs. For example, a wilting plant doesn’t necessarily mean it needs water, it might need other stuff such as nutrients or light. Often times, the mistake made in caring for a plant is by giving it more water than it needs. Thus, the smart garden can aid beginners in gardening by automatically identifying exactly what the plant needs.

However, this also points out a con in the device.

With the smart garden, it is essentially doing the job for you. It measures the needs of your plants and provides whatever necessary. So can you actually say that you are growing the plant? Furthermore, it totally removes the human touch.

Suggestion?

Instead of automatically providing, what if the smart garden can provide the option to instead inform the owners what the plant needs and thus the responsibility of ensuring the plant’s survival is in the hands of the owner. Thus, the smart garden functions as a tracker and informer.

Nonetheless, the automated care system can prove to be useful when you are away from home for some time. The water reservoir can keep enough water for up to 3 weeks.

(2)

The smart garden is meant for small plants, yet they have taken into consideration several design aspects. For example, they included a lamp arm that can be adjusted to various heights (210 – 470mm). They also provide the option to purchase additional extension arms to make it taller. You can’t expect to grow a tree in that small pot, thus, in my opinion, it is a reasonable design.

(3)

Lightweight and portable.

Especially with the houses in Singapore becoming smaller and smaller, the small, compact design of the smart garden doesn’t take up too much counter space. Furthermore, you get to grow 3 different types of plants in one go, while still taking up such a small space.