There’s a new computerized system that is designed to take the guesswork out of growing houseplants. The Click & Grow system takes care of all a plant’s needs such as watering and fertilizing by way of sensors, a processor and special software contained in the pot.
The Click & Grow system doesn’t use soil as a growing medium. Instead it relies on aeroponics – a growing system that grows the plants in an air or mist environment. All you need to do is place a plant cartridge containing some seeds into the pot, fill the water tank and upload the proper growth program to the pot and the Click & Grow system will take care of the rest.
Although basic models include notification lights to let growers when the water tank needs refilling, more expensive models will even free growers of this task by collecting water from the air. Aside from the seeds, the plant cartridge also contains some basic fertilizer and information about the seed type. After the cartridge has been placed into the pot, users then need to connect the pot to a PC via a USB cable to download the appropriate growth program to suit the plant’s needs. The pot then constantly measures all of the parameters affecting plant growth to ensure the plant receives the best of tailored care.
The Click & Grow system enables users to grow any houseplant – a cactus, rose, or some other exotic plant that people often find difficult to grow because it takes too much effort.
The Click & Grow pots will start at around $24, with seed cartridges selling for between $4-6 at nurseries or on the Internet. (www.clickandgrow.com)
Published on March 18, 2010
