Gardening has always remained an important passion and profession due to the important role of plants in our lives. As the world progressed and everything got a touch of digitization in one way or another, gardening has changed becoming smarter and digital.
While the use of computers to enhance the practice of gardening has been with us for decades, smart gardening is a rather new concept that mostly refers to small indoor green units that use the power of the internet to alert the owners about the health of their plants and what to do in order to keep their vegetation fresh. If you are looking for ways to make a smart garden in your home, keep readings as we mention everything in detail below.
Key Components of a Smart Garden
Here are some of the key components that comprise a smart garden:
Sensors for Monitoring the Plants’ Environment
One of the major parts of a smart garden is the sensors. These include light sensors to detect the optimum light conditioning and timing for the plants, temperature sensors that can alert the honors about the heat conditions of the plants’ surroundings when they deviate from optimum levels, ultrasonic sensors to measure the level of water in the tanks, and moisture sensors to control the moisture content of the soil.
Internet-connected devices for controlling the surrounding conditions
IoT, short for the Internet of Things, refers to devices that are connected with and communicate via the Internet. IoT devices in gardening range from smart irrigation controllers for automatically detecting and controlling the level of water for irrigation, to wireless plant monitors that set automatic timers for watering and offer a remote control to the owners through their phones.
It is also worth mentioning that you need to make sure you have a stable internet service in order to utilize these devices to their fullest.
Smart Irrigation Systems for water conservation
Water is essential to the survival of all living things, so it is critical that we do not waste it. According to statistics, however, more than half of the water used in agriculture is wasted due to outdated irrigation practices and inadequate management. To eliminate this waste, advanced irrigation methods must be used. These tools notify landowners of the amount of water in the tanks and automatically turn on and off the water supply to save wastage.
Design Considerations for a Smart Garden
Here are some design considerations for your new smart garden:
Choosing the right plants
While the thought of creating your own smart garden is intriguing, it is necessary to first learn about plants and the differences between outdoor and interior ones. Learn which plants are suited for an indoor garden and what growing conditions they require.
Before planting the plants, check to see if these criteria match the environment of your home garden. Furthermore, understand your individual needs and nurture the plants correctly to prevent crowding your little indoor garden.
Incorporating natural elements
We don’t want to lose sight of the organic appeal of a garden, no matter how far technology advances. As a result, it is critical to include some natural features in your smart garden.
You can, for example, choose a hybrid growing method for your plants that mixes natural factors (such as water and air) with artificial elements (sensors). As a result, your garden will benefit from the best of both worlds.
Creating Habitats for Pollinators
Plants produce nectar in order to attract pollinators. Pollen is transferred from flower to flower as the pollinator goes from one to the other collecting nectar. If their blooms are not pollinated, some fruits and seeds will not develop.
If you simply want to enhance the amount of nesting habitat available to passing bees, you can build a bee hotel out of drilled wood, bamboo reeds, twigs, and pinecones, which will attract a variety of bees. A pile of decaying twigs and bricks, for example, can attract both bees and spiders.
Wrap-up
Smart gardens may be the future of gardening, and if you want to join the bandwagon, make sure to explore the design considerations and aspects to include in your indoor garden.
