Have you ever heard of the Internet of Things? You may not have heard of it, but you are already using it. If you use your smartphone to control the security system, thermostat, and appliances in your home, then you are involved with the Internet of Things.
Now the Internet of Things is expanding to include your garden.
It may sound complicated, but actually, it is quite simple. First, you have to connect your plants to the Internet of Things. This is achieved by simply placing a wireless device next to the plant.
The device you’ve placed is actually a sensor that transmits data to your smartphone concerning air temperature, humidity, soil moisture, light intensity, pH level, and other pertinent information.
Moreover, there is now the capability of adding nanotechnology that actually makes the soil “smart.” Click & Grow, a company that makes high technology products in Palo Alto, California, has created “smart soil,” a very fine soil that permits oxygen and water to pass through more evenly than regular soil and is full of nutrients that release during a plant’s growth cycle.
Even though the technology is very new and revolutionary, there are already a few companies that offer devices that connect your garden to the Internet. They include:
· PlantLink. This is a two-pronged indoor/outdoor soil sensor that features a central hub that plugs into your computer router. This sensor wirelessly sends data to your smartphone, tablet, or desktop computer and alerts you when plants in your garden or potted in your home need water.
Courtesy PlantLink.
· Koubachi. Designed by Apple, the device includes multiple sensors that monitor temperature, sunlight, humidity, moisture in the soil, and a Wi-Fi to transmit data to your computer, smartphone, or tablet.
· Edyn. The device is a smart garden system that monitors and tracks environmental conditions that affect your garden. It monitors light, humidity, temperature, soil nutrition, and moisture in the soil. It cross-references the data with plant, soil science, and weather databases and then recommends plants that will thrive in your garden. It also features a smart water valve that connects to any sprinkler or drip-hose system so it can turn the water on automatically when plants need water and turn it off when the plants are sufficiently wet. It also monitors weather information supplied on the web, so it can determine the best time to water. Unlike other devices that operate on battery power, this gadget is solar powered. So it can run forever.
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