My wife was kind enough to forward this article to me about a new Wi-Fi plant sensor developed in Switzerland. You put the sensor unit into a pot or into a garden space and then install an app downloaded from the iTunes store. If the plant needs more water, light etc. etc., the sensor pushes a message to your smart phone so you can take action.
An interesting idea for sure. I checked it out on the company's website and it costs 120 Euros (about $160).
So what do you think? Worth it? Let me know your opinion and also if you consider yourself a beginner, intermediate or advanced gardener.
There was a company here in the bay area that had a similar product. I think they went bankrupt. Expensive, you need multiples and probably an overkill. A trus gardener would know the conditions in their garden and would not let plants reach extremes of too dry, etc. also a good drip solution can be had for $160
Posted by: Jackson | 03/04/2012 at 05:08 PM
Seems expensive to me too.
Posted by: H. Mark Delman | 03/04/2012 at 05:13 PM
For a gadget driven guru this seems like a find however for a savvy garden it's an overpriced reminder of what you already know. I love the intercommunication of the device yet the price value relationship is way out of line. Maybe they made only a 100 devices and that's why they are so expensive.
Posted by: Pat Tura | 03/08/2012 at 09:07 AM
I think if youre right. If this were under $50, then I could see buying it for the novelty alone. But once it crosses $100, you have to ask yourself if this devices fixes a $100 problem. The sensor is supposed to provide users with light, temperature, fertilizer requirements and other data, but I think the real value for most people is knowing the soil moisture level and when to water. But again this is a $160 devices and you would need several of these for even a small sized garden. For $160 you could install an automatic drip irrigation system and not have to worry about watering at all. Well have to see.
Posted by: H. Mark Delman | 03/09/2012 at 05:44 AM