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Being a houseplant mom or dad is not easy—those babies are a lot of work. Smart technology has made managing them a lot easier for me, though. If you've still got someone on your gift list who will spend all winter tending to their beloved plants, here are some ideas for gifts they're likely to love.
I love my plants, but watering them is a consistent chore I struggled to master—and if I'm being honest, all my plants used to get the same drink of water when I knew some should get watered more often or less often. An automatic waterer is what saved their lives. It was simple to set up: It's a pump that pulls water from a source you designate (I use a tall pitcher). You set up 1/4-inch black poly tubing to each plant, with included stakes and emitters, and adjust the emitters for each plant. It can even supply water vertically, so I was able to run tubing to my hanging plants. Using the app, you tell the system how often to water and for how long. I have two systems set up—one for the plants that need water more often and one for the ones that enjoy more dry time.
Plant sensors have existed for years; even Ikea had one. They've all been a bust, but Flora Pod actually works—I have a few of them. You stick them into the soil around your plant and the app gives you insights on that particular plant. Obviously it acts as a moisture sensor, but Flora Pod can also diagnose plant problems, give you access to experts and give you specific advice for the identified plant species. Technically, it can work outside or inside, but I've found that it's not as impervious to weather as it implies. This is for indoor plants, in my opinion, and it works fantastically.
When you start amassing plants, keeping track of them becomes a challenge. Now, there is an app that will help make that task easier: Planta. Not only does it act as an inventory for your plants, but helps create a calendar of reminders for each one with specialized recommendations. One of the best features is a light meter in the app so you can gauge how your plant should fare and if it's getting enough light. Planta takes local weather and conditions into account to advise you on adjusting watering schedules, and has a diagnostic tool. There's a community you can join, so there's that benefit, but the best benefit? You can share your plant schedules with other people, like house sitters. A subscription runs $36 a year through the App Store or Google Play, so a gift card would be the perfect gift.
Plants take up space, which I want. I enjoy sharing my space with them, but they also crowd countertops, hang from ceilings and use up floor space. Modern Sprout has designed frames so your plants can reside on your walls, akin to living art. They are genuinely beautiful (and pricey), but include their own grow light and water reservoir, and they come in a few different configurations. In short: I want one.
I love my local nursery, but it's not where I get houseplants, and your houseplant-loving friend is probably the same way. In addition to trading clippings with other plant lovers, they're more likely to shop for houseplants on marketplaces like Etsy and Palmstreet. Gift cards to either would be welcome so your friend could acquire more plants, because if there is one thing every plant parent has in common, it is an inability to stop adopting new plant babies.
