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Guest contributor, Mediaworks updates us on the latest gardening gadgets to look out for
Just like fashion, gardening trends are always evolving — so which new devices can you use to improve your garden? Check out this tech guide by Suttons — leading providers of plants supports — as we look at the top must-have pieces of technology for gardeners in 2018…
Improve your watering system
A pot watering kit is the ideal way to make sure your plants stay hydrated and healthy. These kits can water up to 25 plants automatically and can sense what time of the day it is to water your plants. You can set up the gadget so that it slowly releases water to the root of the plant which will save you the effort! Connect it to your outdoor garden tap for even less hassle and keep your plants and hanging baskets going strong.
Get tips and advice
Apps are massively popular for iPhone and tablet users — but which are the best gardening ones?
- Garden Compass — this app lets you upload photos to the website, ask questions to horticultural experts and create your personalised garden-care calendar.
- GrowIt! — connects you with local gardeners who can give you advice. You can also upload photos of your own plants to share your gardening knowledge with others.
Expand on what you grow
Unfortunately, gardeners in the UK are slightly restricted when it comes to what they can produce. If you want to grow something more exotic, why not invest in a heated propagator? A heated propagator allows seeds to germinate earlier and more successfully (meaning that less goes to waste). This isn’t necessarily a new idea, years ago, it was heated greenhouses and heated benches that were on the market. But, they can add to your energy costs as the heat can quickly dissipate and therefore must be on all the time to be successful. Instead, the propagator has walls and a lid which can retain the warmth.
As you can change the temperature between 5°C to 30°C, you give yourself many more possibilities when it comes to what you can grow. Some of the more exotic seeds and hot chillies require warmer temperatures and it could be impossible to grow them in cooler climates without this piece of technology. Being able to grow from seed is more cost-effective than buying an already germinated young plant too — saving you some pennies!
Thanks to the light that is installed in each product, seedlings can grow healthily and provide high output for low energy as often the propagator contains a reflector that can reflect lost light and diffuse light deep into the plant leaves.
Observing your plants
Sometimes, our plants may be suffering without our knowledge. However, there is one gadget that can help — the Parrot Flower Power plant monitor. With a battery life of half a year and up to 7,000 plants in its database, this device is extremely handy.
All you have to do to use this gadget is put it into the soil next to your plants. Then, let it detect: sunlight, temperature and fertilizer. This information then is sent straight to your smartphone, so you know when to water or add more fertilizer to your plants.
Share your success
Sharing your planting success is a great way to show off your work and inspire other gardeners. Often the beauty of the plant is in the detail of its leaves or perhaps you enjoy watching the wildlife in the garden. Either way, to take the best photos in the garden you should invest in an Olloclip Pro Lens.
Fitting securely on your iPhone, you just clip this device over the lens of your phone and it combines with your phones digital zoom — letting you take macro photos with up to 100x magnification. It’s ideal for capturing the details that aren’t visible to the human eye or even monitoring insects as they enjoy your garden. You’re guaranteed to get some wonderful shots without the need for purchasing a professional camera.
From making the germination process easier, to being able to water your 25 pots at once, these gardening gadgets offer simple solutions to your gardening concerns.
Sources
http://www.suttons.co.uk/Gardening/Garden+Equipment/Propagators+and+Propagating+Equipment/Geopod+Heated+Propagators_MH4723.htm
http://fortune.com/2017/03/30/garden-gadgets-green-tech/
