Gifts for Gardeners, Gadget Edition
We don’t care what holiday you celebrate, so long as you use it as an excuse to buy the gardener in your life some new botanical booty. If you’re looking for the perfect gift for the planter in your family, here are a few humble suggestions from your friends at Plantgasm.
I’ll be posting a few different gift guides for the 2010 holiday season this week. First up: Gadgets!
Note: Some of these links contain affiliate codes, so we get a cut if you buy something. In addition to getting a great gift, you’re supporting this site. Thanks!
Bond Moisture Meter
There are plenty of meters that do more, cost more, and don’t work as well. I love this meter because it does one thing well: measures moisture. Stick it in the soil and it’ll help you decide if it’s time to water or not. No batteries, no muss, no fuss. A must-have for the gardener who loves plants too much (especially when “love” means “water”.)
Chaney Indoor Thermometer and Humidity Gauge
If the gardener in your life enjoys orchids or tropicals, this simple gauge will help them keep an eye on their humidity. I like it because, in addition to listing the current air temperature and humidity, it also lists the day’s highs and lows, which can help you keep an eye out for dry spells you might not have noticed otherwise.
PlantSense EasyBloom Plant Sensor
This little sensor is a godsend for new gardeners. Just stick it in a pot for a day and then plug it in to your computer’s USB port to get a full report on the plant’s view of the world: sun, moisture, and temperature. You can also get recommendations for other plants that might like that spot. The device has been controversial – they tend to make experienced gardeners fret, but they’re not really for experienced gardeners. They’re great for avid amateurs who’d like to know more about what makes their plants happy. My EasyBlom told me I was overwatering a Peace Lily and that my African Mask needed more light. Both plants are happier now. And when my plants are happy, I’m happy.
Wingscapes Timelapse PlantCam
If you like the timelapse videos I post here, this is the device I use to make them. Just insert some batteries and a SD card (warning: not included!), set it in a corner, and let it go for a day or two. The results can be quite stunning. This would be a good gift for a gardener who also knows their way around technology – the camera interface is not exactly user-friendly, and it can take some doing to get a decent movie together. But I love using it. Especially handy is the waterproof case, so you can stick it in the garden and not worry about the moisture hurting your camera.
Hey gardeners: What gadgets do you recommend?
Tune in tomorrow for the next edition: Planters!
See Also
Garden Links for 14 July 2011
We read the botanical web so you don't have to. In this edition: trash, Alcatraz, crime, and weed.
My First Apple
I'd like to say that victory was sweet, but it was actually pretty tart.
Like Turducken for Vegetarians
Not that the tiny sprouts would have hurt me - it was just too weird to see them emerging from a regular old tomato.
