By Farzana Patowari
A growing number of millennials and Gen-Z plant parents has led to the rise of a handy list of apps and tools. We picked the best ones for you
In the dog-versus-cat debate, somehow plants have come out on top as the choice option for millennial and Gen-Z working professionals on the brink of ‘adulting’. The rise of plant parenting is not a new phenomenon, but succulents, saplings and home gardening, in general, has seen a steady uptick among the demographic.
This in turn, has led to an entire marketplace around it, with the indoor plants market size being valued at USD 5.12 billion in 2021, which is further expected to grow to USD 9.8 billion by 2029, as per Pune-based research firm, GreyViews.
There’s a number of factors at play here. “First would be the aesthetic appeal of plants. Since 2015, this phenomenon has captured the design market, too, with plants taking centre stage, especially in home décor items, which carry prints, shapes and colours associated with plants,” says Vinayak Garg of Lazy Gardener, a plants and accessories company. Then, there is the whole wellness angle, which has simultaneously captured the imagination of youngsters, more so, in the post-pandemic era. “Looking at greenery makes people happy and when they grow, it sends out a sense of accomplishment,” Garg adds. Echoing this, Ekta Chaudhary, an influencer and gardener, says, “Spending on an expensive painting isn’t the idea of home décor for a millennial, but a rare variety of plant could be.”
Interestingly, as a growing number of young Indians nurture their green thumbs, the tech world is hankering to keep up, with the rise of a gamut of apps and tools that make plant parenting easy, economical and a lot more fun than it has been for boomers. Here are a few tools and apps that could help you in your plant-parenting journey.
PLANTA
This app will help you keep your plant alive. From sending reminders for plant care to providing step-by-step guides for it, Planta does it all. And in case if your plant isn’t doing well, use the Dr Plant feature that will help you set up a treatment plan.
FLORISH
If you are an indoor plant parent, Florish is an app that can prove to be handy with its ready care instructions and custom-care reminders. Plus, it also helps you find the correct lighting.
PICTURETHIS
This easy-to-navigate app allows its users to identify plants, weeds, birds and trees. It not only detects the type, but also tells you if there are any issues that you need to address.
GARDENIA
Trust Gardenia as your garden organising app, because it comes with a massive database of information on 2000-plus species. Use it to schedule gardening tasks for all the plants that you own and for effective gardening tips as well.
SOIL MOISTURE METER
Traditionally, a gardener would poke his finger inside the pot to gauge the moisture levels, but this gadget can help you do that without getting down and dirty. Get one with a sensor and digital display to keep tabs on the three most important parameters for good plant health — moisture, temperature and light.
Smart Watering Pot
These watering pots can store water for up to two weeks. Typically, they come with two chambers — one that stores water and the other which holds the plant. According to the needs of the plant, it keeps releasing water so that you don’t have to worry about over or under watering them.
GROW LIGHTS
Primarily useful for indoor plants, grow lights helps provide them with all the light that they need to prosper. A perfect hack for plant parents trying to a figure a way around lack of natural sunlight inside their homes.
MIST HUMIDIFIER
Humidity is an indoor plant’s best friend and dry spells can destroy them beyond the point of no return. And that’s where a mist humidifier comes in. What it simply does is, heat water to high temperatures, vaporising it and providing the surrounding with ample humidity.
LOW-MAINTENANCE PLANTS TO START WITH:
- Aloe Vera: This requires the soil to dry completely before watering, which means watering as little as every two to three weeks. Plus, you can use it as a soothing gel on cuts and burns.
- Snake Plant: AKA mother-in-law’s tongue, this succulent has thick, waxy leaves and thrives even if left alone for two to three weeks.
- ZZ Plant: Less water, low light and little attention make the ZZ plant a perfect option for lazy parents.
- Chinese Money Plant: This common house plant grows to a maximum of 8 to 12 inches and flourishes with little water and light
Reproduced with permission from Mansworldindia.com
