If one of the things that holds you back when thinking about heading away on holidays is the eternal question “who’ll water my plants?”, then Parrot Pot is for you.
Parrot Pot is a smart flowerpot designed by the French company Parrot that with four different built-in sensors monitors the amount of water, sunlight, temperature and fertiliser levels in real time. It works with four AA batteries that last for up to one year, making it ideal for both indoor and outdoor use, and also comes with a sturdy anti-UV treated ABS coating that requires little or no maintenance.
The inside of the pot has four small jets around the lip that spout water on the plant from a built-in 2.2 litre water tank whenever it needs it.
However, you’ll need to download the Parrot Flower Pot 2 app to get the most out of your Parrot Pot. The app connects to the flowerpot via Bluetooth and can manage up to 256 pots at the same time. You select the type of plant you’ll have and load some pre-adjustments so when the plant is potted it receives the special care it needs just as if you were at home taking care of it.
The mobile app allows you to choose the watering setting that best suits your needs. One is “Perfect Drop” that adapts to the plant’s daily needs and thereby makes it easier for the plant to grow properly. It also comes with a “Plant Sitter” setting that controls the amount of water the plant receives every day and lasts for up to a month without having to refill the tank. And, if you prefer to have some hands-on control over your plant, there’s also the “Manual” mode where you decide when and how much water the plant receives.
You’ll also have access to a database of more than 8000 different plants that’s been created using information gathered from expert botanists and comes with valuable information about the particular characteristics of the environment where the plants grow naturally.
As the sensors generate and gather info, Parrot Pot registers the plant’s preferences in real time and sends advice and specific alerts to the owner’s phone to make it easier to care for the plant on a long-term basis. With the data, the app creates a simple and easy to understand report on the plant’s health.
Parrot Pot is available in three colours: Black, white and red brick and costs about $80. For each Parrot Pot you buy the company will plant one tree in the region of Tigray, in northern Ethiopia.
Don’t you think it’s great and super organic? The only thing your plant is going to miss from now on is you singing in the morning. But, at least you can now head away on holidays with a clear conscience.
