I fancy myself a very caring cat owner (at least according to recent polling), an attentive betta fish owner with a good track record for long-lived aquatic companions, and an excellent housekeeper. But for the life of me, I can't seem to grow herbs...a minor annoyance to my inner-Martha.
Being the managing editor of all things electronic, I turned to technology for some help in turning my slightly sickly yellow-brownish thumb a few shades greener. Click & Grow takes the plug-and-play philosophy of computer peripherals and applies the same easy-use setup to the realm of plant care, automating most every aspect of growing a plant indoors.
Pop in 4 AA batteries, fill up the square reservoir to a clearly marked line with tap water, close everything up, and wait for the smart technology to do its thing. The Click & Grow measures how much water, fertilizer and air is needed using a small sensor inside, with a small pump providing water at regular intervals so you don't suffer for under or overwatering (my gardening Achille's heel). Setting everything up was more simple than setting up a new smartphone...and took a lot less time.
The one knock I've got is this easy gardening for dummies doesn't come cheap: $59.99 for a basil, Cockscomb, or painted nettle set, with additional plant cartridge refills for $19.90 (chili, thyme, or miniature tomatoes are available).
Supposedly 1-2 weeks from now I'll be enjoying the emergence of some basil, and hopefully a few weeks afterward have enough to make some homemade pesto to celebrate my plug-and-play garden!
More Info: Click & Grow
(Images: Gregory Han, Click & Grow)
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I'm probably an only estonian who visits this page daily and now I can be really proud of my country :) Good job, Click and Grow guys!
Seems like one of those Christmas-gift things that will end up at the garage sale next summer. An electronic chia pet.
interesting concept.. but i would think really it only pumps the water out slowly to prevent over watering.. would be nice.. if it came in more herbs (mint, parsley, chive) that people might actually use in doors.. and if it was shaped similar to most indoor vases are so that it doesn't just look like some square speaker sitting alone on a table for no apparent reason..
Awfully expensive batch of pesto. $60 initial setup fee and $20 + 3-5 weeks everytime you want enough basil to make anything worth while.
Ill stick to whole foods for bags of basil for less than $3.
You can buy starter pots of herbs in the supermarket cheaply enough to kill a LOT of them before matching the price of this unit -- maybe after a few, you'd have the knack and keep them alive!
I think the biggest issue is finding a sunny place to grow things inside. They really need natural light, you know!
@SherryBinNH - I agree! A basil plant is $3 at my grocery store. All you have to do is water it here and there and keep it in the proper amount of light.
It's definitely more expensive than I'd like, but as a fellow black thumb, it has a lot of appeal. My inner-Martha weeps at my (lack of) gardening skills.
No matter how long you wait, given it's size, that thing will probably only ever produce enough leaves to make as much basil pesto as would fit on a cracker.
This seems like an april fool's joke.
Give us an update in a couple weeks!
People underestimate the psychological benefits of accomplishing the seeming impossible. Growing a plant! Bringing life into the world! Gently nurturing those ever small, delicate green tentacles and saying "It's okay baby plant - you can trust in me. Together we will make you grow into something beautiful". No more sad, wilted, diseased, neglected or over watered plants. That depressing thought in your head WHAT DID I DO? I only wanted to love you! As you throw yet another dead and decaying plant down the rubbish chute. I would *gladly* pay $60 for a successful plant rearing opportunity. I'm adding one to my amazon wish list right now.
@MARYCIERRA: you're totally right! I walk into my kitchen every day and smile while thinking, "Hey, my plants aren't dead! Awesome!" It's such a little thing, but I'm proud of myself. My husband used to joke that we shouldn't have kids until I was able to keep a plant alive. BUT my kids would let me know what they needed...not so much with the plants. :)
We'll basil is one thing. But as i understand that the system is capable of growing several other plants in addition to basil.
I like the thought that when i'm coming home late from work, first i'll be greeted with some greenlings. God knows that currently i don't have the time to care for regular plants - experience has shown that they tend to die. With this technology, a green touch should actually last in my apartment.
Second, i can use bits of the plant in cooking. And moreover, the pot and the plant doesn't look bad at all. Actually i like the minimalist look it brings.
So, try to get all those things for $3 from your local grocery store.
The thing is, what makes it hard to grow herbs indoors is usually lack of light. If you got yourself a plant light and a self-watering planter, you could grow a lot more herbs for a lot less money than with this thing. Put the light on a timer and all you have to do is remember to put water in the reservoir every once in a while (which you'd still have to do with the overpriced gadget above).
Wow Gregory has an inner Martha, that impresses me more than the herbs thingy. Good for you that you keep on trying, sometimes it's easier to just buy them or not. :)
I was re-gifted an AeroGarden. Skeptical at first, but I love the thing! I only use it during the winter when I am unable to get my hands on fresh herbs and lettuce. The seed pods full price are ridiculous, but I've scored them at about a buck each through Amazon markdowns.
All that said, I'm not entirely certain I would pay full price for any of it. For a re-gift to be used in a dark townhouse kitchen with next to no chance to grow anything inside, it's fantastic.