A friend of mine once told me she had been replacing the same pot plant every time it died, for years, like this was normal plant owner behaviour, when I asked why they kept dying she said she always forgot to water it.
The thought of plant after plant going to her windowsill to dry out and die still haunts me, but there is hope for these serial vegecidal maniacs. The Luxury Indoor Hydroponic Smart Garden from West Kent is the world’s first system to offer automatic watering and nutrient supply. It features the largest water tank, the most amount of pods, automated water and nutrient filler as well as an adjustable lighting system, it literally does everything for you. There is a water level sensor, which means the machine can detect when the water reservoir is low and automatically draws water from an external source whilst providing the perfect balance of nutrients. There are two different LED lighting modes with the blue light for growth or red light for blooming, you can customize the lights to meet the needs of the different plants. You can plant any type of seed and cutting but there are starter packs of fruit, herbs or flowers available on the website as well as a bunch of accessories for more advanced growers, but they are not essential. The replacement A and B nutrients cost £18 for a litre of each bottle but these should last 10-12months if used correctly.
The 21 pods mean you can grow a real mix of plants you fill it with a couple of your favourites, there is a companion app which will give you information on the water level, nutrient status, lighting, temperature, there’s a low water level alarm, but it isn’t vital so it shouldn’t scare off the technophobes. The kit comes with 21 baskets, sponges and grow domes, 15 cover plates, A & B nutrients, plug adapter and transparent pipe. There’s a bit in the instructions that talk about using light blocking stickers, but the design has changed and are no longer needed or included. The unit measures up at 400mm x 260mm x 140mm and lights go to 55cm in height, the tank holds 7.5l of water, this will last you awhile. I love how user friendly the smart garden is, it allows you to grow anything, anywhere, 365 days a year, however I’m really not a fan of the metallic body and digital display, I find the robotic look jarring against the beauty of the natural world.RRP £195
- User friendly
- 21 pods
- Automatic water filling from another water source
- 9 level, adjustable LED full spectrum lights
- 11.7cm touchpad LCD screen display
- Self-Watering 7.5L water tank
- Waterproof nano-coating on the lights to extend lifespan
- Automatic nutrient feeder
- App basic
- Expensive
- Water tank design doesn’t compliment the plants
