Some of us were not blessed with green thumbs. In fact, some of us are downright unlucky when it comes to taking care of plants. But if you still dream of a lush monstera or blooming beds, you’re in the right place. With the help of Bethany Mieth, co-owner of Dallas’ Oasis Plant Shop, we put together a robust list of gardening products, ranging from simple to high tech and all designed to help you bluff your way to botanical glory.
Moisture meter for potted plants
Tuck a moisture meter into your potted plant’s soil to track when you need to water. This Jungle Club meter is sold on the Terrain website.
Courtesy Jungle Club/Terrain
Take the guesswork out of watering your pothos or fiddle-leaf fig with a moisture meter. “This is my favorite plant tool,” Mieth says. “We use moisture meters to check the moisture level of the soil of houseplants. The probe is long enough to reach almost up to seven inches deep into the soil, which is a huge help in larger plants when you aren’t sure if the bottom part of the soil has dried out from the last time you watered your plant.”
The meter has three moisture levels: dry, moist and wet, and the dial on the meter tells you how saturated your plant is. Oasis sells moisture meters in fun colors; you can also find tons of options online. They range in price from under $10 to $25 or so. Of course, a moisture meter can tell you the state of your plant’s soil, but you have to know what to do with that information. A succulent, for example, should be watered only when the soil has completely dried. A bird of paradise plant, on the other hand, likes moist soil, so you should let it slightly dry out between waterings. Some moisture meters come with a guide that offers watering advice for popular plants. (And you’ll find more products with care info for specific plants below.)
Leaf-cleaning gloves and protection spray
A pair of microfiber gloves by We The Wild helps keeps your plants healthy.
Courtesy We The Wild
“We The Wild is a wonderful brand that we love to sell at Oasis,” says Mieth. “All of their products aim to create ease and function in plant care.” She specifically loves the leaf-cleaning gloves. “They are microfiber and make dusting off the leaves so easy,” she says. “Plants are at their best when dust hasn’t collected on the leaves. A buildup of dust inhibits a plants ability to photosynthesize, which directly impacts the growth and health of your plant.”
Add a few spritzes of We The Wild’s Protect leaf spray, suggests Mieth. The spray combines neem oil with lemon myrtle, eucalyptus and tea tree oil to help defend against plant stressors. “This is the perfect regimen to not only get your plant’s leaves looking shiny but also protect your plant from future bug infestations, diseases and toxins,” says Mieth.
Pots with drainage holes
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“This may sound like a no-brainer, but the easiest way to keep a plant alive is planting it in a container that has a drain hole at the base,” says Mieth. “Plants do not want to sit in wet soil, and the drain hole allows for an escape for the water.” If you love a solid pot, you can put the plant in a plastic grow pot, then place it in the container that you love. You can also drill your own hole. If you’re not the DIY type (no shade!), you can bring the container into Oasis and let them drill it for you.
Related:Get to the root of tree problems in North TexasSmart watering for outdoor plants
The Eve Aqua attaches to your outdoor faucet, and you can set watering schedules from the app.
Courtesy Eve Aqua
No more making time to water your patio plants and flower beds — consider a smart model that does the work for you. You can use the Eve Aqua in a variety of ways: with a soaker hose, a spray system, a hose-fed sprinkler, etc. A small box connects to the spout on one end and the hose on the other. On an app, program your desired watering schedules and the system will take care of the rest. If you’re away on a business trip or vacation and it looks like rain back home, you can pause the system from afar. You can manage factors including watering duration and estimated consumption on the app — especially useful for people who live in water-restricted areas such as the city of Dallas.
Eve Aqua is compatible with most standard faucets, hose systems and multi-channel distributors (which let you have multiple hoses on one faucet). The smart device can set up to seven daily watering periods.
Smart countertop garden
Growing an indoor garden is made easy with AeroGarden. Drop seeds in the planter and the system automatically waters for you.
Courtesy AeroGarden
For a true plug-and-play experience, the hydroponic AeroGarden Harvest Elite allows you to drop seed pods in the garden, fill the bowl with water and plant food, plug in and walk away. The auto timer sets the growing lights so that they go on and off at the right time. A digital display tells you when it’s time to add water and food, and vacation mode keeps plants healthy while you’re away.
AeroGarden offers hydroponic gardens in a variety of shapes, sizes and colors so that you can find the right one for your space. The Harvest Elite allows you to grow up to six different herbs, veggies or flowers, and it’s compact enough to fit on a countertop. This model sells for about $125; AeroGarden’s other models range in price from approximately $50 to $350.
A step-by-step plant care guide
Stop the endless googling and stock your library with the Practical House Plant Book by Fran Bailey and Zia Allaway. “The girls at our shop love this book and have learned a lot from it,” says Mieth. “It was actually a gift from a former Oasis team member. It has plant profiles that include information on how to care for your plant. It goes into detail on how to best display your plants in your home in regards to sunlight and atmosphere.” Mieth notes that there are sections specifically for beginners. “It’s just an all-around wonderful book when starting out in growing your personal plant collection.”
Plant care apps
Planta provides directions and reminders for taking care of your particular plants.
Courtesy Planta
If you do prefer a tech-based approach for plant care assistance, try an app. Newbie plant parents should check out Planta. You can tell the system which plants you’re caring for, and it will alert you when it’s time to water and fertilize. If you’re not sure what type of plant you have, take a picture and Planta will identify it for you and immediately put together a care plan. The app helps diagnose issues with the Dr. Planta feature; it will develop a personalized plan to nurse your plant back to health. You can also join a plant community and connect with other enthusiasts.
For vegetable gardens, we love Smart Gardener, which guides you from the planning process to the maintenance phase. When you start, take advantage of the garden plan feature, which allows you to enter your garden’s measurements and the types of seeds you’re planting — Smart Gardener will create a blueprint for your beds. The task section tracks all of your garden tasks with weekly reminders.
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