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Don't let them die! EasyBloom gives plants a fighting chance

By Wade-Hahn Chan

WaterSense CEO Matthew Glenn talks about the EasyBloom plant sensor.
video by Derrick Henry

In the list of daily chores, plant care ranks slightly above basic tidying up and several steps below, say, feeding pets and/or children. However, just like children, not taking care of plants may result in death. PlantSense's EasyBloom device is designed to make sure even plant management is as low-maintenance as possible. The device was created by an ex-Cisco employee and sports NASA-designed sensors, all for the sake of keeping household plants from drying out and dying.

It sounds complex, but it really isn't. That's because EasyBloom comes with a handy web-based interface and very few parts to work with. The EasyBloom itself is a slim and cylindrical, with a single button, a decorative vinyl flower petal attachment at the top and a soil sensor on the bottom. The sensor detaches to reveal a USB plug. The device uses two AAA size batteries.

Plug in the device for the first time and the computer browser opens to the EasyBloom page. All of the device's functions are managed online. To add a new plant, EasyBloom provides a somewhat limited database. For example, I wasn't able to find the specific type of orchid that I was testing the device on. However, multiple plants can be added and the Web site will track the health of all of the plants.

The EasyBloom keeps a watchful eye over house plants.
The EasyBloom keeps a watchful eye over house plants.
photo by Wade-Hahn Chan

Through the Web site, the EasyBloom can be set for three different "modes:" Recommend, Monitor and Water. Each mode gives the device different functionality. "Recommend" is used to determine if that corner in the house or countertop is a suitable spot for your plant. Leave the sensor in that spot for 24 hours and it will determine if it's a good match. On "Water" mode, the EasyBloom tracks whether or not a plant needs more water. Insert the sensor into the soil and it will beep if water is needed. If the soil is moist enough, it stops beeping, giving a fairly accurate estimate of how much water a plant needs in one watering.

"Monitor" - the mode that measures current plant health - is the most important and probably the function you'll use the most. Monitor requires the device to spend a full 24 hours stuck in a plant's soil. Plug the device in after that much time and it gives an hour-by-hour break down on changes in the environment, temperature and sunlight. Here, the EasyBloom can show surprising results. For example, I found that the spot I chose for my orchid got varying strengths of sunlight throughout the day based upon how much I opened the Venetian blinds and how the sunlight filtered through surrounding apartment buildings.

EasyBloom's simplicity also shows its limitations. For example, the device doesn't measure soil pH and it doesn't take into account geographical area or seasons, a big potential tripping point for outdoor plants. Apple lovers also must look elsewhere, as EasyBloom is Windows-only. Also, while the decorative vinyl flowers are cute, they're wide enough to get in the way of some plants. However, the device is still an excellent and fun to use tool to help out with keeping household plants.

The EasyBloom Plant Sensor normally retails for $59.95 but is on sale at Amazon.com! Get one for the holidays and start planting away.

EasyBloom gathers very useful data, such as whether your plant is receiving "too little sun."
photo © PlantSense.

For more items in Meniscus' 2009 Holiday Gift Guide, go to meniscuszine.com.

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