There are many reasons to bring a touch of nature into your home. Indoor plants can boost productivity, help reduce stress and brighten a room. Growing your own herbs and vegies may even improve your diet, eliminate waste and save you money.

Chances are, you’re probably spending more time indoors than ever before. Surrounding yourself with just one indoor smart garden could have a positive impact on your mood and wellbeing.

A study led by Professor Margaret Burchett at the University of Technology Sydney showed, “clear reductions in feelings of stress, anxiety, depression, anger, fatigue, confusion and overall negativity among participants with plants in their offices (by 30 – 60%), and one plant was enough to make the difference.”

With everything going on in the world right now, it’s important to prioritise mental health. Adding a smart garden to your home or workspace could be a fresh and fun way to lift your mood. This article looks at what an indoor smart garden is and how to create one.

What’s a smart garden?

Farming and commercial gardening adopted technology decades ago. A more recent trend is to bring smart gardens into urban homes, using tech to help grow plants, flowers, herbs and vegetables.

Indoor hobby gardening isn’t always easy. A smart garden’s artificial intelligence means it can control their own lighting, water and nutrients, making them a good lowmaintenance option if you’re constantly on the go.

Depending on your smart garden, you may also be able to link it up to an app, so it can keep you updated on when it needs watering or harvesting.

Most indoor smart gardening systems will come with energy-efficient LED lights and biodegradable smart soil, a dirt-like medium made from natural materials. Smart soil will take care of itself by balancing its own oxygen, water and fertiliser, so you don’t have to think about it. It’s also free from harmful substances like pesticides.

If you’re time-poor, new to gardening or live in an apartment, then an indoor smart garden may be a good way to hone your green thumb.

How to create a smart garden

1. Work out how big you want to go: Indoor smart gardens come in all shapes and sizes – from delicate succulents as a desk decoration, to basil plants perfect for a kitchen counter. You’ll even find vertical indoor farms large enough to feed the whole family. Australianbased-company, Urban Plant Growers, sells a three-rung stand called “Family farms” that can hold dozens of plants at once.
2. Decide on your budget: While growing your own salad may save you money in the long run, smart garden kits can be pricey, especially when compared with regular dirt and seeds. Urban Plant Growers has products from $30 – $2,000, catering to a range of budgets.
3. Browse and buy: Most indoor smart gardens can be bought online through places like Amazon or direct from a company website such as Urban Plant Growers. Just search for “indoor smart garden” and once you’ve found the kit that’s right for you, make your purchase.
4. Plan where to put it: Thanks to built-in lights, you won’t need to worry about how much sun it’s getting, so it can go wherever you like. Some smart-garden owners have found they grow quicker than imagined, so be prepared if your plant starts booming in just a few weeks by giving it enough space to thrive.
5. Assemble and enjoy: Once your kit arrives, follow the instructions, sit back and reap the benefits.