In the dog-versus-cat debate, somehow plants have come out on top as the choice option for millennial and Gen-Z working professionals on the brink of ‘adulting’. The rise of plant parenting is not a new phenomenon, but succulents, saplings, and home gardening, in general, have seen a steady uptick among the demographic. This in turn, has led to an entire marketplace around it, with the indoor plants market size being valued at USD 5.12 billion in 2021, which is further expected to grow to USD 9.8 billion by 2029, as per a study.  

And there are a number of factors at play here. “First would be the aesthetic appeal of it. Since 2015, this phenomenon has captured the design market, too, with plants taking centre stage, especially in home décor items, which carry prints, shapes, and colours associated with plants,” says Vinayak Garg of Lazy Gardener, a plants and accessories company. Then, there is the whole wellness angle, which has simultaneously captured the imagination of youngsters, more so, in the post-pandemic era. “Looking at greenery makes people happy and when they grow, it sends out a sense of accomplishment,” Garg adds. Echoing this, Ekta Chaudhary, an influencer and gardener, says, “Spending on an expensive painting isn’t the idea of home décor for a millennial, but a rare variety of plants could be.” 

Interestingly, as a growing number of young Indians nurture the green thumb, the tech world is hankering to keep up, with the rise of a gamut of apps and tools that make plant parenting easy, economical, and a lot more fun than it has been for boomers. Here are a few tools and apps that could help you in your plant-parenting journey.   

Planta 

This app will help you keep your plant alive. From sending reminders for plant care to providing step-by-step guides for it, Planta does it all. And in case your plant isn’t doing well, use the Dr. Plant feature that will help you set up a treatment plan. 

Florish 

If you are an indoor plant parent, Florish is an app that can prove to be handy with its ready-care instructions and custom-care reminders. Plus, it also helps you find the correct lighting.  

PictureThis 

This easy-to-navigate app allows its users to identify plants, weeds, birds, and trees. It not only detects the type but also tells you if there are any issues that you need to address.  

Gardenia 

Trust Gardenia as your gardening organising app, because it comes with a massive database of information on 2000-plus species. Use it to schedule gardening tasks for all the plants that you own and for effective gardening tips as well.  

Soil Moisture Meter 

Traditionally a gardener would poke his finger inside the pot to know the moisture levels, but this gadget can help you do that without getting down and dirty. Get one with a sensor and digital display to keep tabs on the three most important parameters for good plant health — Moisture, temperature, and light. 

Smart Watering Pot 

These watering pots can store water for up to two weeks. Typically, they come with two chambers — one that stores water and the other, which holds the plant. According to the need of the plant it keeps releasing water so that a person doesn’t have to worry about over or under-watering them. 

Grow Lights  

Primarily useful for indoor plants, grow lights help provide them with all the light that they need to grow well. A perfect hack for plant parents trying to figure a way around the lack of natural sunlight inside their homes.  

Mist Humidifier 

Humidity is an indoor plant’s best friend and dry spells can destroy them beyond the point of no return. And that’s where a mist humidifier comes in. What it simply does is, heat water to high temperatures, vaporising it and providing the surroundings with ample humidity.