CES 2025 May Have Made Me A Green Thumb

The 2025 CES was filled with exciting advancements, from robot vacuums equipped with robotic arms to stunning LED televisions and innovative smartwatches. However, what truly caught my eye were gadgets aimed at transforming novices into skilled gardeners. I’ve dreamt of turning my home into a lush oasis, but my frequent travels and tendency to let houseplants wither have made that a challenge. Thankfully, two remarkable devices showcased at CES 2025 might finally help me cultivate that green thumb I’ve always wanted.

First up is the PlantaForm Indoor Smart Garden, a space-age contraption that employs fogponics to nurture plants using significantly less water than traditional hydroponic setups. This ingenious technology directs mist right to the roots, eliminating the need for soil entirely. Moreover, its dome design bathes the foliage in ample light while preventing glare from spilling into your living area, thanks to specially dimmed tinted panels. Coupled with a comprehensive mobile app guiding you through the gardening journey, growing indoor greenery with the PlantaForm is practically foolproof.

While the PlantaForm is impressive, it does have one limitation: its size. It’s not exactly designed for small spaces, so placing it on a kitchen table or crowded countertop is not advisable. If you’re willing to dedicate a coffee table or have a large kitchen with open space, this gadget could revolutionize your indoor gardening experience. My kitchen is rather petite, but I’m hopeful I’ll find a nook for it in my home office.

Though I’m intrigued by the PlantaForm, I find myself even more drawn to LeafyPod. This AI-driven planter customizes its watering schedule based on the specific needs of your plants. By considering factors such as the season, your home’s location, and the surrounding environment, it adeptly modifies its watering routines for optimal growth. After downloading the app, you simply introduce LeafyPod to your plant, select the plant type in the app, and then relax—its AI will handle everything from there.

LeafyPod also adapts its care strategy based on how the plant and soil respond during the initial watering sessions, allowing it to establish a finely-tuned watering schedule. The best part? Its water reservoir can last up to four weeks, so you won’t have to dread returning home to a lifeless plant. Additionally, LeafyPod holds a charge for around six months, making it a low-maintenance option for plant lovers.

Even with limited outdoor space, I’m keen to try out the inventive Petal garden camera and Wonder Blocks. Created by the Bird Buddy team, Petal acts as a bug camera—a compact and flexible device that you can position in your garden to monitor tiny critters up close.

Wonder Blocks complements Petal beautifully, providing a modular system to create unique habitats for your plants and local wildlife. With a pedestal base, you can enhance its function with various accessories that include a plant base, seed tray, bee hotel, butterfly feeder, and bug hotel. Combining Wonder Blocks with Petal will surely offer an intriguing glimpse into the insect life in your garden, delivering a fresh perspective on your outdoor space.