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How would you like to have a watering system for your plants while you are away!

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  • mrtjformanmrtjforman Posts: 331
    500ml is one glass of water.

    Not really a lot and yes nothing new. I think this is what is trying to be copied (at University 99% of the time the wheel is reinvented since there are not that many possibilities of new wheels to invent and they need to do something to prove they are studying)

    https://www.thompson-morgan.com/p/garden-gear-automatic-watering-system/g2530TM
  • mrtjformanmrtjforman Posts: 331
    when I was at Uni I invented an automatic clothes dryer which was ridiculed and dismissed. Then a few years later the JML Dri buddy came out and was a great success.

    We ended up designing a heated ski box which I thought was completely pointless. 
  • Cacti then ... they’re the only ones of my houseplants that could survive on 500mls if I were to take more than a weekend away in the summer. 

    Thanks for your comments!
    We are planning for multiple capacities upto 1Lit. 500ml will be first prototype. 
    Although the question about how much water your plants really need is simple, the answer is not. Surprisingly, there is little information on plant water needs. The last few years, researchers at the University of Georgia and University of Maine have been studying the water needs of annuals and perennials. The good news is that many plants need much less water than most people expect. For example, we have grown petunias in 4-inch pots from seedlings to marketable size with about a half gallon of water applied over 40 days. The plants were not given just enough water to survive, but all the water they needed to grow. However, they were only watered when they needed to be and no excess water was provided.

  • Hi @adesh.dhope12. Where in Germany are you?

    I can see your target market for this. I’m guessing you’ll look at some form of wider integration, such as with IFTTT or HomeKit? As mentioned above 500ml will be a bit restrictive for all but the least demanding indoor plants, but you could have an accessory that would be mains water fed, and utilise a hygrometer to reduce excessive consumption. 

    Send me a direct message if you’d like to discuss in more detail. 
    Thanks for grate suggestions!
    We have been working on different varients in current design. However our main objective is to have portable system which reduces users hassle.
    Your ideas are welcome! Happy to see positive response!
    https://forms.gle/KLfPTorNuHfDxyBu7
  • Hostafan1Hostafan1 Posts: 34,889
    methinks this wouldn't get far on Dragons' Den
    Devon.
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    Growing a petunia plug plant is not comparable to an established foliage house plant ... their requirements are hugely different ... you’re comparing apples and oranges. 

    Do any of you have horticultural qualifications ... if not may I suggest a bit more research to start with. 

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • KT53 said:
    What you are seeking to do is nothing new.  Timed, automated, watering systems have been around for a long time.  You seem to be trying to reinvent the wheel.
    Thanks for your response!
    This type of innovation is called incremental innovation! I agree there are multiple option available. but they have certain limitations we are trying to solve their pain points. Intention of this survey is to collect the acceptance rate among plant/garden enthusiast.
    Thank you taking out time and for suggestions!
    https://forms.gle/KLfPTorNuHfDxyBu7 
  • Hostafan1Hostafan1 Posts: 34,889

    Thanks for your response!
    This type of innovation is called incremental innovation! I agree there are multiple option available. but they have certain limitations we are trying to solve their pain points. Intention of this survey is to collect the acceptance rate among plant/garden enthusiast.

    Forgive me but it sounds as if you're trying to find a problem which fits your product, which seems to be a somewhat backward approach. 
    Its uses seem very limited .
    Can I respectfully suggest you look at the bigger picture and try to address it more comprehensively ?
    Devon.
  • 500ml is one glass of water.

    Not really a lot and yes nothing new. I think this is what is trying to be copied (at University 99% of the time the wheel is reinvented since there are not that many possibilities of new wheels to invent and they need to do something to prove they are studying)

    https://www.thompson-morgan.com/p/garden-gear-automatic-watering-system/g2530TM
    Hello!
    Thanks for sharing the link related to other device! However it required huge setup if you want to water. The device we are planing to launch is portable. We give an option of controlling the intervals and can be tracked using smartphone in near future!
    https://forms.gle/KLfPTorNuHfDxyBu7 
  • Hi @adesh.dhope12. Where in Germany are you?

    I can see your target market for this. I’m guessing you’ll look at some form of wider integration, such as with IFTTT or HomeKit? As mentioned above 500ml will be a bit restrictive for all but the least demanding indoor plants, but you could have an accessory that would be mains water fed, and utilise a hygrometer to reduce excessive consumption. 

    Send me a direct message if you’d like to discuss in more detail. 
    We are based in Berlin, Germany :)
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