Hey everyone! I'm a total gardening newbie working on a university project where I'll be creating an automatic plant pot. I need help identifying the key variables that are essential for keeping a plant alive and healthy for as long as possible. I'm already considering measuring soil humidity to ensure proper watering. I'm also thinking about tracking the pH of the soil, sunlight hours, and temperature. Are these good choices, or am I overlooking something important? Any insights would be greatly appreciated!
2 Answers
Don't forget about measuring air movement! It's an often-overlooked factor that can significantly affect plant growth. Keeping air circulating helps ensure plants receive the CO2 they need for healthy growth and can prevent problems like mold.
As a plant scientist, I suggest focusing on soil moisture, ambient humidity, temperature, and light intensity over the duration of your experiment. While soil pH is important, it tends to stay stable unless you're doing something specific to change it, like using vinegar or bleach for watering. Be sure to consider air movement as well, as it's crucial for plant health. For measuring plant vitality, you could track the height, number of leaves or branches, or even do some non-destructive measurements at the start before any drastic changes.