Crowdfunding Review – I like to grow things. Flowers, grass, vegetables, everything.While I’m good at growing things outdoors, I’m not good at growing things indoors, which is why I’m very excited about the upcoming Kickstarter by Elecrow. Their new gadget is called growth blockit is an automatic watering system for up to four houseplants.
What is it?
GrowCube is a small white cuboid that looks like eve and mini computer caseIt claims it can independently water up to four houseplants at the same time using standards defined by an app on my smartphone. accept the challenge!
I immediately went out and bought four pots, three small plants (a pigeon, some ivy and coleus) and some potting soil.I also pulled the thai basil out of it Hydroponic system I already had it because it was too tall for the light; time to let it grow!
I grow everything in their proper home.
I found a new place for everyone indoors, right under a window in my home office, where the sun shines all morning.
At this point, I dug into the manual and started following the steps to set up the hardware. Overall, the manual is very good and easy to follow. It does skip a few things – what is the purpose of the included brackets and blue clips? – but for the most part, I was able to figure it out. Step 1 is to plug all the sensors into the back of the GrowCube.
Step 2 is to push the sensor into the soil, not too deep, but close to the roots. These will measure the moisture level in the soil so the GrowCube knows when it needs to be watered again. The sensor’s cable is about three feet long, so the pot must be within three feet of the GrowCube.
The GrowCube comes with a 10m long clear pipe – more than you need – which transfers water from the reservoir to the planter.Step 3 is to measure and cut the four tubes – the blue clip is actually the tool used to cut the tubes, although a pair of scissors would work just as well – then connect each tube to the grey on the nozzle, something like Mini Immersion Hose.
Step 4 is to attach each tube to the back of the GrowCube, making sure each tube is fully connected. I don’t want these to pop when watered. In retrospect, it was much easier to connect the tube first and then the sensor because the tube was a bit finicky to install and the sensor cable was a bit in the way. But anyway, as long as everything gets there.
Step 5 is to place the nozzle around the base of each plant in the pot. This is where the brackets come in handy as they can be used to help hold the nozzle exactly where I need it. The slots for the sensor and tube on the back of the GrowCube are marked A through D, so I made sure that A’s sensor and A’s tube both go into the same factory, and so on.
The final step in the hardware setup is to plug in the DC power supply. The end result is a bit of spaghetti, but at least it’s mostly hidden from view.
Next, I touched the top of the GrowCube in order to open the lid of the tank.
Then I filled it with filtered water. It’s ready!
The brains of the GrowCube are actually in the app that I will load on my iPhone. It will allow me to choose the type of plants I have and set a watering schedule. Unfortunately, at the time of writing, Elecrow hasn’t finished the latest version of the app, so I can’t connect it to my GrowCube. When I’m ready, I’ll download it and write the second half of this review.
what do I like?
Similar to the look of the hardware; it’s a very sleek, modern design. I love that it can water four plants at a time. I like that the software should have access to a huge plant database, which should allow me to customize a unique watering schedule for each of my four different plants.
Things to consider before pledging
The software isn’t ready yet, and given that it has some ambitious features, it may take a while.
The manual doesn’t mention any fertilizer that any houseplant needs.can i mix Miracle grows Into the water, or will it mess up the GrowCube?maybe i should use Osmotic pressure Or some other more expensive slow-release plant-based food? I’m just not sure, so I hope Elecrow can provide some guidance on this.
Where can I find more information?
Elecrow has been established A Kickstarter page, you can visit for GrowCube fees and other details.they also have a page on their website with information.Finally, they have a nice youtube video watch.
I have high hopes for this gadget. I really hope it helps me keep these plants alive in my home office; in fact, I want more than that. I want them to thrive under the care of the GrowCube’s automatic watering.
GrowCube reviews will be updated when the GrowCube app is ready.
price: $79.00
where to buy: crowdfunding
source: Samples for this review provided by Elecrow.
