IPM Technology in/around the Home & Garden

Toby DayMSU Extension Horticulture

Associate Specialist

This is not evolution…

Botanicalls form Sparkfun electronics ($99.95)

• You just buy a small kit that you piece together, and then stick it into one of the plants in your garden.

• Use various sensor technology that allow your plants to tweet or even text you when they're in need of water.

Goals of Botanicalls Classic from NYU

1. Keep the plants alive by translating the communication protocols of the plants (leaf habit, color of foliage, droop, etc) to more common human communication protocols (email, voice phone calls, digital visualizations, etc).

2. Enhance people’s connection to plants, and explore the ways plants help humans, how caring for a shared resource can create sense of community, and how natural life is a valuable counterpoint to our technical environment.

3. Maintain a sense of humor at all times.

• Wireless sensor for small gardens and farms

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K6evk_VbN4Q&feature=player_embedded#t=74

Koubachi Wi-Fi Plant Sensor ($99.00)

Rapitest 3- and 4-Way Analyzer by Luster Leaf ($11.99 to $35.99)

• Soil and sunlight analyzer

• Soil pH• Moisture content• Fertilizer content• Sunlight

HOBO Data Loggers by Onset

• Wide range of monitoring applications

• Measure temperature and relative humidity, O2, salinity, you name it

• Alarms• Software to download

information to your computer• $75 to $1,500 depending on

system

High Tech Plant Examining Glassesfrom Clean Air Gardening ($69.99)

• Developed by NASA• Lets you spot stressed

plants up close or and distance before they are apparent to the human eye.

• Since the human eye is extremely sensitive to light in the green color range, any off-green colors that might be caused by disease, water, or pests will stand out against the black background as glowing red, coral, pink or other hues.

X-ray vision camera, not yet on the market…but close

• Infrared camera measures plant health

• Developed by Public Laboratory community

• Photosynthesizing plants absorb most visible light (less green than red and blue, which is why they're green to our eyes!) but reflect near-infrared. When you take a picture with the Infragram, you get two separate images -- infrared and regular light -- and a false-color composite that shows you where there are big differences. Bright spots in the composite means lots of photosynthesis!

The Internet

• When using the internet, be skeptical

• Please• Tip – when searching for

information use “extension” immediately after item being searched

• For instance instead searching for “growing tomatoes,” use “growing tomatoes extension”– Unbiased and research-based

Blogs

• Many people are turning to blogs for yard and garden information

• There are some good ones out there, but….

• Be very, very skeptical

YouTube

Programmable Hose-end Timer ($19 to $69)

• Allows you to water at the proper time, even if you don’t have an irrigation system

• Most are programmable • Can be hooked up to hose

and sprinkler or drip system

• Eliminates environment for many Montana plant diseases

Battery Powered Time-lapse Garden Video Camera by Brinno ($159.99)

• You can literally watch your garden grow

• Takes a picture at predetermined interval (5 seconds to 24 hours)

• Light sensor turns off camera at night

• Can play back like a movie• Takes up to 18,000 pictures

LED Grow Lights ($29-$899)

• Latest technology for indoor gardeners

• Energy efficient• Perfect spectrum for plant

growth• Low heat• Life span of 50,000 hours

Scarecrow Motion Activated Sprinkler by Contech ($46 to $79)

• Keeps animals away that are attracted to fruit, vegetables, and ornamental plants

• Repels skunks, deer, raccoons, squirrels and rabbits

• Scares the tar out of your unwanted company too.

Super Scary Solar Powered Owl Statue ($44.99) Amazon

• Motion sensors cause the head to move

• Even will project a “hoot” sound

• Made form recycled materials and is hand painted

• 18” tall

Garden Gnome Drone(Being Developed) University of Victoria

• Once a pest is detected, this scary little drone will take flight and flay around your yard or garden, scaring away anything with four legs (or two?)

• Limited to weather conditions

Plant Buddy by Redshift for Android (Free)

• Good plant journal• Description, acquired

date, and source.• Can add care tips,

notes and links• Set alarms for

watering, fertilizing, etc.

• Share pictures on Facebook

Garden Tracker by Portable Databases for IOS ($0.99 to $3.99)

• Allow design of gardens up to 2,500 sq.ft.• Tells you how much space each plant will

accommodate• Gives general care information

– Watering, soil temperature, planting depth, and which are incompatible

• Records information• Watering, fertilization, anticipated

harvest dates, etc.• Handy reference for pests and how to

treat

Landscaper Companion by Stevenson Software for IOS and Android ($5.99)

• No design capabilities• Reference for variety of plants

including trees, shrubs, annuals, perennials, vegetables and herbs about 20,000 varieties with images.

• Search capabilities– Common and scientific name, sun

exposure, hardiness zone, water requirements, color, height, width

• Create an album

Iveggiegarden by Moorit for IOS ($9.99)

• Design and garden plant tracker

• 50 vegetables and 500 varieties

• Growing tips• Pictures common pests• Good overall garden

journal

Leafsnap: an Electronic Field Guide for IOS (Free)

• From Columbia University, University of Maryland, and the Smithsonian Institute

• This free mobile app helps identify tree species from photographs of their leaves

• High resolution photos of flower, fruit, petiole, seed, and bark

• Downside: Currently only includes trees of the Northeast, but the website claims it will soon cover all the trees of the continental U.S.

Food Garden GuideIOS and Android* (Free)

• Comprehensive guide to growing food

• From Mother Earth News, so expect organic

• Information of planting, harvesting, storage, saving seeds, pest prevention, growing and kitchen prep

*Couldn’t get it to work on Android

Garden Compass (I’m guessing it is for IOS since I couldn’t find it on my Android

(FREE) by TeamSOA, inc• A lot of the same features as

other apps • You can identify plants, plant

diseases, and insects by picture• Which is to say, you can literally

take a photo of something in your garden and someone will message you back with info– Unknown who is responding!

Audubon Insects and Spiders (Android $3.99)

• 510 species of the most common species of insects and spiders

• In-depth information on each species

Plant Diagnostic Sample Submissionfor IOS (Free)

• Alabama, Connecticut, Illinois, Kentucky, Michigan, New Hampshire, Ohio, Indiana

• Allows farmers, gardeners, landscapers, arborists, etc. to submit digital photo samples for diagnosis

• Simple customized questions

• Photo tips

BeeSmart App from Pollinator Partnership (free for Android and IOS)

• Enter your zip code and it will bring up a list of pollinator plants that grow in your area

• Also can list plants by Pollinator you want to attract

Insect Repellent by HR Studios for Android (Free)

• Generates a unique high frequency ultrasound that repels insects

• Out of human hearing range

• Good for ticks, fleas, mosquitoes, flies, midges and chiggers

• Scared the hell out my cats!

Pickin’ Chicken

• Enough said

Vegibee Garden Pollinator• 5 speed, rechargeable plant pollinator • The variable speeds and multiple

vibrating wands allows more control and versatility

• The VegiBee are a "BEE FREE" plant pollination method that can be used in a greenhouse or outdoors, increasing the yield by + 30% annually

• Can be used to increase plant pollination on vegetables, fruits and can be used to hybridize flowers in the greenhouse

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pEvnD9EqSUQ&feature=player_detailpage

Toby Day Extension Horticulture SpecialistP.O. Box 173140312 Leon Johnson HallBozeman, Montana 59717

Tel: (406)994-6523toby.day@montana.edu