Rich was the editorial lead for CNET's Home and Wellness sections, based in Louisville, Kentucky. Before moving to Louisville in 2013, Rich ran CNET's desktop computer review section for 10 years in New York City. He has worked as a tech journalist since 1994, covering everything from 3D printing to Z-Wave smart locks.
Bitponics' Base Station is the company's anchor point for your connected hydroponic garden.
2 of 16BitPonics
Cloud-based gardening joke goes here
BitPonics' system uses sensors to send data from your plant to its Base Station. The Base Station then transmits that information to BitPonics' cloud servers, which generate reports about your garden, alerts you about any issues, and even automatically controls any plant lights or watering equipment.
3 of 16BitPonics
The quantified plant
BitPonics will send information about your garden to any mobile or personal computing device.
4 of 16Click and Grow
For flowers, just add Wi-Fi
Through sensors, software, and what the company calls a "nano-technological growth medium," Click and Grow's indoor pots are designed to let anyone cultivate herbs or flowers indoors with minimal maintenance or gardening skill.
5 of 16Click and Grow
Herbs anywhere
For $79, Click and Grow's Smart Herb Garden offers the potential for a low-risk, low-effort improvement to your cooking.
6 of 16PlantSense Inc.
A simple sensor, for indoors or out
PlantSense's EasyBloom sensor can measure light, moisture, temperature, and, with a subscription, soil fertility.
7 of 16Amazon
A two-pronged growing data attack
Black and Decker licensed PlantSense's design for its own version, available for less than $50 on Amazon and elsewhere.
8 of 16Koubachi AG
Another sensor, sensing.
Munich-based Koubachi AG sells its eponymous connected plant sensor in the US through Amazon. It's available in both indoor and outdoor versions.
9 of 16Koubachi AG
Familiar functions
Koubachi's sensor is like others on the market, promising light, temperature, and moisture monitoring.
10 of 16ModernSprout
Not connected, but stylish
Modern Sprout's hydroponic planter has no online component, but its design is still plenty smart.
11 of 16ModernSprout
Hidden controls
The self-contained hydroponic controls and array of materials for the planter make Modern Sprout an easy addition to any interior.
12 of 16ModernSprout
Help on the way
Modern Sprout says it plans to provide growing guides for all kinds of different herbs, fruits, and flowers on its Web site.
13 of 16Oso Technologies
Plant Link senses, waters
Oso Technology's tiny plant link sensor performs the basic monitoring functions. With a valve accessory connected to your garden hose, it can also water your plants automatically.
14 of 16Oso Technologies
And, of course, it has an app
Plant Link's notification app.
15 of 16WindowFarms
A hanging hydroponic garden
WindowFarms offers these tidy, vertical hydroponic hanging plants you can install in any window frame.
16 of 16WindowFarms
Four off the floor
WindowFarms sells its kits in groups of one, two, and four columns, starting at $199.
