A relationship with nature : systems and methods for better integrating greenery into our lives

Abstract

Despite the fact that centers of urban continue to grow, and the populations increase more and more, most people surprisingly spend more of their time indoors, isolated from the natural environment. Recently, this trend has remarkably intensified by the prolonged COVID-19 outbreak and excessive air pollution. This unusual moment has resulted in urban dwellers began to seriously seek to improve their indoor environments. For instance, they have been purchasing and attempting to care for potted plants, which often ended with varying levels of success since certain plants have certain needs, understanding and accommodating these needs can quickly become confusing and lead to frustration. For this reason, this study aims to simplify the methodologies to cultivate nature indoors and design a system where both plants and humans can thrive in today’s context. The authors bring their own experiences, problems encountered, and knowledge gathered from a wide variety of online blogs, forums, social media groups, instructional videos from both amateur and professional YouTubers, printed articles and books, as well as direct discussions with fellow enthusiasts and experienced professionals to design the plant care system that consisted of 3 parts; 1) Plant care cards that simplify complex knowledge for easier understanding, 2) Plant pots for caring four groups of plants; plants that need moderate moisture, plants that need more moisture, plants that need less moisture, and plants that can be grown in a semi-hydro, and 3) An application that provides plant care information and reminders for watering, fertilizing, changing soil, and assessing plant health. The result is that the urban dwellers can grow and care for indoor plants in an easier way. The plant pots have the potential to help the plants thrive in urban residences. The system can support the determination and desire of the urban dwellers by connecting them with nature and enjoying their daily life by integrating greenery into their life