That is great! I miss my cactus at home, gonna call him right now :I left one window open.
Original in http://cordis.europa.eu/express/home.html
Edition number 247 Date: 27 July 2007
When the heir apparent to the British throne, Prince Charles, revealed some years ago that he held conversations with his plants (‘They respond I find,’ he told reporters), how we all giggled. But perhaps we were too quick to poke fun at the monarch-in-waiting. For now, scientists in the US have found a way for over-watered or dry plants to phone for help.
The system comprises sensors placed in the soil of a plant which pick up the levels of moisture. When a plant needs water, a message is sent via a network which places a call to the plant’s owner. Alternatively, when an owner phones the plant, the plant can fill its owner in on its habits and characteristics.
Recorded voices are given to each plant to match its biological characteristics and to give phone messages a personal touch. For instance, for a Scotch Moss plant, a rather dodgy Glaswegian accent, denoting a bit of an attitude problem, is used. ‘Ah hello this is the Scotch Moss Plant number 11. I don’t know if it was you but someone just watered me. It wasn’t enough. I don’t know what you were thinking. So could you add some more water into my soil so that it is very moist? Thank ya!’
Meanwhile, the Fiddle Leaf Fig seems to have a bit of a drawl but better manners than its Celtic friend: ‘Hi this is the Fiddle Leaf Fig 112. I don’t know if it was you, but someone just gave me a nice watering. I just wanted to express my thanks. I feel great!’
The scientists who came up with the idea claim that the system ‘opens a new channel of communication between plants and humans, in an effort to promote successful inter-species cohabitation.’ However, for this writer, the system could very well be the start of a downward-spiralling relationship between us humans and our green-leaved companions.
Imagine the turmoil owners will feel if their plants start calling and demanding more than a watering like ‘I want to be placed in the sunniest spot in the house’, or leaving menacing messages like ‘I know what you did last summer in the garden’ or ‘Git rid of the fern or else: it is has outgrown its welcome here’.
