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Sometimes it can be difficult to track whether a plant has had too much or too little water.
Visual signs, such as shrivelling or browning leaves, don't start until most of the plant's water is gone, while yellowing takes place after it has been drenched.
To address this tricky dilemma, scientists have created a new 'smartwatch for plants', which monitors the water content in leaves and pings the owner when the plant is in need of a drink.
In a similar way to how smartwatches track the electrical activity of a wearer's heart through electrodes that sit against the skin, the wearable plant sensor can be attached to leaves.
It then wirelessly transmits data to a smartphone app, allowing the owner to keep tabs on hydration levels.
The new 'wearable sensor' for plant leaves is the latest in a string of gadgets that claim to help gardeners monitor the health their plants, which also include smartphone-connected soil sensors and 'smart' self-watering plant pots'.
Scientists have created a new 'smartwatch for plants', which monitors the water content in leaves and pings the owner when the plant is in need of a drink
Previously, researchers had developed metal electrodes to monitor water content in leaves, but the electrodes had problems staying
