In the trend of combining technology with mental healthcare, automated gardening systems for therapy are regarded as a creative and promising solution. These are not merely tools for growing plants, but nature-based therapies enhanced by artificial intelligence and IoT, designed to bring balance to both mind and body in modern life.
Such systems offer many clear benefits. First, they harness the power of nature therapy, which has long been proven to reduce stress, anxiety, and depression. Thanks to smart automation, the system can control light, humidity, temperature, and watering, ensuring stable plant growth without requiring much effort. Users can still participate in plant care at a level suitable to their abilities, which is especially helpful for the elderly or people with disabilities. Some systems can even monitor mental health, integrating sensors to assess stress levels and adjust the garden environment accordingly. More importantly, they create healing spaces, which can be designed in homes, hospitals, or therapy centers, offering a green and peaceful environment.
However, this technology also faces challenges. High investment costs remain a barrier to widespread adoption. System reliability must be ensured to prevent plants from dying due to technical errors. Some argue that personal engagement in gardening is the most effective part of therapy, and relying too heavily on machines may reduce its therapeutic value. In addition, accessibility in communities with fewer resources is still limited, and social acceptance requires time for people to adapt to the integration of technology with nature-based therapy.
Overall, automated gardening systems for therapy represent an important step in modern mental healthcare. If barriers related to cost, reliability, and social acceptance can be overcome, this technology may usher in a new era where people can access nature therapy easily, conveniently, and sustainably—even within dense urban environments.
