Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Smart Home
  3. Emerging Tech
  4. Photo Galleries
  5. News

This hydroponic garden is also a lamp, and it’s green in every sense of the word

Add as a preferred source on Google

Whether or not you’re an avid gardener, plants and gardening can encourage you to let go of stress. Fortunately, those of us who lack the time, space, or skill to maintain a garden don’t have to miss out on the psychological benefits. Grasslamp, which launched a Kickstarter campaign today, is a hydroponic desk-lamp-slash-garden that serves to keep your work or living space bright, while adding a touch more nature to your life.

Made from 100-percent recycled materials, the lamp is doubly eco-friendly because it also incorporates power-saving LED light. Its white oblong shape looks pretty futuristic, as well. According to Grasslamp, the bulbs nurture the small garden and also provide a soft white light that is calming to users, creating a “mini nature oasis.” The LED light is good for the plants, too, and it accelerates their growth.

No special gardening talent is needed to successfully use a Grasslamp; all you have to be able to do is soak the seeds in water, put them on the lamp’s lid, and then spray them once or twice daily. The mini garden should be showing signs of life within four or five days.

Users have multiple options when it comes to what plants to grow in their Grasslamp. So far, there are more than 40 varieties of seeds, including micro-greens, wheatgrass, edible flowers, salad greens, and more. There’s even a pet-friendly grass that your furry pal can safely chew on.

The concept behind Grasslamp has been around since 2009, when it won a Design and Design Award. According to the company, its modern design, which features a steel mold, has garnered multiple international awards. Each Grasslamp is hand-assembled.

Available in black or white, a limited number of Grasslamps are available for $99 each and can be purchased on Kickstarter. Delivery is slated for July 2016, and the usual cautions about crowdfunding campaigns apply.

Stephanie Topacio Long
Stephanie Topacio Long is a writer and editor whose writing interests range from business to books. She also contributes to…
Jackery’s FridgeGuard is the slimmest fridge backup battery you can buy right now
Jackery’s new lineup ranges from a slim fridge battery to whole-home backup solutions.
jackery-fridgeguard-power-backup

If a blackout has ever cost you a fridge full of groceries, Jackery has a fix for that now. The company is introducing FridgeGuard alongside three new HomePower Series batteries, giving you power backup options for different appliances.

FridgeGuard brings a sleek new look to fridge backup power

Read more
Google’s new $99 Home Speaker offers 360-degree audio and next-gen Gemini perks
However, its most advanced AI-based features are locked behind a monthly subscription.
Sphere, Electronics, Speaker

After six years of waiting, Google has finally released a new smart speaker. The $99 Google Home Speaker is available for pre-order starting today and hits shelves on June 25, 2026. At the core of the speaker is Google's conversational AI assistant: Gemini.

With Gemini, you can now hold natural, multi-step conversations with the speaker rather than issuing individual commands. It understands natural phrasing and logic, so you can speak more naturally without phrasing everything like a voice command.

Read more
Your smart home devices could be part of a cybercrime network without you knowing
Backdoors in some smart home devices are fueling cybercrime networks
Hacker with Computer

Smart home devices and gadgets are now commonplace in many modern homes. Security cameras watch front doors, streaming boxes power TVs, and connected appliances constantly exchange data over the internet. Most people worry about companies collecting too much information, but a growing cybersecurity threat suggests consumers may have a much bigger problem to worry about.

Security researchers are warning that some internet-connected devices can contain hidden software backdoors or severe security flaws that allow outsiders to access home networks. In some cases, these devices can effectively turn a household internet connection into a tool for cybercriminals without the owner's knowledge.

Read more