Do plants have feelings? Do they have desires? Do they have friends?
They probably do, but we cannot tell easily, because plants are quiet and don’t travel very often (other than through their offspring). There is little the plants can do because they are “landlocked” …
Can we free the plants? What if we give plants mobility so they can go wherever they want to, like animals?
Let’s say when a plant needs water, it goes to get water; when it needs sunlight, it moves out of the shade; when it needs pollinators, it gets close to bee hives; and when it needs friends, it goes to hang out with other plants…
It’s conceptually quite simple: first, we put motors and wheels on the plant pots; second, we plug in sensors into the plants and the soil to detect what the plants need/want; finally, we connect the collected signal to motors to control the pots. Ta da!
It’s of course not that easy, but not entirely impossible either (I actually know how to do the first and third steps above 😊). Wouldn’t it be fun to watch plants make their own decisions, learn to control themselves, compete and cooperate with each other, and have more control of their own fate? Would you like a plant more if it comes to you for treat once for a while? Would it makes your garden more beautiful by changing the layout every minute, all decided by the plants themselves?
Now, if only someone can help me to figure out what these plants want …