Skip to main content

Digital Trends may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site. Why trust us?

The Blossom 8 watering system adds features at half its predecessor's price

blossom 8 launches package 01
Image used with permission by copyright holder
With concern over the conservation of water higher today than ever, it’s become increasingly important for homeowners to utilize a reliable and efficient sprinkler to tend to their yards. Understanding this, a California-based company named Blossom has just launched an upgraded version of its smart watering system called the Blossom 8. Promising to reduce the amount of guesswork associated with watering while introducing an intuitive new control scheme, the Blossom 8 aims to revolutionize the way people maintain their lawns.

In an effort to hammer home the importance of conserving water, Blossom decided to release the new Blossom 8 on March 22 — otherwise known as World Water Day. Under the hood, the Blossom 8 watering system perfectly represents what it means to make your home “smart.” Featuring a Smart Watering algorithm which collects plant information, local weather forecasts, and area-specific conditions, the system constantly formulates an adequate watering schedule to keep a lawn perfectly watered while saving valuable water.

The Blossom 8 smart sprinkler system
The Blossom 8 smart watering system Image used with permission by copyright holder

Having a device to regularly monitor water usage offers yet another massive advantage for users; it dramatically lowers their water bills. And Blossom took this a step further with its current release, making the 8 available to purchase for a mere $99 (which is $100 cheaper than Blossom’s original). And aside from the price, the 8 boasts a few key differences when compared to the company’s inaugural release.

Recommended Videos

For starters, the Blossom 8 supports up to eight sprinkler zones — in contrast to the original’s twelve — with the company creating the device solely to be placed indoors. The 8 also boasts enhanced Wi-Fi capability, and compatible iOS and Android apps, and in terms of size it is slightly smaller than its predecessor at just shy of seven inches wide and seven inches tall. Perhaps its biggest new addition is just how easy Blossom makes actually setting up the 8 as it literally only requires removing an old sprinkler system controller, mounting the Blossom device, and downloading a smartphone app — that’s it.

blossom8_app_photo
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Obviously, those looking to install an entire sprinkler system will have a bit larger of a project on their hands, but those with existing systems can avoid any actual digging, wiring, or installation of valves. Furthermore, the smartphone app allows any Blossom 8 owner to eaily alter their water schedule, activate an impromptu cycle, and monitor current watering cycles.

Please enable Javascript to view this content

Available now via Blossom’s website, the Blossom 8 is a smart watering system that not only makes it easy to keep your lawn watered and healthy but helps keep your water bill from costing an arm and a leg.

Rick Stella
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Rick became enamored with technology the moment his parents got him an original NES for Christmas in 1991. And as they say…
Matter gains support for kitchen appliances, adds new energy-tracking features
The Matter logo on a colorful background.

Matter received its big 1.2 update in late 2023, and now the Connectivity Standards Alliance (CSA) is ready to officially roll out Matter 1.3. The latest version of the interoperability standard is now available for use, offering added support for appliances like microwave ovens and lclothes dryers, while also introducing new features for water and energy management.

The full list of new device types supported by Matter 1.3 include microwave ovens, ovens, cooktops, extractor hoods (such as vent hoods), and laundry dryers. These aren't quite as exciting or mainstream as the nine device types introduced with Matter 1.2, but it's great to see the CSA continuing to broaden the reach of the Matter network.

Read more
What to know before connecting the Roborock S8 MaxV Ultra to your drainage system
The Roborock S8 MaxV Ultra model that hooks up to plumbing.

One of the coolest features of the Roborock S8 MaxV Ultra is its ability to connect to your existing plumbing. This allows it to automatically refill its clean water supply and drain its dirty water after each cleaning cycle. In other words, it turns the robot vacuum into a highly automated floor cleaner that needs little to no manual input.

The most demanding portion of owning this version of the Roborock S8 MaxV Ultra is installing it. Unlike the traditional model, which comes with water reservoirs and plugs into an electrical outlet, this model needs to connect to both your water and drain lines. And depending on how your home is set up, it might be more of a hassle than it's worth.

Read more
Roborock S8 MaxV Ultra vs. Roborock S8 Max Ultra: Which is the better robot vacuum?
The Roborock S8 MaxV Ultra placed in its dock.

The Roborock S8 MaxV Ultra and Roborock S8 Max Ultra are two of the newest additions to the Roborock family. Along with having almost identical names, these robot vacuums share much of the same spec sheet -- including the ability to mop and vacuum in a single cycle before automatically emptying their dustbin and cleaning their mops. They're impressive gadgets by all accounts, but since they're wildly expensive, you'll want to carefully compare the Roborock S8 MaxV Ultra and Roborock S8 Max Ultra before adding one to your home.

If you need help, here's a comprehensive look at these two premium robot vacuums, including a comparison of their vacuuming and mops skills, a look at their docking station perks, and a final determination of which is likely best for your needs. Keep in mind that you really can't go wrong with either product -- after all, they're two of the most expensive robots in the category -- but one might be a slightly better fit for your household than the other.
Pricing and availability

Read more