Tag Archives: plants

2-in-1 hydroponics device and night light helps kids appreciate plants and nature

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It’s never too early to start teaching kids about the cycle of life and the joy of taking care of plants. I wish my mom or grandmother taught me that when I was a kid but unfortunately, they also both had “black thumbs” so we couldn’t really keep our garden alive. But now there are things like hydroponics and other devices and ways for kids to learn about plant care and understand plant life. These things can be incorporated into their education in order to cultivate a love for plants and life.

Designer: Mona Safari

Spacecrop is not just a device where you can take care of plants but it also serves as a fun nightlight for your kid (and you). The design is modeled after a spacecraft, like the ones we see that land on the moon or planets but the difference is that there are seeds and eventually plants inside. There are buckets inside where the seeds will be placed and this space is filled with the lightweight hydroponic substrate Rockwool cubes. These cubes will help the plants grow and the air stones on top of the buckets will bring oxygen to the roots, along with the air pump included in the system.

The device also has something installed in it that will project the night sky in the child’s (or adult’s) room. They can also choose to play sounds like sea, wind, forest, rain, and other nature atmospheric sounds when you’re sleeping, reading, or meditating. This way, even if you live in the city and don’t have access to natural environments, the kids can still develop an appreciation for nature. They get to take care of the plants in a low maintenance and also have fun with the device.

I actually feel that while Spacecrop was originally designed for kids, it’s something that adults would enjoy. I’ve been considering hydroponics lately as I want to have plants at home but as previously mentioned, I somehow don’t have that green thumb. So having a pretty uncomplicated device to help me grow plants and also have pretty night lights seem like a good one to have at home, even if I’m far from being a kid.

The post 2-in-1 hydroponics device and night light helps kids appreciate plants and nature first appeared on Yanko Design.

This strange-looking plant box uses science to create eerie music

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There are people who believe that music can be found in everything, mostly in a figurative sense. Harmony, a word that’s primarily associated with music, can also be found in visual forms. There are also feelings and expressions that can almost come off as musical, while the world is also filled with beats, rhythms, and tones that are like the planet’s natural orchestra. And then there are those seemingly fantastic claims of plants making music of their own. While it isn’t as magical as it might sound, no pun intended, there is indeed a way to hear the invisible sounds that plants make, as demonstrated by this odd box that looks like a prop from a 50s sci-fi show.

Designer: Love Hulten

Plantwave is a rather curious concept that sometimes starts debates among scientists, musicians, and everyone in between. The idea of plants making music might sound like magical mumbo jumbo, but the reality is far simpler and actually less romantic than it would otherwise imply. In a nutshell, it involves biofeedback or gathering biodata from plants, converting electrical signals into beeps, waves, and tones that are configured by a controller. In a plant’s case, it uses the changes in electrical current passing through a plant, which can vary depending on how much water there is inside during its photosynthesis process.

Of course, none of these scientific details are actually visible or even audible to people, and all they will hear and believe is the plant suddenly making noises almost equivalent to music, or at least a very crude form of it. The design of this plant box, however, gives off a science experiment vibe with its knobs and switches, creating an image that is closer to reality than some mystical explanation of the plantwave phenomenon.

The biolab-like Desert Songs utilizes cacti because they have sparse and sporadic activities going inside. Different cactus species exhibit different behaviors, so you can have a variety of signals even within the same plant box. The truly random biofeedback that the plants emit is translated into MIDI signals that are then fed to a Korg NTS-1 synthesizer and “reinterpreted” by a Macrocosm effects device from Hologram Electronics. Topping it off is a MIDI visualizer made to look like a microscopic view of a plant’s chloroplasts, the cells responsible for photosynthesis.

The end result is no less mystifying than if the plants did magically produce music. The eerie waves and beeps emanating from the machine give the sound an almost otherworldly melody, quite befitting of a process most of us know very little of. While it won’t beat even amateur musicians, this audiovisual installation still creates an attention-grabbing and memorable experience, one that will surely spark the imagination of what could be taking place in the plant microcosm.

The post This strange-looking plant box uses science to create eerie music first appeared on Yanko Design.

Alien-like underwater agricultural farms bring self-sustaining greenhouses to coastal communities

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Greenhouses are among the prettiest things you can see (well, if they’re done right). But there are places that having such places can be a challenge if water supply or weather is an issue. There are researchers trying to find solutions for these kinds of problems and so we’re seeing innovations when it comes to greenhouses and plant care. Those who live in coastal communities but are experiencing arid weather will definitely benefit from this latest agricultural farm innovation.

Designer: Sergio Gamberini

The project is called Nemo’s Garden and it is currently resting 15 feet below the water in a northwestern village called Noli in Italy. It is basically an underwater greenhouse and agricultural farm with giant plastic orbs and tubes with plants connected to the main structure. Each of these orbs can hold up to 528 gallons of air. The plants themselves grow in the tubes and they spiral up to the center. So what you get are alien-looking orbs with tentacles under the sea.

What’s great about these “gardens” is that they are self-sustaining and requires little maintenance. The sun is able to reach down into the structures under the ocean and bring them heat. The humid air is able to condense and then trickle down into the soil to “water” the plants inside the orb. This way, they have a water cycle within and all on their own so you don’t need a lot of water to get them started. This will benefit arid coastal communities that have a hard time making green things grow.

A report has shown that these underwater agricultural farms are also acting as artificial coral reef and so they are also attracting marine life. They didn’t say if there are harmful effects to the underwater eco-system but most likely if there are any, they should be minimal. They do look amazing and interesting to the human eye like they’re alien-like structures just bubbling underneath. It’s still in the experimental stage so we’ll have to wait if they will be able to replicate these in other coastal communities globally.

The post Alien-like underwater agricultural farms bring self-sustaining greenhouses to coastal communities first appeared on Yanko Design.

World’s First Chia Toilet: The Sprouthouse

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Who hasn’t dreamed of resting their rear on some soft green sprouts while they go about their bathroom business? Good news! YouTuber Ali Spagnola created the Sprouthouse: a toilet completely covered in chia seedlings. As far as good ideas go, I think we can all agree this one is Nobel Prize-worthy. Somebody get Ali one of those MacArthur Fellowship genius grants too.

First, Ali wrapped her entire toilet with gauze to hold the seeds while they spout, then carefully watered them every day for seven days until she had the world’s greenest toilet. She then takes a seat to test it, which she describes as “just a little moist, but in a satisfying way.” Wow, who knew sitting on a moist toilet could ever be satisfying?

Ali insists nobody should go their whole life without sitting on a Chia toilet, and I couldn’t agree more. I mean, is a life having never sat on a plant-covered crapper truly worth living? I, for one, don’t plan on risking it. Now I just need to convince my wife to not go into the guest bathroom for the next week.

IV Drip Automatic Plant Waterer: Intensive Plant Care

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Because plant care is tricky for some people, FireBox is selling this Mini Plant Life Support system, an IV drip bag that automatically waters your plant so you don’t accidentally kill them with neglect. Nurse – 50ccs of TLC, STAT! Personally, I don’t need this, because I have a green thumb. Well, two green thumbs. And mostly green arms. Spray paint accident.

You just fill the IV bag with water and hang it, stick the tube below soil level, and presto, it keeps the soil moist but not too wet without any intervention on your part. Of course, you will have to refill the bag once it’s empty. This isn’t exactly a medical miracle, after all.

Alternatively, monitor your plana’s soil and water it as needed. Besides, some plants don’t like their soil moist all the time and actually need to dry out between waterings. Those plants are called succulents and actually thrive on neglect.

Top 10 indoor gardens to fulfill your modern gardening goals

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Gardening is an extremely therapeutic activity, and though I may not engage in it all the time, the few times that I have, I found it really delightful and soothing. Growing, tending to, and being surrounded by plants is intensely satisfying, all your worries slowly fade away, and you are simply enthralled by nature. Indoor gardening is a modern solution that works perfectly in our modern homes. From a smart cabinet that gives you the self-sustaining kitchen you’ve always wanted to a plant-growing device that helps dementia patients improve memory – we have a myriad range of options when it comes to growing plants within the comfort of your home! These unique, innovative, and thoughtful designs promise to take care of all your indoor gardening needs. And I don’t know about you, but I’m really considering trying one of them out, I wouldn’t mind adding indoor gardening to my daily routine!

1. Paradise

Designed to reduce domestic waste, Paradise is an automated plant cultivator and compost bin that uses integrated technology to prompt users when the compost or plants need tending. Conceptualized as a rolling cart, Paradise is comprised of modular pieces that work together to provide optimal conditions for growing plants. Starting from its top, Paradise features an LED strip that pours artificial sunlight over integrated planters located on top of Paradise’s first module.

Why is it noteworthy?

While spending more time at home has brought some much-needed rejuvenation to our interior design, it has also contributed to a global increase in domestic waste. Inspired to change that, designer Robin Akira created Paradise, a household plant cultivator with integrated compost bins and an odor-sealing lid to make use of and reduce our domestic waste.

What we like

  • Integrates greenery into our interior spaces
  • An odor-sealing lid

What we dislike

  • Could be messy to have such a design in our indoor living space

2. Blume

This special planter called Blume is not just something that will house your plant or plants of the moment. It actually comes with a trellis that can be linked together according to your specifications and can “grow” alongside your plant

Why is it noteworthy?

You can link the different parts with a threaded knob and they can go in all directions that you want, upwards, downwards, sideways, etc. A design like this actually makes it look like the planter is organic like your plant and can give them space to thrive other than the usual straightforward manner.

What we like

  • Customizable and made-to-order
  • You can make it more personal

What we dislike

  • No complaints!

3. MULTO

Created in collaboration with multiple award-winning industrial designer Xavier Houy (who has a Red Dot Design Award and a Platinum A’ Design Award to his name, among others), MULTO is the result of over 6 years worth of research and development, gone towards what Prêt à Pousser calls the ultimate vertical kitchen garden, capable of growing everything from microgreens to root vegetables.

Why is it noteworthy?

Prêt à Pousser’s most significant achievement with the MULTO is its new hydroponic technology. Referred to as their ‘Ebb & Flow’ system, MULTO’s water reservoir comes with a discreet pump that periodically pumps water to the roots, and then drains it out – similar to an ocean’s tide. Working similar to a hydroponic gardening system (but engineered to be better), this enables the circulation of nutrients and allows the plants’ roots to absorb more oxygen, creating a better yield. How much better? Well, Prêt à Pousser’s founder Romain Behaghel claims that MULTO’s Ebb & Flow increases your plant’s yield by 200%, giving you twice as many fruits, veggies, or leafy greens.

What we like

  • New hydroponic technology
  • You can simply expand your produce by plugging a new tier on top to create your own vertical farm

What we dislike

  • No complaints!

4. The LUA

LUA Pet Plant Lighting Concept Image

LUA Pet Plant Lighting Concept Design

The LUA is one ideal solution for those with pet plants. But, of course, not many people will understand why you have such but don’t worry about what they think.

Why is it noteworthy?

For desk plants, you may consider getting this LUA. It’s a plant lighting solution that can further make your favorite plant stand out. We understand how it can be challenging to care for indoor plants because of insufficient lighting. But there are solutions like the LUA. Indoor plants help the surrounding by keeping the atmosphere fresh and clean. In addition, for some people, plants help in providing emotional stability. Just one look at your plants and you can already calm down and destress.

What we like

  • Boasts a clean, white tone for a simple and refreshing look
  • The design is very minimalist as no unnecessary wires are exposed

What we dislike

  • No complaints!

5. The Ocean Sun

Designed to be more than just your average USB-powered work light, the Ocean Sun Plant Light, as its name quite aptly suggests, features a calibrated set of LEDs that emit light similar to the light from the sun. Made primarily for indoor plants that don’t receive too much natural light, the Ocean Sun Plant Light provides them with the right spectrum of light to enable photosynthesis and foster growth… and unlike the sun, it can fit in your palm.

Why is it noteworthy?

The Ocean Sun sports a sleek, compact design with a precisely machined aluminum outer shell and a series of flicker-free LEDs that draw power from a USB-C port located on the back of the device. Each lamp comes along with its own adjustable USB-C stand cable that lets you position and angle the lamp however you want, although the Ocean Sun works with any third-party cable too, giving you the freedom to hook it up to your laptop, a power bank, or even a set of solar panels with a USB output!

What we like

  • Compact form that fits in your palm
  • High-end flicker-free LEDs

What we dislike

  • Not too sure how well plants would grow with this light

6. The Oasis

Not all homes are built to have gardens, but that doesn’t mean you can’t run your own mini farm where you are. This concept for a hydroponic smart farm is something that can fit in whatever space you may be staying in.

Why is it noteworthy?

The Oasis is a smart farm that’s meant for home, and it can grow your vegetables and store them before you consume them. The design is inspired by both mountains and desert oasis, hence the name. Some of the items that were used to create a concept design for it include blenders, coffee makers, smart speakers, etc. What the designer came up with is something that looks like a mini-greenhouse with a transparent cover. It kind of reminds me of a bread container, except we get plants and vegetables inside.

What we like

  • There’s a part here called Fresh Keeper where you can store the vegetables once you’ve harvested them without needing to move them to the refrigerator
  • There’s an app that you can use to monitor your plants and your water levels

What we dislike

  • It’s still a concept!

7. Purtler

This concept product is something that can serve as a butler for your plants that are left at home. Its name is Purtler or a combination of plant and butler.

Why is it noteworthy?

The design of the Purtler is inspired by plants and organic lifeforms to match what it’s supposed to be watching. The stand looks like a long piece of leaf with water droplets. The bottom part can even serve as a shelf for items like books and other decorations. But the main thing that you’ll notice is that there’s an “eye” at the top which is actually where the camera is placed. The device that looks like a web camera lets you take a closer look at how things like temperature and humidity affect the plants.

What we like

  • Designed to be part of your furniture as the leaf silhouette can add to the ambiance of your living room
  • Takes care of your plant babies when you’re away!

What we dislike

  • It’s still a concept!

8. The Krado Plant Sensor

If something like the Krado Plant Sensor actually exists, then maybe my poor two plants had a better chance of survival. It’s the hardware component of the Leaflet Plant Care System, whose main purpose is to help people grow healthy plants. The sensor is something you put in the soil with your plants, and it will be able to transmit information to the mobile app so you will be able to adjust how you’re taking care of them.

Why is it noteworthy?

The plant sensor is able to monitor things like soil moisture, ambient temperature, humidity, and light. These are critical factors that will affect the health of your plants, and if you’re like me, that’s pretty clueless about these things, then it might give me helpful information. The app connected to it will also give you actionable guidance based on these factors like buying and shipping fertilizer, potting soil, pesticides, etc.

What we like

  • Different colored lights may indicate specific conditions that will alert you
  • 100% 3D printed

What we dislike

  • No complaints!

9. plan.t

This concept for a plant cultivation product is called plan.t, a play on the word plant and planning for tomorrow, something that dementia patients may have trouble doing.

Why is it noteworthy?

The designer thought of horticultural treatment as an aid to help those suffering from this condition, not as a cure but to help slow down the effects of the disease. As they grow the plants using this device, the hope is that their memories will be able to grow or improve alongside the greens.

What we like

  • The plan.t device lets the user track the progress of the plants that they’re growing in it through voice recording
  • Designed to help dementia patients improve their memory

What we dislike

  • It’s still a concept!

10. Jungle

Most commonly in homes across the world, indoor gardens are a form of biophilic design. Interpreting biophilia in a similar way, Jungle, designed by Poland-based KABO & PYDO design studio, is a planter that can hang from the ceiling and also function as a semi-flush mount light fixture.

Why is it noteworthy?

Comprised of only a few parts, the beauty of Jungle lies in the design’s simplicity. Defined by a bulbous, capsule-shaped centerpiece, Jungle is a half-planter and half-light fixture. The capsule-shaped planter emanates a warm, golden light that’s diffused with an opaque body. The opaque body softens the light and accentuates the plant life by offering an unassuming canvas for teeming greenery to drape across.

What we like

  • The simple form emphasises the beauty of the plants
  • The lamp emits a soft and soothing light

What we dislike

  • You need to stand on a stool or a little ladder to water the plants

The post Top 10 indoor gardens to fulfill your modern gardening goals first appeared on Yanko Design.

Blume lets your plants bloom alongside trellis planter

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Plant holders can be as simple as possible. You don’t really need to have it designed elaborately it since the plants that you’ll put there are most likely decorative enough. But of course you sometimes want to have something that is also pretty or at least interesting, even if it’s just something to hold or store your plant babies. And if you treat the plants as part of your home and your family, you’d want to have the best of everything for them, including a playful and customizable “place to let them grow and flourish”.

Designer: Nikki Alagha

This special planter called Blume is not just something that will house your plant or plants of the moment. It actually comes with a trellis that can be linked together according to your specifications and can “grow” alongside your plant. You can link the different parts with a threaded knob and they can go in all directions that you want, upwards, downwards, sideways, etc. A design like this actually makes it look like the planter is organic like your plant and can give them space to thrive other than the usual straightforward manner.

This planter is made from various materials. The base uses cement while the trellises are made from wood and the knobs are metal. The base planter is 8 inches high while the trellis can go as high as 30 inches depending on the design and style that you want. While the official photos show natural cement, white, and gold, there are also custom colors available if you want your planter to be more colorful and add to your plants’ natural greens and browns.

Since Blume is customizable and made-to-order, there is still a bit of sustainability at play since there is technically no mass production happening. The fact that you can also make it more personal can be more attractive for some plant parents that want to have more interesting accessories that can have an emotional value.

The post Blume lets your plants bloom alongside trellis planter first appeared on Yanko Design.

Top 10 ultimate indoor gardens for hardcore plant lovers

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Gardening is an extremely therapeutic activity, and though I may not engage in it all the time, the few times that I have, I found it really delightful and soothing. Growing, tending to, and being surrounded by plants is intensely satisfying, all your worries slowly fade away, and you are simply enthralled by nature. Indoor gardening is a modern solution that works perfectly in our modern homes. From LG’s latest indoor gardening appliance that is 3 feet tall to a plant sensor that will help you get information about your plant babies – we have a myriad range of options when it comes to growing plants within the comfort of your home! These unique, innovative, and thoughtful designs promise to take care of all your indoor gardening needs. And I don’t know about you, but I’m really considering trying one of them out, I wouldn’t mind adding indoor gardening to my daily routine!

1. Paradise

Designed to reduce domestic waste, Paradise is an automated plant cultivator and compost bin that uses integrated technology to prompt users when the compost or plants need tending. Conceptualized as a rolling cart, Paradise is comprised of modular pieces that work together to provide optimal conditions for growing plants. Starting from its top, Paradise features an LED strip that pours artificial sunlight over integrated planters located on top of Paradise’s first module.

Why is it noteworthy?

While spending more time at home has brought some much-needed rejuvenation to our interior design, it has also contributed to a global increase in domestic waste. Inspired to change that, designer Robin Akira created Paradise, a household plant cultivator with integrated compost bins and an odor-sealing lid to make use of and reduce our domestic waste.

What we like

  • Integrates greenery into our interior spaces
  • An odor-sealing lid

What we dislike

  • Could be messy to have such a design in our indoor living space

2. LG’s tiiun

Sure, a refrigerator can keep your veggies fresh… but LG’s tiiun can keep it fresher! Designed as a unique home appliance that lets you grow your own herbs and veggies the LG tiiun was announced in the run-up to CES 2022. The indoor gardening appliance is roughly the size of a dorm refrigerator, standing at approximately 3 feet tall, and features two shelves that can accommodate up to 6 all-in-one seed packages and various seed kits.

Why is it noteworthy?

The term tiiun comes from the Korean word meaning ‘to sprout’ and is LG’s way of indicating that this appliance is an all-in-one self-sufficient garden. The appliance creates a perfect microclimate and all the right conditions for the plants to grow, even mimicking light cycles so you could potentially keep your tiiun anywhere in a room without worrying about access to proper sunlight. LG’s Flexible Weather Control System creates the ideal situations for organic growth while also keeping pests at bay. An internal watering system also delivers water to the plants (8 times a day) to keep them hydrated. All you really have to do is install the tiiun and sit back while your plants grow on their own!

What we like

  • A foolproof way to grow your own veggies and herbs in the comfort of your home
  • Fun and simple even for those with no gardening experience

What we dislike

  • The form is a bit too bulky for homes with space constraints

3. The LUA

LUA Pet Plant Lighting Concept Image

LUA Pet Plant Lighting Concept Design

The LUA is one ideal solution for those with pet plants. But, of course, not many people will understand why you have such but don’t worry about what they think.

Why is it noteworthy?

For desk plants, you may consider getting this LUA. It’s a plant lighting solution that can further make your favorite plant stand out. We understand how it can be challenging to care for indoor plants because of insufficient lighting. But there are solutions like the LUA. Indoor plants help the surrounding by keeping the atmosphere fresh and clean. In addition, for some people, plants help in providing emotional stability. Just one look at your plants and you can already calm down and destress.

What we like

  • Boasts a clean, white tone for a simple and refreshing look
  • The design is very minimalist as no unnecessary wires are exposed

What we dislike

  • No complaints!

4. The Ocean Sun

Designed to be more than just your average USB-powered work light, the Ocean Sun Plant Light, as its name quite aptly suggests, features a calibrated set of LEDs that emit light similar to the light from the sun. Made primarily for indoor plants that don’t receive too much natural light, the Ocean Sun Plant Light provides them with the right spectrum of light to enable photosynthesis and foster growth… and unlike the sun, it can fit in your palm.

Why is it noteworthy?

The Ocean Sun sports a sleek, compact design with a precisely machined aluminum outer shell and a series of flicker-free LEDs that draw power from a USB-C port located on the back of the device. Each lamp comes along with its own adjustable USB-C stand cable that lets you position and angle the lamp however you want, although the Ocean Sun works with any third-party cable too, giving you the freedom to hook it up to your laptop, a power bank, or even a set of solar panels with a USB output!

What we like

  • Compact form that fits in your palm
  • High-end flicker-free LEDs

What we dislike

  • Not too sure how well plants would grow with this light

5. The Krado Plant Sensor

If something like the Krado Plant Sensor actually exists, then maybe my poor two plants had a better chance of survival. It’s the hardware component of the Leaflet Plant Care System, whose main purpose is to help people grow healthy plants. The sensor is something you put in the soil with your plants, and it will be able to transmit information to the mobile app so you will be able to adjust how you’re taking care of them.

Why is it noteworthy?

The plant sensor is able to monitor things like soil moisture, ambient temperature, humidity, and light. These are critical factors that will affect the health of your plants, and if you’re like me, that’s pretty clueless about these things, then it might give me helpful information. The app connected to it will also give you actionable guidance based on these factors like buying and shipping fertilizer, potting soil, pesticides, etc.

What we like

  • Different colored lights may indicate specific conditions that will alert you
  • 100% 3D printed

What we dislike

  • No complaints!

6. Plant Light Nº1

Drawing the fine line between a functional piece of plant-growing hardware and an elegant tabletop lighting accessory, Plant Light Nº1 turns your interior space into an ideal set of conditions for growing plants.

Why is it noteworthy?

The light comes with a neo-industrial design aesthetic, and sports a surface to rest your planter on. Above it sits a height-adjustable lamp that comes equipped with full-spectrum LEDs that mimic the light quality (color), light intensity (brightness), and photoperiod (duration) of the sun, allowing any plant to grow indoors.

What we like

  • Comes with a matrix of full-spectrum 90+ CRI LEDs that mimic the sun in a way that sets PL1 apart
  • A built-in timer allows PL1 to intuitively switch on or off, providing the right duration of light for your plants

What we dislike

  • It’s not available yet!

7. Jungle

Most commonly in homes across the world, indoor gardens are a form of biophilic design. Interpreting biophilia in a similar way, Jungle, designed by Poland-based KABO & PYDO design studio, is a planter that can hang from the ceiling and also function as a semi-flush mount light fixture.

Why is it noteworthy?

Comprised of only a few parts, the beauty of Jungle lies in the design’s simplicity. Defined by a bulbous, capsule-shaped centerpiece, Jungle is a half-planter and half-light fixture. The capsule-shaped planter emanates a warm, golden light that’s diffused with an opaque body. The opaque body softens the light and accentuates the plant life by offering an unassuming canvas for teeming greenery to drape across.

What we like

  • The simple form emphasises the beauty of the plants
  • The lamp emits a soft and soothing light

What we dislike

  • You need to stand on a stool or a little ladder to water the plants

8. Flora

Molded from jesmonite, Flora features specks of color for a modern take on terrazzo, a form of composite material originating in 16th-century Italy. Conceived as a passion project during the lockdown, the designers at Préssec Design first made Floria from concrete casting. Once they achieved their desired look for Flora, they turned it up a notch and gave jesmonite a try.

Why is it noteworthy?

Over recent years, designers have created multifunctional WFH appliances by integrating elements like hidden storage units and organizers into appliances like chairs and desks to make the workday at home feel just as efficient as it feels in the office. Today, designers from Sydney-based Préssec Design have developed Flora, a wall garden system that combines a cork pinboard with hanging planters.

What we like

  • Merges a work from home + wall garden design

What we dislike

  • Planters could break or crack easily

9. CURA

CURA is an all-encompassing plant-growth apparatus that takes care of the light and water requirements for any plant. Its automated systems can be programmed to suit the light requirements for flowering plants, air-purifying plants, herbaceous plants, or decorative plants, and when CURA’s halo-shaped lamp isn’t nourishing your plant, it can be turned into an ambient light that adds a pop of color to your space!

Why is it noteworthy?

Available in 3 sizes and across floor-standing, tabletop, and wall-mounted varieties, CURA is a halo-shaped horticultural light that’s designed to activate and promote plant growth. Powered by OSRAM LEDs, the lamp can output different wavelengths of light that help create the right growth conditions for different types of plants. CURA comes with presets for Herbs & Greens, Flowers & Fruits, Germination, Indoor Garden Plants, and more, while also handling different stages in a plant’s growth cycle, from germination to flower and fruit-bearing stages.

What we like

  • The lamp can either be programmed to work automatically or can be configured using CURA’s smartphone app, allowing you to effectively play horticulturist with your indoor plants
  • The lamp in Ambient Mode can also be configured to dynamically respond to music

What we dislike

  • No complaints!

10. The 4RESTPLANT

Rather aptly named the 4RESTPLANT (pronounced Forest Plant), this quirky little planter comes made from a porous clay, in the shape of a tree trunk – a design detail that makes immediate sense when you realize how the planter functions. Unlike traditional planters that act simply as vessels for soil and the plant, the 4RESTPLANT works quite like how nature does.

Why is it noteworthy?

Plants find their own surfaces to grow on, often clinging to a host plant like the root or stump of a tree for structure and support, while relying on the soil that’s already been aerated/loosened by the tree’s massive roots. The 4RESTPLANT works in a similar fashion – the tree-shaped planter comes with a hollow design that holds water on the inside (with a nano-silver coating to prevent the water from blooming) and features four ‘seed pads’ that are arranged on the outside, around the base of the planter. The planter’s porous design ends up wicking water outside to the seed pads, allowing them to grow by holding onto the trunk’s rough surface for structure. This basically recreates what happens in nature on a smaller scale, creating a planter that literally brings a slice of the beautiful outdoors into your home!

What we like

  • Grows microgreens and other small ferns and plants in your home with little to no effort
  • Basically recreates how plants grow in nature

What we dislike

  • There are similar designs on the market

The post Top 10 ultimate indoor gardens for hardcore plant lovers first appeared on Yanko Design.

The expandable Bould Pack sling bag lasts a lifetime and helps heal the planet, too

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This versatile hip and sling bag isn’t just sustainable; it could even improve the plant’s soil quality in the long run.

Once derisively nicknamed Fanny Packs, bags that you can easily sling over your shoulders or around your hips have become hip again, no pun intended. The explosion of such compact travel bags has naturally caused a surge in production and the use of materials that, unfortunately, don’t exactly do wonders for the environment. There have been attempts to use more sustainable materials, but those sometimes have their own set of drawbacks and compromises that have manufacturers running back to petroleum-based materials. With a single, almost magical natural resource, however, this versatile bag solves all those problems while also almost magically letting you carry everything you need for light travel, even including your trusty camera.

Designer: Kiri Mccart

Click Here to Buy Now: $39 $69 ($30 off). Hurry, only 62/650 left!

Most bags are made from a combination of different materials like plastics, leather, and cotton. Many sustainable alternatives try to reduce the impact of these products on the Earth but sometimes come with disadvantages like reduced durability or short lifespans. The harvesting of these resources also has its own negative impact that can’t simply be solved just by growing more plants that, in turn, could also drain the soil dry of nutrients when left unchecked.

Natural Materials – Hemp Fiber is 4x stronger than cotton and more than twice as strong as steel.

Kodama’s solution has actually existed for millennia, but with some modern know-how and production techniques, Hemp can be turned into a miracle fabric that can solve most of the limitations of sustainable alternatives, as proven by this Bould Pack. The plant-based Hemp Canvas, for example, is proven to be four times more tear-resistant than cotton, surviving unscathed against a sharp knife. By fusing PU coating underneath the fabric, this hemp textile also becomes waterproof. These properties also make it possible to scrub off stubborn dirt and stains without damaging the back, making the Bould Pack almost immortal without being harmful to the environment like plastics.

Material is strong enough for the slash of a sharp knife to leave almost no impact.

Hemp, of course, has to be planted and harvested just like cotton and other organic materials. What makes the plant special is its natural regenerative properties that actually help improve the quality of the soil after it is harvested, partly thanks to how deep its roots go. It can also help purify not just the air but also the soil it grows on. Sure, it still needs water and nutrients, but it requires less of them compared to other plants used for textile, such as cotton. The bag’s insides are also made with hemp, but a lighter kind that has natural antibacterial properties that will keep your things germ-free, even if you leave a snack open for a day or two.

The Bould Pack isn’t just a bold sustainable statement, of course. It’s also a bold statement on versatility. With five pockets of different sizes, it has room for almost anything you need to carry for a brief trip or adventure, not including a hidden pocket for important documents or keys. And if that weren’t enough, simply unzip the rear section of the bag to expand its capacity, leaving enough space for a 9-inch water bottle or, better yet, a DSLR camera. The bag is also flexible in how you wear it, whether you prefer to wrap it around your hip, sling it across your back, or secure it in front of your chest. The Bould Pack adjusts to you, not the other way around.

Fit up to a 9″ water bottle.

Crossbody sling bags are a dime a dozen these days, but one that will last you a lifetime and helps make the world a better place at the same time is one-of-a-kind. Versatile, durable, expandable, and sustainable, the Bould Pack lets you help give back to the Earth while keeping your everyday carry safe and sound inside a fashionable bag. And all that for only $39 on Kickstarter, making it one of the easiest ways to help save the planet as you go on your own mini-adventures in life.

Click Here to Buy Now: $39 $69 ($30 off). Hurry, only 62/650 left!

The post The expandable Bould Pack sling bag lasts a lifetime and helps heal the planet, too first appeared on Yanko Design.

Sun-mimicking lamp looks like a classy tabletop accessory that lets you grow any plant indoors

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Drawing the fine line between a functional piece of plant-growing hardware and an elegant tabletop lighting accessory, the Plant Light Nº1 turns your interior space into an ideal set of conditions for growing plants. The light comes with a neo-industrial design aesthetic, and sports a surface to rest your planter on. Above it sits a height-adjustable lamp that comes equipped with full-spectrum LEDs that mimic the light quality (color), light intensity (brightness), and photoperiod (duration) of the sun, allowing any plant to grow indoors.

Designer: ample

Click here to Buy Now: $207 $295 (30% off). Hurry, only 3/100 left!

The PL1 lamps are designed to have a minimal-yet-industrial appeal that reminds one of chemistry-lab equipment. They’re utilitarian, yet classy, and come with aluminum + steel bodies that are designed to be lightweight yet sturdy, and still dissipate any heat coming from the LEDs. The lamp unit itself sits on a telescopic handle that can be slid up and down to adjust its height (depending really on how tall your plant is) and comes with a matrix of full-spectrum 90+ CRI LEDs that mimic the sun in a way that sets the PL1 apart.

The PL1 lamp’s secret sauce is its ability to match the color, brightness, and duration of the sun’s light, hitting the sweet spot for all plant types. The PL1 comes with three different lighting modes that cater to the 3 different phases of a growing plant – germination, vegetation, and production, and a built-in timer allows the PL1 to intuitively switch on or off, providing the right duration of light for your plants. It does so intuitively, without any smartphone apps or IoT features, making the PL1 an uncomplicated, well-designd lighting fixture for practically anyone.

The Plant Light Nº1 was designed by Charles Skender of Melbourne-based creative outfit ample. An avid plant lover and supporter of the idea that plants do wonders for mental wellbeing, Charles found it difficult to grow plant in his tiny indoor flat with limited access to sunny areas. Not all flats have equal access to a balcony or even sunny areas, and this has its own cascading effects on our mood and focus.

Skender designed the PL1 to help even people living in small, crowded flats to grow their own plants and create mood-lifting indoor gardens. The PL1 is a wired lamp (there’s no internal battery), and stands at 52 centimeters or 1.7 feet tall. The lamp’s spherical platform allows you to fit planters up to 25 centimeters (9.8 inches) wide, and vertically mounted light has a height adjustability factor of 20cm or nearly 8 inches. Skender’s lamp also focuses on external aesthetics, with a slender yet impactful visual language that gives it the status of a minimalist lighting device designed for all contemporary home decors. The PL1 comes in black or white, and for now, ships just to the United States and Australia, starting December 2022.

Click here to Buy Now: $207 $295 (30% off). Hurry, only 3/100 left!

The post Sun-mimicking lamp looks like a classy tabletop accessory that lets you grow any plant indoors first appeared on Yanko Design.