Occasionally, the innovations of scientists and engineers converge in a fascinating way. This is the excitement behind the floating miniature bonsai plants, which are now available for purchase through a new Kickstarter campaign called Hoshinchu Air Bonsai Garden.
The Japanese atelier is located on Kyushu, which is the southern island of the country. The workshop grows floating plants from a moss-covered ball they refer to as a "little star." Known as kokedama or Air Bonsai in Japanese, this technique is becoming popular among creative gardeners and offers new opportunities for creativity in gardening.
The way it functions is through the use of magnets. The "little star" contains a magnet that allows it to hover two centimeters above the base. The base also has its own magnet, which is powered by an AC adapter.
The basic package includes a simple and elegant base along with a fabric cushion, as well as a moss ball called the "little star". Porcelain bases that are hand-crafted come at a higher cost. Due to export regulations, sets being sent out of Japan cannot include bonsai trees grown in Japan. Instead, the workshop is collaborating with plant growers in the United States to provide locally-sourced pine trees, as reported by Emily Reynolds for Wired.co.uk.
Although they may appear magical, these small floating plants face some challenges, as noted by James Vincent at The Verge. Watering them can be difficult (the creators suggest removing the plant from its floating position to do so) and the magnetic base requires being plugged in to function properly.
<p class="p3">The main challenge presented by these attractive displays will be maintaining the plant's life. Bonsai plants are known to be difficult to cultivate, requiring precise techniques such as pruning, wiring, defoliation, and grafting.</p>
The Kickstarter campaign is scheduled to end on March 1, but it has already surpassed its goal of $80,000 by receiving over $200,000 in pledges. These unique floating plants have the potential to become the next big trend in the gardening industry.
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Categories included in the filing are Art, Cool Finds, and Plants.
