pikaplant: a shelf that automatically waters your plants
all images courtesy of pikaplant

 

 

 

pikaplant, an amsterdam-based start-up, has a motto of keeping happy plants with minimal effort. staying true to this philosophy, they have released the ‘pikaplant one’, a low-maintenance vertical garden.

pikaplant cabinet automatic water plants
a glass reservoir sits on top of the steel frame and distributes the water naturally through gravity and capillary action

 

 

 

the company has designed the work to mimic the natural wet-dry cycle of ground water. the result is a shelf that can feed your flowers, perennials, and ferns so you don’t have to go through the hassle of asking a friend to do so while you’re on vacation or for the days where you simply forget. in order for the mechanism to work, users must place their containers on the capillary matting surfaces and fill the reservoir with several liters once a month. afterwards, the material soaks it up, moistens, and process begins. the ebb and flow hydrating system provides exactly the right amount of liquid through gravity and capillary action to cultivate life and facilitate photosynthesis. use it as a green wall or room divider to add a breath of fresh air to any interior, no electricity needed.

pikaplant cabinet automatic water plants
the water flows from the tank to the shelves in a discrete plastic tubing

 

 

 

a plant rich environment makes people more creative, more productive, and less stressed out. some plants also help regulate humidity and remove trace toxins from the air. the company strong believes in the capabilities of the product: ‘great for schools, open plan offices, hotels, restaurants and cafés, a ‘pikaplant one’ filled with fresh herbs, bright florals, or lush greens will bring a breath of fresh air to any interior.’

pikaplant cabinet automatic water plants
the plants will receive their water trough the capillary matting on each shelf

pikaplant cabinet automatic water plants
a shelf refills only when the matting has been dry for several days

pikaplant cabinet automatic water plants
the height of each shelf is adjustable

pikaplant cabinet automatic water plants
users can combine several ‘pikaplant one’ shelves to make a green wall or a room divider 

pikaplant cabinet automatic water plants
sketches of the frame design

pikaplant cabinet automatic water plants
brand logo concepts

 

 

designboom has received this project from our ‘DIY submissions‘ feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here.