apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time


Grobal Self-Watering Planter by Treg Bradley and Karim Rashid

03.07.grobal.jpg

Grobal is a self-watering "techno-organic" base for growing plants in the "digital age"...

 
 

03.07.grobal3.jpg

Designed by Karim Rashid and conceived by Treg Bradley, the Grobal is a stylish planter that holds a "grow chamber". This chamber draws nutrients from the water reservoir up into Grobal Soil, creating a prime environment for growing plants and flowers at home with ease. Here's what Rashid has to say about it:

“The Grobal originated from an ambition to create a techno-organic base for nurturing life and cultivating growth. The digital age we live in no longer accepts the semantics of ancient craft and demands multi-sensorial experiences - any object we bring in our house should be an expression of our modern being and development. The iconic egg-like object functions as the foundation for new life - it is a material visualization of digital and sensual technology and nature synthesizing.”

03.07.grobal2.jpg

Each Grobal sells for $25, and in classic Rashid style, they come in a wide range of vibrant colors. Via: Inhabitat.

Tags

plants & flowers, GREEN IDEAS, Rashid, planter

Related Links

Share

Comments (10)

very cool! i like where this technology is heading. not to be apocalyptic, but when water and soil becomes more scarce and all, we'll need this sort of personal grower for our own foods now and then.

another angle - my career is in mental illness. i can see these growers providing a benefit for the mentally ill, too. those with severe depression who don't have the energy to water their plants enough would love these. having plants around your home or office is so healing! i think the egg shape helps in that regard as well. the author is right, it's a shape which gratifies on so many levels.

posted by *heather leaf* on 2008-03-07 09:35:23
view *heather leaf*'s profile

Self watering? I am not quite sure about that. If you don't have time to water your plants, you will never have time to enjoy the nature's beauty.

posted by Siddhu on 2008-03-07 10:04:43
view Siddhu's profile

Can it be for ANY sort of plant you want?? What about Bamboo??

posted by Sleek on 2008-03-07 10:17:36
view Sleek's profile

Fabulous! I see they have an email link for inquiries but these folks are going to need a website to sell from. I'd buy 2 today.

posted by renngrrl on 2008-03-07 12:12:53
view renngrrl's profile

Aren't these a similar idea to the Eva Solo self-watering flowerpot?

posted by ami on 2008-03-07 12:45:29
view ami's profile

I'm a little confused. If the soil is constantly damp, won't it get moldy? I always thought it should dry out a little before the next watering.

posted by brittanykate on 2008-03-07 12:59:06
view brittanykate's profile

renngrrl,

The site will be fully functional in about a week. Meantime you can call or email using the info on the splash page to order.

posted by themage7 on 2008-03-07 14:46:23
view themage7's profile

See, I never really thought that my plant-murdering history hadn't anything to do with me not enjoying the beauty of nature and other such idyll-ities, so much as my inability to care for anything that couldn't tell me when it's hungry.

Thank goodness for these. I think I'm ready to try again.

posted by teacupcake on 2008-03-07 17:56:41
view teacupcake's profile

Am I missing something? The Grobal is very attractive, but the concept is about as innovative as making a small ceramic object that can hold hot liquid and has a handle. Self-watering pots have been widely available for years.

Also, this would only work for certain types of plants that like their soil to be constantly moist. African violets are the most classic example, but other plants respond well to this environment too.

posted by Trilobyte on 2008-03-08 12:44:57
view Trilobyte's profile

i don't mind the concept of a self-watering pot, but this:

The digital age we live in no longer accepts the semantics of ancient craft and demands multi-sensorial experiences - any object we bring in our house should be an expression of our modern being and development.

turns me off. way off. am i the only one?

posted by lindsey kathlene on 2008-03-08 16:35:30
view lindsey kathlene's profile