When technology and ecology combine, healthy plants are guaranteed. Behind the Boum plant care system is a team of biologists, engineers, product designers, and app developers. Their goal: to enable everyone to enjoy plants and make cities a little greener again.
Contents
- The path to the Boum idea: A biologist and the challenges of plant care
- Nature and technology in harmony
- This is how plant care works with Boum: A system that mimics nature
- Tested in practice: Bern's greenest street
The path to the Boum idea: A biologist and the challenges of plant care
Cities are becoming increasingly densely built, climate change is exacerbating heat islands, and green spaces are disappearing. However, we urgently need plants for biodiversity and our well-being. The solution is actually quite obvious: more plants. And right where people live, on balconies, windowsills, and terraces.
As a plant scientist and the son of a mountain farmer, Matthias Erb repeatedly wondered why so many people hesitate to green their own balconies and terraces. Theoretically, everyone could contribute to a greener city and, at the same time, benefit enormously from it. At the same time, he had to admit that his balcony wasn't as green as befits a biologist with sufficient plant knowledge.
Many people feel this way. It's incredibly frustrating when you're so motivated to plan a balcony garden, only to find no blooming flowers in sight, and instead of delicious tomatoes, you only harvest dried leaves. The biggest obstacles to plant care:
- Lack of knowledge
- False Earth
- Inefficient irrigation
- Too little time
The time factor is a major counterargument. Even a balcony garden takes work and requires daily maintenance. How can this be combined with everyday stress and extended vacations? So, something was needed that would allow even beginners, frequent travelers, and those without a green thumb to green their balconies. A smart, time-saving system. The foundation for the Boum vision was laid.
Nature and technology in harmony
In 2021, Matthias Erb and geophysicist Ludwig Auer founded Boum as a spin-off from the University of Bern and have since combined scientific expertise with modern technology. A team of biologists, engineers, product designers, and app developers developed the system. It automatically supplies plants as needed, while simultaneously relieving gardeners of as much work as possible.
At Boum, technology is used to mimic natural processes, enabling resource-efficient, sustainable greening. What works in nature can be replicated on our balconies. Nature and technology aren't in conflict here; rather, they complement each other, providing plants with the nutrients they need. The result: healthier plants, and since almost everything happens automatically, the system allows even people with little time and little expertise to effortlessly green their balconies, terraces, and living rooms.
This is how plant care works with Boum: A system that mimics nature
Boum is more than just a plant pot. It's an entire system in which everything is coordinated. Pots and flower boxes, specially formulated soil, plants tested in the system, and, most importantly, irrigation that automatically delivers water to the plant as needed. The entire process can be monitored remotely at any time via the app.
Water from below instead of above
In nature, plants draw the water they need primarily from the soil. We water our plants differently – it's not always ideal. The Boum pots have a reservoir at the bottom of the pot, from which the water is drawn into the soil through wicks. This way, the plant gets exactly the amount it needs. One full water tank is enough for several weeks, depending on the weather and location.
Plants and soil are optimized
The Boum system can be used with any plant and any soil. If you want to play it safe, choose Boum plants: trees, flowers, herbs, or vegetables – these have been tested for months in Boum pots. Specially developed soil also ensures optimal nutrient supply and aeration of the roots.
Smart control
A small control panel is located on top of the water tank. It blends in discreetly, yet provides valuable information about water consumption and water level, controlling the water supply pump accordingly.
An app provides an overview
To make the system even more user-friendly, the Boum app provides tips on plant care, reminds you to refill the reservoir in good time, and always provides an overview of water level, consumption, and temperature.
For more sustainability
The Boum pots are made from recycled raw materials, the control system can be powered by a solar panel, and water is saved through a rain catcher and targeted watering without evaporation.
Tested in practice: Bern's greenest street
Many individual balconies can make an entire city greener. Matthias Erb tested and proved that it works with a project at the University of Bern – with the greenest street in Switzerland. Since 2023, the Postgassen project has been working with residents to enhance the street with potted plants. It serves as a "living lab" to gain insights into urban greening.
The results speak for themselves: Postgasse now boasts significantly higher biodiversity than other streets in Bern, and positive effects on the microclimate have been observed. Of course, this still isn't comparable to the climate in rural areas, but it clearly demonstrates the impact that more urban greenery could have. A significant side effect has also occurred: 95 percent of respondents stated that their quality of life was positively influenced by the greenery. This was to be expected, as plants have a significant impact on our well-being – more plants improve our mood. Another argument for greening our urban balconies.
You can learn more about how the Boum system works here.
