When technology and ecology are combined, healthy plants are guaranteed. Behind the Boum plant care system is a team of biologists, engineers, product designers and app developers. The goal: to enable everyone to enjoy plants and make cities a little greener again.
Content
- The Road to the Boum Idea: A Biologist and the Challenges of Plant Care
- Nature and Technology in Harmony
- How Plant Care Works with Boum: A System Mimics Nature
- Tested in Practice: Bern's Greenest Alley
The Road to the Boum Idea: A Biologist and the Challenges of Plant Care
Cities are becoming more densely built, climate change is intensifying heat islands, and green spaces are disappearing. However, we urgently need plants for biodiversity and our well-being. The solution is actually obvious: more plants. And precisely where people live, on balconies, window sills, and terraces.
As a plant scientist and the son of a mountain farmer, Matthias Erb repeatedly wondered why so many hesitated to green their own balconies and terraces. Theoretically, everyone could contribute to a greener city and simultaneously benefit enormously from it. At the same time, he had to admit that even his balcony wasn't as green as it should be for a biologist with sufficient plant knowledge.
Many feel this way. It's incredibly frustrating when you enthusiastically plan a balcony garden, and then there's no blooming flower in sight; instead of delicious tomatoes, you only harvest withered leaves. The biggest obstacles to plant care:
- Lack of knowledge
- Wrong soil
- Inefficient watering
- Too little time
The time factor, in particular, is a counter-argument. A balcony garden also requires work and daily care; how can this be combined with everyday stress and longer vacations? So, something had to be created that would enable beginners, frequent travelers, and people without green thumbs to green their balconies. A smart, time-saving system. The cornerstone of the Boum vision was laid.
Nature and Technology in Harmony
In 2021, Matthias Erb and geophysicist Ludwig Auer founded Boum as a spin-off of the University of Bern, combining scientific expertise with modern technology. A team of biologists, engineers, product designers, and app developers developed the system. It automatically supplies plants according to their needs, while simultaneously minimizing the effort for gardeners.
Boum uses technology to mimic natural processes, enabling resource-efficient, sustainable greening. What works in nature can be imitated on our balconies. Nature and technology are not opposed here; instead, they complement each other and provide plants with what they need. The result: The plants are healthier, 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.
How Plant Care Works with Boum: A System Mimics Nature
Boum is more than just a plant pot. It's an entire system where everything is coordinated. Pots and flower boxes, specially matched soil, plants tested within the system, and above all, irrigation that automatically supplies the plant with water as needed. The entire process can be monitored remotely at any time via an app.
Water from below instead of above
In nature, the plant draws the water it needs primarily from the soil. We water our plants differently – which is not always ideal. In Boum pots, there is a reservoir in the lower part of the pot, from which water is drawn into the soil through wicks. This way, the plant gets exactly the amount it needs. One filling of the water tank is sufficient for several weeks, depending on the weather and location.
Plants and soil are optimized
The Boum system can be used with all plants and any soil. For those who want to play it safe, Boum plants are available: saplings, flowers, herbs, or vegetables – these have been tested for months in Boum pots. Specially developed soil also ensures optimal nutrient supply and root aeration.
Smart Control
At the top of the water tank is a small control unit. It blends in subtly but provides valuable information about water consumption and water level and controls the pump for water supply accordingly.
An app provides an overview
To make the system even more user-friendly, the Boum app provides plant care tips, reminds users to refill the reservoir in good time, and always offers an overview of water level, consumption, and temperature.
For more sustainability
The Boum pots are made from recycled materials, the control unit can be powered by a solar panel, and water is saved through a rainwater collector and targeted watering without evaporation.
Tested in Practice: Bern's Greenest Alley
Many individual balconies can make an entire city greener. Matthias Erb tested and proved this works with a project from the University of Bern – with Switzerland's greenest alley. Since 2023, the Postgassen project has collaborated with residents to enhance the street with potted plants. It serves as a "Living Lab" to gain insights into urban greening.
The result speaks for itself: Postgasse now boasts significantly higher biodiversity than other streets in Bern, and positive effects on the microclimate have been observed. Of course, this is still not comparable to the climate in the countryside, but it clearly shows what more urban greening could achieve. In addition, a significant side effect has occurred: 95 percent of respondents stated that their quality of life was positively influenced by the greening. This was to be expected, as plants have a significant impact on our well-being – more plants for a better mood. Another argument for greening our city balconies.
Here you can find out more about how the Boum system works.
