FAQ

Boum is a startup from Bern that combines ecology and technology, developing an automatic irrigation system for plants that allows everyone to grow and experience plants in their own homes.

With this, we aim to contribute to greener, more biodiverse cities and help people re-establish the connection between humans and nature.

We drew inspiration from nature for our irrigation system. Sub-irrigation (watering from below) regulates the plant's water consumption at Boum, without the need to pre-set pump intervals or durations. The plant draws precisely the amount of water it needs from the soil at any given time – just like in nature!

This leads, on the one hand, to healthier plants because they root more strongly and quickly and thus become more stable and robust, and on the other hand, to a massively more efficient water consumption than with conventional (drip) irrigation systems, because water is only used when the plant needs it.

Boum is suitable for all people who would like to experience the magic of their own plants.

We designed Boum specifically for people who

• do not have a green thumb, but would like to grow plants
• are often on the go and don't always have time for watering.
• are unsure about how to handle plants
• are interested in the connection between nature and technology
• Want your own plant paradise without any effort?

The Boum system is a plant irrigation system. It works either by sub-irrigation for Boum pots or by drip irrigation.

Each Boum pot consists of a water reservoir (bottom) and a soil container (top). Wicks connect these two parts by drawing water from the bottom and releasing it into the soil at the top. When the plant is thirsty, it draws water from the soil, which in turn causes the soil to draw new water from the reservoir via the wicks. This keeps the soil consistently moist - ideal conditions for plants! The reservoirs of the pots are then refilled once a day by the control unit and the water tank.

With Boum drip irrigation, water is dripped smartly and water-efficiently onto the soil using drippers.

The Boum control unit is the smart heart of the Boum system. It consists of sensors that measure the water level and flow rate, a pump that transports the water to the pots, a solar-powered battery, temperature sensors, and a Wi-Fi connection to transmit the data to the Boum app.

The control unit is designed as a round lid that sits directly on the water tank and transports the water from there to the reservoirs in the pots. Once a day, all reservoirs are automatically refilled with water, ensuring the plants never run dry.

No! Boum was specifically designed for people without a water connection on their balcony, as this is often not the case, especially on smaller (city) balconies. The Boum water tank serves as a water reservoir and can be refilled manually every few weeks (you will be notified!). The Boum control system also collects rainwater that falls into the water tank.

In midsummer, a pot outdoors uses an average of 0.5-1L of water per day. This means that if you have 5 pots, you will need to refill the tank every 1-2 weeks in summer, and if you have 3 pots, you will need to refill the tank every 2-3 weeks. Note: The larger the plant, the more water it will use.

Indoors, a pot uses about 0.1L of water per day. A full tank will therefore last for several weeks or months.

This is possible with another float valve and a hole. Contact us if you are interested in this option.

That's not necessary :) The system is very easy to set up. Our videos show you how it's done. Setup takes about 15 minutes.

We have successfully tested the irrigation system with many different indoor and outdoor plants. The system is particularly suitable for plants that like to grow in moist soil. Plants that like to dry out (e.g. succulents) are less suitable. If you order plants from us, you are on the safe side - they are definitely suitable for the system.

The irrigation is not designed for temperatures below freezing. If you use the system outdoors, we recommend emptying the containers in winter and storing the controller indoors during the winter.

The system can be used indoors all year round.

Yes. The irrigation must be connected to the WLAN once for configuration. It then works autonomously, even without WiFi. In this case, no sensor data is displayed in the app.

Yes. In this case, we recommend an LTE router with a cheap IoT data subscription. This means you can always keep an eye on your irrigation in your second home.

Yes, the pots are connected to the tank via a hose. We supply black 7 mm PVC hoses with Quick Connect system and hose cutter with the irrigation. So laying is very easy. The connection is located at the bottom of the pot so that the hoses can be placed discreetly.

Each Boum pot consists of a water reservoir (at the bottom) and a soil container that sits on top of the reservoir. Special capillary wicks connect these two parts, drawing water from the bottom and releasing it to the soil above. When the plant is thirsty, it draws water from the soil, causing the soil's moisture content to decrease. This automatically replenishes the water from the reservoir below via the wicks (like a sponge soaking up water). As a result, the soil remains consistently moist – ideal conditions for the plants!

The reservoirs in the pots are then refilled once a day by the control system, always with precisely the amount of water the plant has needed since the last refill. A built-in float valve mechanically regulates the water flow.

The Boum Core pots are made of PP, are relatively thin-walled and therefore extremely lightweight. They have a rounded shape and are currently available in pebble grey and a volume of 13 L.

Boum Pro pots are made from recycled PET and diatomaceous earth and finished by hand. They have thicker walls, are suitable for both smaller and larger plants, and are available in 3 different colors (grey, taupe, white) and 2 shapes (round, oblong).

Yes, all Boum pots are compatible with all controllers and water tanks because they use the same connections. Pots from different product lines can easily be connected to one system.

You can connect up to 12 pots to one water tank. Outdoors, a pot uses 0.5 - 1L of water per day in midsummer, indoors it uses around 0. L of water per day all year round.

Boum irrigation only works with Boum planters (pots). However, you can place these in other containers (outside pots) and continue to use your own colors and shapes.

At the moment we are offering Boum in a subtle color - the plants provide the colors! However, our range is constantly being expanded to include other pot shapes and colors. You will find out when the time comes in the newsletter.

If you are using the system outside, we recommend the Boum substrate, which was specially developed for Boum irrigation. However, you can also use your own soil. It is important that it has a good connection to the wicks and draws the water up into the upper layers.

If you use the system indoors, we recommend Boum houseplant soil.

Boum's substrate was specially developed by us and is designed for sub-irrigation in Boum pots. Thanks to the added wood chips and pebbles, it is very structured and not too dense, allowing for optimal water absorption and distribution. It is also enriched with biochar, naturally pre-fertilized, and a 100% Swiss product, without environmentally harmful peat or imported coconut fibers.

Boum potting soil is made from a by-product of Swiss sugar beet production, is produced and packaged for us in batches, and is therefore as fresh as possible.

The Boum substrate is a universal substrate that works with most commercially available outdoor plants.

The Boum houseplant soil works for most houseplants (except succulents).

The Boum potting soil is organically pre-fertilized. Depending on the plant, the fertilization lasts for 4 - 6 weeks. You can then add more fertilizing with the Boum fertilizer. The app tells you when the right time is.

The Boum substrate consists exclusively of by-products from Swiss forestry and agriculture and contains biochar - making it very climate-friendly and good for nature.

The Boum houseplant soil consists of pumice, lava and expanded clay and is free of peat and coconut. This also makes it very climate-friendly.

Boum substrate is approved for organic farming.

We have successfully tested the irrigation system with many different indoor and outdoor plants. The system is particularly suitable for plants that like to grow in moist soil. If you order plants from us, you are on the safe side - they are definitely suitable for the system.

Not at the moment. But with the Boum system, growing plants is easy - and fun :-).

Boum is a Swiss startup and spin-off of the University of Bern. You can find more information about us in the menu item "About Boum" .

Boum plants and substrate are produced entirely in Switzerland from Swiss raw materials. The hardware is developed and assembled in Switzerland. We source hardware components from international suppliers.

Our soil is peat-free and contains biochar to store CO2. The material for our water tanks and pots is 80% recycled and designed to last a long time. Our vegetable and herb seedlings come from organic production and our wildflowers are local Swiss mixtures. In this way, we and our customers are making a contribution to climate protection and biodiversity.

It's simple: If you are dissatisfied with our hardware within 60 days of purchase, send it back to us in the original packaging. We will then refund you the purchase price after checking the device. Does not apply to soil and plants.

We offer a 2-year guarantee on our hardware. If a defect occurs during this time, you can contact us via the chat in the Boum app. We will organize everything else. Does not apply to soil and plants.

Our products are relatively expensive to ship because they are either bulky (e.g. pots, tanks) or relatively heavy (e.g. soils). We try to absorb most of the resulting shipping and packaging costs. We pass on a small portion of the shipping costs to our customers, as is common with larger products.