Boum is a start-up from Bern that combines ecology and technology and has thus developed an automatic irrigation system for plants, enabling everyone to grow and experience plants at home.

With this, we want to contribute to greener cities with more biodiversity and help people restore 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 irrigation system is a sub-irrigation system, meaning the water is supplied to the plants from below . This works using a specially developed wick system.

Each Boum pot consists of a water reservoir (at the bottom) and a soil container (at the top). The wicks connect these two parts, absorbing water at the bottom and releasing it to the soil at the top. When the plant is thirsty, it draws water from the soil, which in turn causes the soil to draw more water from the reservoir via the wicks. This ensures the soil remains consistently moist – ideal conditions for plants!

The reservoirs of the pots are then refilled up to 3 times a day by the control system and the water tank.

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.

The Boum water tank holds 32 L (Core) or 35 L (Pro). The Pro version also includes an extension with a 55 L water tank.

In the height of summer, an outdoor pot consumes an average of 0.5–1 liter of water per day. This means that with 3 pots, you'll need to refill the 35-liter tank every 2–4 weeks in summer, with 5 pots every 1–2 weeks, and so on. Note : The larger the plant, the greater its water consumption.

Indoors, a pot uses approximately 0.1 liters of water per day. A full tank therefore lasts for several weeks to 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 step-by-step setup videos in the app show you how. Setup takes about 15 minutes.

If you still have questions, we'll be happy to help you personally in our chat.

We have successfully tested the irrigation system with many different indoor and outdoor plants. The system is particularly well-suited for plants that prefer moist soil. Plants that prefer dry conditions (e.g., succulents) are less suitable.

The controller is not designed for sub-zero temperatures. If you are using the system outdoors, we therefore recommend storing the controller indoors during the winter. The pots (planted or empty) can remain outdoors year-round.

The system can be used indoors all year round.

Yes. The irrigation system needs to be connected to Wi-Fi (or a mobile hotspot) once for configuration. After that, it works autonomously, even without Wi-Fi. In this case, no sensor data will be displayed in the app.

Yes. Irrigation also works without Wi-Fi, however in this case no data on water consumption etc. is sent.

If you still wish to do this, we recommend an LTE router with an affordable IoT data plan. This way, you can always keep an eye on your irrigation system at your second home.

Yes, the pots are connected to the tank via a hose. We supply the irrigation system with black 7 mm PVC hoses featuring a quick-connect system and a hose cutter. This makes connecting and routing the hoses very easy. The connection is located at the bottom of the pot, allowing the hoses to be discreetly positioned and not visually obtrusive.

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.

We recommend connecting up to 12 pots to the water tank (32 L capacity for Core, 35 L capacity for Pro). With the 55 L Pro water tank, you can water up to 20 pots simultaneously. Outdoors, a pot uses 0.5–1 L of water per day in the height of summer, and indoors approximately 0.1 L of water per day year-round.

Boum pots are available in various colors, sizes, and shapes.

The Boum Core pots are currently available in pebble grey as a round pot with a 13 L capacity. More colors and shapes may be added in the future.

The Boum Pro pots are available in grey, taupe and white. They come as pots with a volume of 15 L or 30 L, as well as balcony planters with a volume of 13 L.

If you are using the system outside, we recommend the Boum potting soil, 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 potting soil 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.

Boum potting soil 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.

Boum potting soil consists exclusively of by-products from Swiss forestry and agriculture, is free of environmentally harmful peat or coconut fibers and contains biochar - making it very climate-friendly and good for nature.

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

All Boum soils are manufactured in Switzerland and are very environmentally friendly thanks to short transport routes.

Boum soil is approved for organic farming.

We have successfully tested the irrigation system with many different indoor and outdoor plants. The system is particularly well-suited for plants that prefer moist soil or have high water consumption (such as fruiting vegetables, herbs, or small trees).

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