I am neither a sucker for planters nor have I paid much attention to lamps in my life. To be honest, I have had a love-hate relationship with keeping houseplants alive. But a crowdfunding project sparked my curiosity in both planters and lamps. Called Planto, the recent Kickstarter campaign by the company of the same name (Planto) is seeking pledges for a project it touts to be “the world’s first water-powered smart lamp”.
In simple terms, it’s a lamp that runs on water. As per the makers, “Planto combines beautiful ambient lighting and plant care in one elegant design, powered by water instead of electricity from the grid.” The makers further state, “As users water their plants, the same water fuels Planto’s HydroVolt core, producing energy that powers full-spectrum LED lighting.”
With creators speaking so highly of the project, there is no way I could have skipped covering this campaign. So, I dove into Planto’s crowdfunding page to find more details about the project. The first thing that hit me about Planto was its promise to combine sustainability with smart tech in a way that feels both futuristic and practical.
Planto is not just a lamp, it’s a sleek, water-powered device that lights up your space and helps your plants thrive, all without a single plug or battery. So, how does this thing work? Well, if makers are to be believed, “Planto’s HydroVolt Core uses a water-based electrochemical reaction to generate clean energy. All one needs to do is add water, and Planto lights up.”
With the campaign still being in its early stage, it wouldn’t be right to outrightly term it fishy, but the details are indeed questionable to some extent. For the time being, I would believe, if there is a lamp that can ward off mosquitoes and a lamp that could double as a speaker, there sure can be a lamp that uses water for lighting.
But the real kicker is not how it converts water into electricity, but the smart tech it boasts beyond lighting. Planto features sensors that monitor things like soil moisture and light levels, and it sends that info to a companion app on your phone. The app gives real-time updates on my plants’ health and notifies the user whenever they need more water or light.
As someone who’s accidentally turned a few too many succulents into sad, shriveled husks, having a gadget that tells me exactly what my plants need feels like a godsend accessory. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve stared at a wilting fern, wondering what I did wrong. As is a prerequisite for modern-day gadgets, Planto blends form and function. The design is sleek and minimalist, with clean lines that would look right at home in my living room or on my bedside table. It’s not one of those clunky, overly techy gadgets that scream for attention; it’s subtle, almost elegant, and I can already picture it sitting next to my pothos, casting a soft glow.
Other features include customizable lighting, which has almost become a standard in the industry. I can tweak the brightness and color temperature to set the mood, maybe a warm glow for a cozy night in or a brighter setting when I’m working late. Plus, I can adjust the light to help my plants grow. Not to mention portability, which is a big plus.
Also Read: Eve 3D-Printed Planter Mimics Raindrops to Water Your Desk Plant
All said and done, Planto has my interest. It’s a perfect combo of sustainability, tech, and style, and it feels like it was made for people like me who want to live a little greener without sacrificing convenience or aesthetics. If you’re as intrigued as I am, head over to the Kickstarter page and preorder your Planto for a super early bird price of $154.
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