Gardening just took a futuristic turn with Hoshinchu Air Bonsai Garden's Kickstarter project Air Bonsai, which is exactly what it sounds like: a bonsai tree that floats via magnetic levitation, a combination of tradition and technology.
The floating platform that will hold the plant is called the "little star," and the bottom portion that makes it float is called the "energy base."
The little star has a sponge covering it, allowing it to hold moss and soil aside from the mini trees themselves. Inside, it holds the magnetic core that lets it levitate when placed above the energy base. Just to be clear, they're real plants that need water and proper care.
Made in Japan on the island of Kyushu, the Air Bonsai comes in a variety of plant options, but in the United States, Hoshinchu will be able to send only pine trees because of importing issues.
"[W]e are limited to export and carry any plants outside of Japan. To solve this matter, we have support from our team members in the United States who will negotiate with regional bonsai and plant makers. We remind you that the bonsai for our prototypes is just an image. The actual plants we will be using to send to you is for example 'matsu,' a pine tree from your country," Hoshinchu says.
Meanwhile, the energy base is enclosed within a hand-brushed porcelain exterior, which is "meticulously crafted by hand" and takes about three months to make. It's also air dried, where the craftsman checks the material thoroughly to make sure it meets the company's high standards.
Pledgers will be able to get their hands on the Air Bonsai Basic Set for $200. It consists of a little star moss, an energy base, a one-of-a-kind cushion, a "kiri" box and an AC adapter minus the plant. Hoshinchu notes that the cushions are made with old, traditional fabric that dates back from early 1868 to 1960.
The following option is yet another Air Bonsai Basic Set priced at $230 with the same contents, but it comes with the little star lava, a plant base made out of igneous rock, nstead of moss.
For the generous backers, $10,000 will land them a tour in the workshop and a bonsai garden in Japan with travel expenses and accommodation included.
