Bonsai tree origins reach back over a thousand years, but one Japanese company is changing the way you look at them forever. When translated to English, the word Bonsai means “planted in container.” The team at Air Bonsai has taken the traditional idea of what a plant’s container should be and floated it a few inches off the ground. With the help of super strong magnets, Air Bonsai puts the little trees in a completely different perspective.

How Does It Work?

The Air Bonsai started as a Kickstarter, a platform that allows users to create campaigns and offer a reward to people who “pledge” funding for the project or product. The pledging starts at $1 and range of options up to $10,000, with some having a limited amount of backers available to each. The top four pledge levels for Air Bonsai were filled completely before the campaign ended. The campaign has also been fully funded with over $630,000 pledges. This bonsai tree is unlike any other because it floats like magic. The tree is not actually magical, but is magnetically levitating. The tree works by combining two parts, the “little star” or the floating planter and the “energy base.” The “little star” floats approximately 2 centimeters above the base and can weigh up to 250 grams. The bonsai floats by magnetic repulsion, using the negative reaction from the opposing poles of the magnets pushing each other away. The “little star” holds a small magnet at its center, which is surrounded by a sponge that is then covered in moss to hold the roots of a plant. The “energy base” is crafted from a traditional Japanese porcelain, Imari. Housed inside the Imari is a magnet, which is also connected to a power source and a rotating mechanism that helps the bonsai plant spin while in position. The kickstarter funding campaign ends March 1st, and the production phase is expected to start shortly after. The floating bonsai plants are expected to ship to the first backers sometime in August. What could you create with the magnetic levitation device powering the Air Bonsai?   Photo via William Neuheisel