At first glance Patrick Morris’ Sky Planter is deceptively simple, consisting of a hanging potted houseplant turned upside down. But upon closer inspection we can see that Morris didn’t stop there. The Sky Planter actually uses a ground-breaking internal reservoir system that feeds water directly to the roots without leaks or evaporation, using up to 90% less water than ordinary pots. The system locks in the soil so there’s no mess, and our favorite part is that you only have to water your plant once or twice a month!

Designed by Patrick Morris in his last year at Central Saint Martin’s College of Art & Design in London, the Sky Planter was awarded a prestigious U.K. New Designers ceramic design award. Leveraging that success, Patrick Morris and his brother Jake opened Boskke in New Zealand, where their ceramics roots run deep. Patrick and Jake are sons of Anthony Morris, founder of the New Zealand institution Morris & James Pottery & Tileworks, and they are introducing their father’s environmental ethic to a new generation of fans.

Hand thrown and glazed, the Sky Planter is available in either black or white, in several sizes and price ranges. While not exactly cheap, with prices ranging from $75 to $195 USD, the savings in water — not to mention dead plants — and space make the Sky Planter ideal for those who value their floorspace and/or don’t exactly have “green thumbs”.

As the trend towards urban living continues and living spaces continue to shrink, innovations like the Sky Planter will become more and more relevant. Kudos to the Morris brothers and Boskke for raising awareness about our limited resources and showing how we can all make small changes with big benefits.

+ Boskke

+ Morris brothers