Recent studies have proved that actively tending to indoor plants can help reduce stress as well as improve air quality. The purpose of my project was to help encourage university students to have indoor plants in their homes to reduce the stress of study as well as improve the air quality of often damp flats they may live in. With this in mind, I wanted to be able to achieve this without adding an extra task to a student’s long to-do list for the day.

Inspired by the existing project, AuReus by Carvey Ehren Maigue, The Solar Pot uses bioluminescence as well as solar power and Arduino technology to be able to power a moisture sensor sustainably. This is so that the user knows when their plant needs to be watered. 

The sheet placed over the solar panel made of turmeric filters in UV rays through the bioluminescence it contains. This means the solar pot is functional even on a cloudy day.  The use of the moisture sensor allows the user to still tend to the plant, but without the stress of the responsibility of having to remember to water it. 

The solar pot is run through a social media-like app interface. Where the users can care for their plants both in the physical and digital world. By creating characters and personalities for your plants, you are also able to share and interact with friends. Through the app, you can be educated and learn about different plants while earning points and moving up levels the more you care for your own.