A simple self-watering planter called Osmos is helping gardeners keep their plants alive for up to 15 days without daily care. This easy-to-use innovation absorbs water from a glass bowl into a clay terracotta pot, keeping the soil inside constantly hydrated while using 80 percent less water.
The idea came from Hyderabad-based Gowtham Reddy, who wanted to solve the common problem faced by many gardeners—keeping plants healthy while away on vacation or work trips. “This may not appear as a serious issue for many, but it keeps many gardeners anxious. We cannot ignore any problem,” he said.
After studying mechanical engineering, Gowtham pursued industrial design at the National Institute of Design in Gujarat in 2016. His project was inspired by interviews with gardeners who struggled to water their plants regularly when they were away. Using his design skills, Gowtham focused on keeping the solution simple and effective.
In 2017, he developed a self-watering terracotta planter made of 60 percent soil and 40 percent low-weight expanded clay. The planter uses the porous nature of clay to pass air and moisture through the walls, ensuring consistent hydration for the plant inside. To track water levels, he added a glass fishbowl that holds 1.5 litres of water.
The design is also mosquito-safe, as it does not allow water to stagnate. “I applied my design knowledge to create a planter that is both simple and optimised. At the same time, I also wanted my design to be fascinating for others,” he added.
After positive feedback from his college jury, Gowtham launched the product under the brand Floraqua on Facebook. Instead of moving on, he chose to take his project forward and joined a business course at the Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad in 2018. With support from the course team, he improved and marketed the product.
He also added aesthetic value to the planter by including the traditional Rajasthani Molela craft on the rim. Priced at Rs 500, around 300 planters were sold with the help of the IIM team.
His work was later recognised at the Lexus Design Awards in 2018 as the Best Student Project and was among the top three displayed at the following year’s ceremony.
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