Mate is a self-watering indoor planter constructed from porous materials with a water basin that allows plants to deliver water to their roots at their own pace.

Indoor planters have taken off in recent years, mostly due to how much more time we’re spending at home. While you can’t beat a home garden, indoor planters and gardens offer a unique alternative for those who’d prefer a bit of green to spruce up their living room or access to fresh herbs and vegetables for cooking in the kitchen.

Designer: Umberto Calle

Self-watering indoor planters use a method of irrigation called sub-irrigation that delivers water directly to the plant’s roots, allowing plants to drink water at their own pace. Italian product and industrial designer Umberto Calle found functionality through simplicity with his self-watering indoor planter called Mate.

Comprised of only four pieces, Mate hosts a transparent bottom that functions as the device’s water basin for the upper layers to absorb from when needed. Users need only fill the water basin when levels are too shallow and then the plant’s roots drink from this reservoir whenever necessary. Fastening into this bottom layer, Calle designed an outer pot to cover the main planter, which works to supply the soil with plenty of air.

The main planter locks into the outer pot and carries the soil for the crops. Alternatively, the outer pot can lock into place above the main planter to make room for larger plants, augmenting the device’s size from 1.5 to 15 L. At the base of it all, Mate has a removable button that detaches the non-stick cake pan to initiate the reporting process.

Many self-watering planters currently on the market are known to cause root rot because of the material used to construct them. Mate is made from porous materials like clay and concrete to allow for breathable plant cultivation. To prevent the widespread mold problem that most indoor planters face, Calle chose porous building material specifically to divide the water and air flows.

Comprised of only four pieces, Mate is built to do the hard of plant cultivation so all you have to do is show some love. 

Mate comes in two sizes, 1.5L and 15L.

The main water basin collects water for plants to drink from and nourish their roots when needed.