Half-Planter
A cross-section planter designed to reveal the hidden life of roots and soil
Inspired by the striking beauty of soil cross-sections, this planter is designed to keep the hidden textures of roots in plain view at all times.
The build is dead simple: an ordinary off-the-shelf plant pot sliced cleanly in half, with a clear PVC sheet attached across the exposed face. Put together with materials from a 100-yen shop, the total build cost was roughly ¥220.
Beyond just the lush greenery on top, you get a living 3D cross-section showcasing the soil stratigraphy and the fine, capillary-like spread of the root network.
A simple household hack that expands how we observe everyday houseplants, achieved purely by shifting perspective—slicing it in half and making it transparent.