Air Bonsai - The magnetic plants that float and spin using magnets

In the never-ending game of keeping up with the Joneses, you couldn't go far wrong with a levitating house plant. 

A Japanese firm called Hoshinchu is producing kits for customers to produce their own floating versions of tiny house plants called Air Bonsai.

The tiny trees contain spongy balls of moss that contain magnets that sit above a porcelain base that similarly contain magnets which repel those found in the moss. 

The firm has already amassed more than 2,000 backers on its Kickstarter page, and has raised almost half a million dollars.

According to Hoshinchu, the kit is made up of two parts - an 'energy base' and the 'little star' which floats a few centimetres above the base.

HOW DO THE TREES 'FLOAT'?

The Air Bonsai kit is made up of two parts - an 'energy base' and the 'little star' which floats a few centimetres above the base.

The 'stars' are spongy balls of moss 2.3-inches (6cm) across containing magnets weighing around 250 grams. 

The porcelain base contains magnets and a rotating mechanism and is connected to the mains by an AC adapter.

The magnets repel each other to create the illusion of levitation. 

To plant the trees, customers poke a hole in the ball and add the cutting of the plant or a seedling. 

The website shows a number of bonsai trees which have been grown for a number of years spinning off the ground.

An additional pot is available in the form of a lava stone, instead of the moss ball.

The 'stars' are spongy balls of moss that measure 2.3-inches (6cm) across. 

These balls contain magnets that weigh around 250 grams, while the porcelain base contains magnets and a rotating mechanism and is connected to the mains by an AC adapter.

In a demo video, producer Hakaru Hoshi passes a piece of cardboard between the base and the floating moss ball to prove its not a hoax.

As part of a do-it-yourself kit, growers transplant their small plant into the star to get it growing.

'You have the mossy "little star" ready for transplanting your favourite plant,' the company explained. 

'The "energy base" that conducts magnetic energy makes your plant float. 

The porcelain for the 'energy base' is made of traditional Japanese Imari. 

'Mass production is achieved through use of moulds for this basic kit.' 

To plant, customers poke a hole in the ball and add the cutting of the plant or a seedling. 

The website shows a number of bonsai trees which have been grown for a number of years spinning off the ground.

An additional pot is available in the form of a lava stone, instead of the moss ball.

'Each Air Bonsai is unique, ranging from elegant flowering plants, bold "matsu" pines, to delightful mosses,' the company continued. 

The designs are made on the Japanese island of Kyushu, and customers are invited to create their own 'little star' by growing plants in the material using the kits.

Backers who pledge $200 ($140) or more on the Kickstarter page will receive a basic kit, which will ship in August.

People putting $10,000 (£7,000) or more into the company will enjoy an expenses paid trip to the workshop in Japan as well as their Air Bonsai kit. 

However, the company is facing some issue with exporting the plants outside of Japan.

In a statement on the Kickstarter page, it wrote: 'There is just one issue in our hands, we are limited to export and carry any plants outside of Japan. 

'To solve this matter, we have support from our team members in the US who will negotiate with regional bonsai and plant makers.

'We remind you that the bonsai for our prototypes is just an image. 

'The actual plants we will be using to send to you is for example 'matsu', a pine tree from your country. 

'We will resolve any issues along the way to make sure we deliver to our backers.'