99% Water, No Soil: The Israeli Innovation Transforming Offices
Israeli startup Tomgrow has developed Medium X, a hydrogel growth medium that allows plants to thrive without soil. This technology provides plants with a steady supply of water and minerals, significantly reducing maintenance and enabling greenery in challenging office environments.
For an increasing number of companies, office greenery has long ceased to be merely a design choice. Recent studies consistently link the integration of nature into workspaces with improved employee well-being, reduced stress, and increased concentration and productivity. In Israel, where employees work significantly longer hours than the OECD average, this issue is particularly pressing: a recent Gallup survey found that 42% of Israeli employees report high levels of workplace stress.
However, implementing green designs often faces practical hurdles. Natural vegetation typically requires complex irrigation, drainage, and constant maintenance. In large office towers, these requirements often turn design concepts into expensive operational burdens, leading many firms to settle for artificial plants or abandon their green initiatives altogether.
The Tomgrow Innovation
Israeli startup Tomgrow has introduced Medium X, a hydrogel growth medium that allows plants to thrive without soil. Composed of 99% water, the medium provides a controlled release of water and minerals, eliminating the need for complex drainage infrastructure. This breakthrough enables the integration of natural vegetation in high-rise buildings and enclosed spaces where maintenance was previously impossible.
Today, the company serves over 100 clients, including Google, Nvidia, Bank Hapoalim, and the Azrieli Group, marking a shift toward viewing greenery as a long-term investment rather than a one-time decorative expense.
How It Works
"The medium binds water within a matrix, so it isn't free-flowing," explains Bari Kener, VP of Development at Tomgrow. "Minerals are held within this matrix, and roots absorb them as needed." This efficiency extends watering intervals from the typical one-to-two weeks to as long as six months, with some plants surviving up to 18 months without additional watering.
The technology allows for the integration of outdoor plants into indoor environments. At Nvidia’s offices, Tomgrow staff constructed sealed pools filled with the gel medium, enabling the successful growth of full-sized trees and shrubs within a closed office floor.
Economic and Environmental Impact
Tomgrow provides a comprehensive service package. Each plant is equipped with a barcode, allowing clients to request service instantly. The company reports a plant mortality rate of only 4%, compared to 30–40% in traditional commercial settings.
Beyond business efficiency, the technology offers environmental benefits. An internal impact report indicates that Tomgrow systems reduce water consumption by 56% and carbon emissions by 86% compared to traditional peat-based growth media.
While the company currently focuses on commercial projects, its development lab continues to refine gel formulations. Future plans include developing smaller products for the home market and expanding operations internationally, with a pilot project currently underway in the United States.
