1 A container made of moss or lava rock houses the roots as well as a small magnet.
2 The porcelain “energy base” uses another magnet, powered by electricity, to push the tiny tree 0.8 in. (2 cm) in the air.
3 Magnetic forces then make the bonsai spin, an effect that’s both enticing and expensive. Early backers spent at least $500 to get full kits.
This appears in the February 15, 2016 issue of TIME.
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