# Umbrella-Powered Planters 'Green Trace' Makes Gardening an Afterthought By Michael Hines | Published 2010-11-03 | Eco Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/green-trace References: [yankodesign](http://www.yankodesign.com/2010/11/02/umbrella-is-high-on-grass/) Growing plants is about to become fool-proof thanks to Junjie Zhang and 'Green Trace.' 'Green Trace' is an inventive new [umbrella rack](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/aghsan) that collects rain droplets and uses them to [grow plants](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/posha). The seeds below slowly feed off of the water and eventually start growing trough the stand itself. 'Green Trace' is an easy way to make your home a little more [eco-friendly](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/lg-4) as it requires almost no attention or skill to use. Check it out 'Green Trace' as well as other Junjie Zhang designs and umbrella innovations below. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 3.2/10 - Popularity: 47% | Activity: 42% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Millennial - Top markets: North America, Europe, Asia ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Eco](https://www.trendhunter.com/eco) ## Key Themes ### What's Driving This Trend - **Automated Gardening Systems:** Green Trace is a prime example of the rise of automated gardening systems focused on bringing more greenery into urban living spaces. - **Sustainable Design:** Green Trace showcases the popularity of sustainable design that uses eco-friendly features to deliver accessible and visually appealing solutions. - **Vertical Farming Technology:** Green Trace and its umbrella-powered planters taps into a growing market of vertical farming solutions making use of vertical spaces and smart technologies to produce crops. ### Who This Affects Most - **Home and Garden Retail:** Home and garden retail can leverage on Green Trace's unique and easy-to-use features to attract consumers looking for eco-conscious and low-maintenance gardening solutions. - **Sustainable Design Retail:** Green Trace aligns with the interests of sustainable design retail stores, which are increasingly gaining traction among environmentally conscious customers. - **Smart Farming Technology:** Green Trace could serve as a desirable addition to the smart farming technology market as a new and innovative vertical growing solution. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Self-Watering Compact Planters](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/patella-crescenda.md) - [Smart Self-Watering Planters](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/tendril-1.md) - [Climate-Controlled Planters](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/smart-flower-system.md) - [Water Catch-Integrated Planters](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/hemisphere.md) - [Self-Watering Multifunctional Planters](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/grow-lamp.md) - [Self-Watering Smart Planters](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/the-leafypod.md) - [Portable Minimal Smart Planters](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/balconyfarm-planter.md) - [Naturalistic Self-Watering Planters](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/apot-selfwatering-planter.md) - [Chic Self-Watering Garden Planters](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/glowpear-mini-bench.md)