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YouTube: The story of Xsitu
When the world shut down during Covid, everything that gave my days structure just… stopped. Like many people, I felt untethered.
Rare tropical plants gave me something to care for and something that quietly cared back. They pulled me out of the fog, kept me present, and eventually pushed me toward a new direction.
That’s how XSITU began. And now I’m asking for your help to build the version that’s ready for the world.
Who I Am
Hi, I’m Dominika . Before plants, I worked in fashion and design. That world shaped how I see things: details, aesthetics, the way an object fits into a life.
But when the pandemic hit, everything paused. I started collecting rare tropicals and eventually opened a small niche plant shop called Begonia Takeaway. Suddenly I was living with hundreds of begonias and aroids, the high-maintenance kind that need precise humidity, airflow, and light.
Why Setups Don’t Work
Most cabinets and grow setups out there weren’t built for serious collectors. They lacked functionality, most were clunky DIY hacks: messy, unreliable, aesthetically impossible to live with.
And the plants trapped me ! I couldn’t leave home for more than a few days without risking my collection. For someone who loves to travel, that was devastating.
So I did what any plant-obsessed, design-snobby, ex-fashion person would do: I made the thing that didn’t exist.
What We Built Instead
Together with my partner René, a naval architect, I built XSITU Cabinet : the first climate-controlled cabinet designed for rare plants and the people who obsess over them.
It keeps everything thriving: light, humidity, airflow, and irrigation, all automated in one app. And unlike the grow tents and DIY hacks out there, it looks intentional. Something you’d actually want in your home.
We built our first prototype with an EU microgrant and showed it at Milan Design Week and later at the Netherlands’ biggest plant fair. The overwhelming response showed that collectors everywhere are craving something better.
Why I Need Your Help
The next step is building the XSITU Beta, the version that demonstrates the cabinet’s full potential. We will present it on October 4, 2025, at the MyBotanika Expo in Hamm, one of Europe’s leading plant events. When it delivers, XSITU will move into full production.
Your donation helps us:
- Finish and showcase the Beta version to plant lovers, collectors, and shops across the EU this fall.
- Bring XSITU to the community at Hamn and other events where people can see it up close and personal while gaining market insights into the community we serve.
- We’re seeking visionary investors — your backing will take Version X01 beyond Europe and position it for a global launch
We All Deserve a Break
Here’s the truth: plants are amazing, but they can run your life if you let them. I couldn’t travel. I couldn’t step away. And I know I’m not the only one.
XSITU is about freedom being able to leave your house for more than a weekend without coming back to a plant graveyard. It’s about collectors, designers, and caretakers finally having a setup that works and looks good.
How You Can Help Today
Donate – even small contributions move us forward
Share – every share gets us closer (GoFundMe says early shares increase success by 40%)
Thanks for helping me build something smarter , greener, hotter!
Dominika
Founder, XSITU Cabinet
Organizer
DOMINIKA PIEKUTOWSKA-SWED
Organizer