Abstract: A planter apparatus is disclosed herein. The planter apparatus includes a growth chamber; a transmissivity-reducing window adjustable from a substantially opaque state to a substantially transparent state. The window can include a first transmissivity-reducing layer and a second transmissivity-reducing layer coupled to the first transmissivity-reducing layer, and at least a portion of the growth chamber is viewable through the window when the window is in the substantially transparent state. The planter apparatus includes a transmissivity controller for operating the window between the substantially opaque state and the substantially transparent state. For example, the first transmissivity-reducing layer can include a switching film and the second transmissivity-reducing layer can include a gel filter.