Self Watering Planter by bball61

Last crawled date: 3 years, 1 month ago

This is a self-watering (aka bottom irrigation) planter. It can easily be scaled to fit your space and plant, although 50% is probably the realistic minimum size. The full size version works well on a window sill.
This is three-piece print is designed to print well on any 3d printer without supports. If you have it, it is a good idea to use a second color for the float to make it more visible.
Once it's printed:

insert some short lengths of synthetic cord through the holes on the top piece to wick up water from the bottom piece. I used synthetic clothes line. The lines should be long enough to rest on the bottom when the pieces are stacked. Knot the lines at the top of each hole.


Fill the top piece with your potting mix and plant. Stack it on the bottom piece and water the potting mix from the top piece until it is fully saturated. Complete filling the bottom piece from its fill spout. Leave a few millimeters unfilled.

Put the float on top of the water in the fill spout. Once the float sinks to the bottom it is time to pull the float out and rewater through the fill spout.
Printed full size and with 5 wicks this planter will keep potting soil fully moist for about a week before refilling.