Self Watering Planter

I created a self-watering 3D printed car planter. Due to its flexibility, I decided that this instructable would be the most engaging to do. I enjoyed applying my creativity to the project

• PLA Filament
• Cotton Twine
• Gorilla Glue

I used the design process to mold and direct the creation I intended to develop. I wrote out the design's criteria and constraints. My list of concepts was similarly narrowed, and I ran them through the design matrix. I ended up doing the car planter.

Above are ths final sketches of my planter. I designed the planter to resemble a car with the plant supposed to sit in the middle and holes on the bottom for drainage/watering. I added all the measurements I needed to make the design to save time and be more effecient.

I designed the planter, the compartment, and the wheels on Onshape but you can use any CAD program you like. These are the drawings and the stl files for each of them if you want to make it yourself or just download them.

This was my first time ever personally 3D printing anything so it was a new and fun experience. I used PLA to print my designs. It is easy to print and inexpensive. I added support material and filament on the bottom to help keep the design in place and print properly

When the planter finishes printing, the wheels should snap right in if you kept it the original size. You can also glue it on if you want more stability. The compartment goes on the bottom of the planter next to the wheels. You can put the string in the hole of the compartment or a Ziploc bag (see next step)

Make sure to attach it in an area where you can connect the string to one of the watering holes without it being too long (2-3 inches)

I did a lot of research on how to implement the self watering part and the most simple way I found was to add a compartment on the bottom of the planter where you can store water.

A cotton thread is inserted in the hole on the side and put into. Cotton or wool thread consists of many thin hairs and therefore a lot of thin channels in which adhesion occurs. Capillary action helps bring water up into the roots. But capillary action can only pull water up a small distance, after which it cannot overcome gravity.