DIY AeroGarden

thingiverse

Just added an up date picture of the lettuce and herbs we are harvesting for lunch. This is a lid for an Ikea UPPSNOFSAD storage box. It incorporates channels to pump nutrient into holes sized to accept AeroGarden pods. Nutrient is pumped using a pump submerged in the nutrient below the lid. The specific pump I used was from Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B077VLTGV8 I preferred a low operating voltage and this one is powered by USB. There are several pumps on Amazon with varying specifications but the key feature is to look on the label for "USB-1020". Having tried several at different price points, they all came with the same label on the pump. This requires a fairly large printer. Mine, a modified RailCore ZLT will not quite print the lid as large as I want in the X direction. It can be seen form the picture that the lid doesn't quite extend to the edge of the container. But the design incorporates a light block to prevent algae growth. The Fusion file is included and could be modified for someone who has access to a larger printer. The container holds about 2 gallons of nutrient similar to an AeroGarden Farm but the pictures and conversations I've had indicate that the 12 pods on the Farm are just too many and the plants end up crowded. So I've only designed lids for 4 and 6 pods. Anyone who wants 12 pods might consider buy a Farm. A nutrient level indicator is built using an inexpensive dropper from Amazon: https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:5647693 That part has a notch for pump power and an air hose to an air stone. AeroGarden typically relies on the pumping process to aerate the nutrient but I've found that an air stone keeps my plants happier. I use this air pump: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002JPD76I