Earth Bucket Container Garden

thingiverse

This is my first test of a self-watering planter, utilizing a 3D printed foundation. The foundation sits above the water line, enabling plant roots to air prune. One part of the foundation features a tube that allows a column of soil to sit in the water, which wicks up the moisture and keeps the soil consistently moist without overwatering the plant. The other hole in the foundation is for a piece of 3/4-inch PVC. This will be used to add water to the bottom of the planter while preventing the soil from becoming saturated. https://youtu.be/OV_XqmY9Xu4 When water is added to the reservoir, it fills until reaching the overflow hole drilled into the side of the bucket. I am utilizing a sprinkler timer connected to a 12-volt pump and a 275-gallon IBC tote. Rainwater is automatically collected, and the timer controls the pump. The timer is set for five minutes per day but features a rain sensor to prevent unnecessary watering. http://www.2manytoyz.com/rainwater.html I also possess five Earthboxes. These are excellent options, but at $50 each, they are too expensive for large-scale implementation. These printed components can be created from any filament that you dislike and do not have to be aesthetically pleasing. Once the soil is placed in the bucket, you will never see those parts again! I designed the components to be modular, and included the Fusion360 files. This way, if you want to modify the height of the stand-offs or the configuration of the wicking tube, you can easily adjust the design. Here are the items used for this project: Creality CR-10S 3D Printer https://amzn.to/3a1MqFm HATCHBOX PLA 3D Printer Filament https://amzn.to/2x2vLCC Morningstar Sun Guard 4.5A 12V solar controller https://amzn.to/33alaS5 12-volt 8 Ah SLA rechargeable battery https://amzn.to/2vV4zpn 12-volt DC electric solenoid valve water https://amzn.to/38GYIkX 12-volt DEMAND fresh water diaphragm 35 PSI self-priming pump https://amzn.to/2VXFjJM Flexible vinyl pond tubing, 3/8-inch by 20-feet https://amzn.to/2wJsrfG Carlon E989R rigid non-metallic PVC 12" x 12" x 6" conduit junction box https://amzn.to/39Ep6Nu Bridge rectifier diode 50A https://amzn.to/2v7G1Jg 3/4-inch hose thread inline drip filter https://amzn.to/2TEAHXh Car relay with harness 24V https://amzn.to/2W24NFW Rain Bird MANIFRE6S drip irrigation 6-port manifold https://amzn.to/3aNFKdV Rain Bird T22-250S drip irrigation 1/4-inch blank distribution tubing, 250-foot roll, black https://amzn.to/2vZ5uVR As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. More details of the irrigation system can be found on my website: http://www.2manytoyz.com/rainwater.html