Hydroponic Planter Box (DWC All-In-One)

thingiverse

Hydroponics is a hobby of mine, and I created this DWC planter box as something fun and educational to enjoy with my son during lockdown. It's intended for use with the mini-pump mentioned below and will still work at 90% scale to fit on Rep2 style printers. This system is far from perfect, but it works well enough to grow lettuce and herbs and maybe more. The variety of lids, baskets, and netpots make this an all-in-one solution that can sprout seeds and take them all the way to adult plants. The propagator lid is also great for cloning. I'd love to see your makes, especially if you get some nice plants! The Amazon links below are through my affiliate account, and I'm hoping to make a small commission if you buy anything through my links. Required Materials: * Pump: https://amzn.to/2XHt43a * Non-Toxic Epoxy: https://amzn.to/3djBog3 Optional Materials: * Better Air Stone: https://amzn.to/2MfRUBO * Rockwool Starter Plugs: https://amzn.to/2XhoQQP * Hydroton Clay Pebbles: https://amzn.to/36KCWgz * PH Control Kit: https://amzn.to/2XMGx9U * Fertilizer: https://amzn.to/3gCImPs * UV Sterilizer: https://amzn.to/3gCImPs * LED Grow Light: https://amzn.to/3ck5ZsK Printed With: * Flashforge Creator Pro: https://amzn.to/2CIcrxo * Sunlu Grey PETG: https://amzn.to/3g4ax8M Instructions: 1. Print one planter box base. * Use 2 or 3 perimeter shells. * Don't worry about using a lot of infill because you'll be sealing the box later. * I recommend using a brim because the print time on this box is around 26 hours. 2. Print a lid and however many (matching) netpots you need. * Germination tray and seedling basket don't need lids. * If you're starting from seeds or seedlings, I recommend the propagator lid and 10 small propagator netpots. 3. Fill your netpots with media, or print 'plugs' and 'caps' for the netpots like I have in the photos. * Plugs and caps should be printed in NinjaFlex or TPU. * Some kind of media is recommended for anything larger than the tiny propagator netpots. 4. Apply at least 2 coats of a non-toxic epoxy like Art Resin to the inside of the planter box. * This is to seal it. It will rise over time as your plants consume nutrients. * I try to keep my PH around 6 for basil plants, but if I have both basil and cilantro, I target 6.5. Growing Tips: 1. Use good water! If you need to use tap water, consider the UV sterilizer mentioned in the materials list. 2. 'Top off' your water regularly and clean the planter box every 2-3 weeks. 3. Plants need light and darkness both. If your growing indoors with artificial light, your plant leaves may curl upwards if they're getting too much light. 4. Research the PH and PPM recommendations for your specific plants. 5. Keep an eye on your water's PH. It will rise over time as your plants consume nutrients.