Mason Jar Seed Starter

thingiverse

UPDATE - 5/15/16 I've redesigned the files, but my printer has been busy all weekend printing the Quin doll my granddaughter requested. Unfortunately, I haven't been able to test the new files yet due to the unexpected delay. Hopefully, the updated pot portion will print without supports now, and the bottom part will fit snugly without falling through. To ensure accuracy, I'm leaving the original files intact so I can continue testing to see if it's possible to keep the PLA-only wick working with lower water levels. Description: As someone who struggles to start seeds because I get easily distracted and forget to water/mist them frequently enough to keep the seedlings alive, I'm hoping this tool will change that for me. While it might not be practical for avid gardeners with massive quantities of seeds to start, those sorts of people likely don't forget to water theirs anyway. It's designed to fit into a pint-sized wide-mouth Mason jar and can be easily assembled by dropping the pot portion into the top of the jar, filling the jar with water up to the bottom of the pot, and then dropping the bottom part through the hole in the bottom of the pot before adding soil and seeds. Make sure to press the soil firmly enough so that it makes solid contact with the top of the wick, ensuring the water will continue to be drawn up even after the level drops below the bottom of the pot. If you're using the string version, cut 2-4 lengths of string approximately twice the depth of the jar before assembly. Fold each length in half and feed it up through the tube in the center of the bottom piece, push it through one of the holes, place the loop around the little hook next to the hole, and pull it snug to keep it in place. If you're using the soil version, print the wick portion from PLA using a thin outer shell (1mm or less). Fill it with your planting medium and use a pencil, dowel, etc. to eliminate any air pockets. When ready to plant the seedlings, push the bottom piece upward to pop the soil and seedlings out for planting, minimizing root disturbance. Print Settings for Updated Versions: Use PLA for the soil wick, as other filament types aren't essential. Everything should now print without supports and shouldn't require much (if any) infill. Original Version: My initial thought was that since PLA isn't water-tight, it might be possible to make it work as a wick using the infill pattern to draw water up from the jar into the soil in the pot. I experimented with 50% and 40% infill but found that either I haven't discovered the ideal infill percentage or the idea isn't viable. To try it for yourself, choose an infill percentage you think will allow large enough pores to overcome surface tension and small enough to minimize gravitational pull (I still need to find the magic size!). You also need to turn off solid infill options on top and bottom layers so water can get into the wick part initially. If using Cura, you can find this option in the Expert Settings screen. Print Settings: Printer Brand: LulzBot Printer: TAZ 5 Rafts: No Supports: No Resolution: lower is better! Infill: see above