Stacking Planter Pods, a new concept in vertical, nesting herb and flower gardens - UPDATED to Version 2

thingiverse

Human: *UPDATED to Version 2:* **What's New**: I've added drainage holes to all planter pods, allowing them to drain directly into the center hole. The center hole now has vertical drainage channels that enable pods to drain even when a rod is inserted through the center. Pods feature a raised and angled floor designed to enhance drainage. To prevent soil loss, consider placing a small amount of coffee filter or similar material. --- After over two years in development, I'm thrilled to unveil my original concept for a stacking, nesting modular herb garden planter! Inspired by the pinecone's unique structure, this design is the first in a series of stackables. Following the success of my self-watering planter, I set out to create a vertical stacking planter that would accommodate multiple pods. My CAD skills have improved significantly since then, allowing me to successfully produce this excellent design. I'm excited about this idea and envision people building herb gardens in their kitchen windows or mounting them on lazy-susans for easy rotation. You can also take advantage of the center hole to mount them on a pole or hang them from the roof. These nesting herb pods enable you to grow any number of garden herbs or flowers, mixing or matching them as desired. The size is approximately 7.5 inches in diameter, which might be slightly larger than necessary. Feel free to suggest smaller or larger designs if you're interested. The individual pods are about 4 inches in any direction and should be printable by most 3D printers. As for height, it's limited only by how many pods you want to print, though very tall versions may require a stick or wire-rope down the center for stability. The slot-and-tongue mechanism used to hold the pods together has loose tolerances of about .020 inches overall, ensuring that even poorly printed parts will still work decently. If you find them too loose, simply fill the holes with toilet paper to tighten them up. Another feature is a .190-inch hole in the back through to the center hole, designed to accept a short #10 screw. This allows for additional support or mounting options, such as inserting a wooden rod or plastic dowel down the half-inch hole. It's also possible to run water tubes in through these holes and set up an automatic watering drip system. I can create a version with a larger center hole if needed. As always, my designs are completely open-source and public-domain dedicated. Feel free to alter them as you see fit or even commercialize them immediately. In fact, if I don't see these for sale in Home Depot by the end of the year, I'll be disappointed :). Some additional thoughts: - The wall thickness modeled is .100 inches. - To ensure water tightness, consider using a secondary process like hot-wax or pitch to seal the pods. - In the assembly images, one pod has been colored blue for clarity. - Footer and top parts were created from the same stacking-pod model as the pods themselves, modified for those positions. They're optional but add an extra layer of functionality. - You can create a hanging planter by passing a wire or string through a piece of wood dowel and tying off a knot, then screwing each pod into the dowel with a short #10 screw from the inside of the pod (about .500 inches should be enough).