Six 3D Prints to Spruce Up Your Garden

This is the time of year when home gardeners are finishing setting up their plants and preparing for the season ahead.  This year is also the first that I join their ranks, starting my own backyard garden in hope of growing some veggies. And while my garden is almost ready to go, I realized I was still missing some small essentials. But instead of heading to a home goods store, I took it as an excuse to run to my local Micro Center to pick up some filament and see what I could 3D print. 

Photo: Sean Mekinda 

After exploring the Printables website for a bit, I dug up six great 3D prints for both indoor and outdoor gardening. A quick note before we start, however. We’ll be using PETG filament instead of the more common PLA, for all of our prints, as it will hold up well in the sun and is non-toxic; both are very important for growing vegetables.

All prints were made using Inland PETG filament and on either the Bambu Labs H2D, P1S, or P1P 3D printers. 

3D Prints for plant sprouts

Modular Grow Tent Frame for Windowsill

Photo: Sean Mekinda 

It might be a bit late to start sprouts, but I’m still trying! I’ve had seeds in this egg carton for a week or so now with no luck, so I figured it was time to kick it up a notch with this modular grow tent from designer Necroprinter. By wrapping plastic cling wrap around the outside of the frame, you can create a makeshift, windowsill-ready greenhouse that should help your plants thrive.

3D Prints for young-to-mature plants

Once a plant has sprouted, it really only needs two things from you: support for growth and water. And both of those things are surprisingly easy to print for. 

Modular Plant Supports

Photo: Sean Mekinda 

Stackable plant supports

Photo: Sean Mekinda 

These stackable supports are designed with plants like tomatoes and peppers in mind and can easily be expanded as they grow. The simple three-legged ring design from Referentiel makes them incredibly easy to stack, with a clear support structure that will keep your plants happy and healthy as they reach for the sky. (Check the background in the photo above for another example of the modular support system as well.) 

Plant Watering Globe

For those of us, myself included, who can forget to water their plants, plant watering globes are a lifesaver. This globe releases just enough water that the soil stays damp but won’t overwater your plants. Creator Augustas Kazlauskas designed this to be scalable, so you can make it huge for your indoor tree or tiny for your porch succulents. 

3D Prints for the garden

Gardening Markers 

Whether sprouting seeds inside or planning your garden layout outside, markers are a huge help. Nothing worse than watching a plant die and wondering “now, was that the dill or the cilantro that didn’t quite make it?” With these handy markers designed by rapolasp, you can easily identify which plants are thriving and which might need a bit more help. (The gardening markers can be seen in the Stackable Plant Supports photo above)

Whimsical Fairy Cottage

 

Photo: Sean Mekinda 

Printables has a massive number of files that you can download and add to any garden. Why not make it DOOM themed?

The world of 3D printing may seem entirely separate from the world of gardening, but there is a lot of crossover. From basic prints like these to more advanced auto-watering systems, there’s not a lot 3D printing can’t do. 

Ready to start 3D printing for your garden? Head over to your local Micro Center. Not only do we have a wide range of printers and filament, but our knowledgeable staff will be more than happy to help you pick out the best printer and filament for your needs.

Sean Mekinda is Micro Center's Associate Editor, with three years of experience on The Micro Center Community and writing credits across the internet, including Polygon, 25YL, and 614 Magazine. He's been writing about and reviewing tech for over five years. Sean has a specialty in gaming, peripherals, and creative projects designed to make your life easier, especially when it comes to tabletop gaming.