My automatic watering system
 

Hey everyone!
Wanted to share a set of automatic orchid watering systems that I've developed and 3d printed. Instead of just being hydroponic or semi, these ones fully soak the orchids in water for a period of time.
Water at the bottom, a pump that's connected to the top section, and a chip board at the back that runs off 1 9v battery (code is all mine too).
Over 2 years from a single charge.

Went away for 6 months, came back to my orchids being alive and well. Could never have imagined something like this prior, would always either have to give them away to someone, or accept the defeat and get new ones.

Let me know what you think :)
https://3dping.co.uk/wp-content/uplo...7-2-scaled.jpg
https://3dping.co.uk/wp-content/uplo...271-scaled.jpg
https://3dping.co.uk/wp-content/uplo...5-1-scaled.jpg
https://3dping.co.uk/wp-content/uplo...616-scaled.jpg

I like it. Six months Is a long time lol

Can we see the inside of the vessel

very ingenious. I can see a few holes in the side of the pot so I take it they are double walled and water gets pumped up a little channel, out the top hole to water the orchid which dribbles through the pot and back into the reservoir below.

I hope you can market these. They look great. I've seen self watering pots sell for extortionately high prices so I think people are prepared to spend quite a bit on pots.

How you keep the battery safe from water is a mystery.

What I would find even better would be a little periscope sticking out the top of the pot (maybbe detacheable) so you could watch the water flow - this would also create more even watering throughout the pot.

Brilliant idea. Hats off for testing it so long. The orchids look great. We need more innovations like these.

Yeah sure thing, I'll get home and take a couple more pictures. Automatic Orchid Watering (Simple) - YouTube if you want to see a bit more on how it works :)

---------- Post added at 07:41 PM ---------- Previous post was at 07:29 PM ----------

Hey, yeah you got the idea right :) Probably should have taken some pictures from the back too, would have been helpful. Think this one might give more detail:
https://3dping.co.uk/wp-content/uplo...-10-scaled.jpg
So the water actually gets pumped up via that middle vessel, and starts filling from the bottom. So fully submerging the orchid, just like you would manually (at least somewhat lol).
Have a look at this video I quickly put together to show it in action:
Automatic Orchid Watering (Simple) - YouTube

And if you want to see some more pictures, have a look on 3dping.co.uk
So have started to market them, but due to obvious reasons of low production, expensive materials, time to assemble etc., they do have to be priced up quite high... But to be honest I've seen some of those semi-hydroponic pots that sell for over half the price of mine, while providing next to no actual value (imo semi-hydroponic ones can extend the life of an orchid left alone at best).

The battery is inside the box in that image. So it's outside, hence not exposed to water :)

If I'm correct, the periscope idea would work well if the water flowed through the two holes. But I think since it works by submerging from bottom up, then probably won't add any value? Do let me know if you think differently though :)

And thank you, much appreciated :)

I think it's great levkin and there is certainly a market.

Everyone has different growing preferences and one of mine is to never soak the pot.

For people that do soak their pots I should imagine this would be very useful.

One thing I need more of is something that waters the top of the pot briefly every other day. In winter my humidity drops and the tops of my pots dry out too much so I need to go round with the spray can.

I couldn't soak the pots in winter but maybe it would work bareroot?

In fact I think my Vanda's would love these pots if they could fit into them.

Now that is true. Everyone does have their own techniques, that's certainly something I have found out over time ahah.
Vandas themselves: https://3dping.co.uk/wp-content/uplo...IMG_1267-1.jpg
Although have had to set the watering cycle to once every 3 days, otherwise would dry out far too quickly. How do you go about watering them?
Also was a massive pain because the growing point is lower, so had to adjust the design. And I think it has to be adjust for every Vanda individually, depending on the positioning, and of course the size.

As for watering the tops, I imagine some of the normal plan watering systems could work? I think when it comes to just quickly dispersing a little bit of water they do a pretty good job.

How do you go about watering your phalaenopsis ones? Letting the water run through?

Don't want to divert from these great pots, not that I think my pot design will. Mainly I hand water too much but I have tried to make a few self watering pots.
Like this one which gets filled once a month. Glad I checked on it, as cold as an icicle so I moved it to a warmer spot.

https://i.ibb.co/4dDmH9g/IMG-0827.jpg

I love this idea. Brilliant!

I ask if the cycle can be adjusted? Can you have it run daily or exert x hours?

I would want to use inorganic or no medium and have it run daily and just change the water weekly or biweekly.

Again, brilliant

Very nice.. genius idea.