self watering planter pot

🔹 Description

This is a self-watering planter designed to make keeping plants alive easier and more reliable. Instead of watering from the top, this pot stores water in an outer reservoir that slowly feeds moisture up through the bottom of the soil. That encourages deeper root growth, reduces overwatering, and helps plants stay healthier between waterings.

The two-part design separates the water reservoir from the soil, so roots only take up what they need. You fill the outer shell, and the plant does the rest. It’s especially useful if you forget to water, travel often, or just want more consistent results with houseplants.

The design is fully 3D printable and looks good even sitting out in the open. It works well for herbs, houseplants, and small decorative plants. Print it once, water less often, and let the planter do some of the work for you.

🔹 How It Works

This planter uses a bottom-watering system to keep soil moisture more consistent. The outer shell acts as a water reservoir, which you fill from the top. Water slowly moves up into the soil from the bottom through the inner pot, allowing the roots to pull in moisture as needed.

Because the soil isn’t constantly soaked from above, roots are encouraged to grow downward toward the water source. This helps prevent overwatering, reduces root rot, and keeps the top layer of soil drier. The result is healthier plants and fewer watering cycles.

🔹 Print Settings & Recommendations

- Layer height: 0.2–0.28 mm

- Infill: 10–20% (gyroid or cubic works well)

- Perimeters: 3–4 walls recommended for water resistance

- Supports: Not required

- Material:

- PLA works fine for indoor use

- PETG is recommended for better water resistance

- ASA works well for higher heat or sun exposure

For best results, ensure good layer adhesion and consider increasing extrusion temperature slightly to improve watertightness. A thin food-safe or epoxy-style sealant can be applied inside the reservoir if absolute leak prevention is needed.