GrowTower – 3D-Printed Hydroponic System

🌱 GrowTower – Modular 3D-Printed Hydroponic System

🇺🇸 English (Primary Language) 🇩🇪 DACH (Below / Separate Section)

🔔 Community Update

👉 I'm trying to develop a watertight tank solution and hope to be able to publish the results soon..
This compact hydroponic tower shows how water flows through the system and how herbs grow using only water and nutrients.

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DUNwiJ4DMN4/?igsh=bHdlZnB6Mmdudm56

⚠️ Important Note – Small Water Tank

Due to the nature of FDM printing, the tank is not fully waterproof out of the box.
Applying a thin food safe epoxy coating on the inside is recommended and requires only minimal effort.

🌱 What is the GrowTower?

The GrowTower is a fully 3D-printable, modular hydroponic growing system for efficient and sustainable plant cultivation — without soil.

Perfect for:

• kitchens
• balconies
• patios
• gardens
• indoor & outdoor use

🌱 How It Works

• A small, energy-efficient pump moves the nutrient solution from the water tank up to the top
• A shower head distributes the water evenly
• The solution flows back down into the tank by gravity
• Roots receive optimal water, oxygen, and nutrients

👉 Recommended pump interval (starting point):
15 min ON / 15 min OFF
(adjust depending on plant type)

🧪 Nutrients & Operation

• Standard hydroponic nutrients required
• No soil, no repotting
• Fewer pests
• Extremely water-efficient

Suitable for:

• herbs
• lettuce
• leafy greens
• many other compact plants

🧩 Modular System

The GrowTower uses a modular plug-in design and can be expanded or customized at any time.
All parts are printed individually.

Printable Parts Included

• Main Segment (3 plant slots)
• Base Segment
• Technical Foot 1 (for ikea tank)
• Technical Foot 2 (for ikea tank)
• Shower
• Shower Segment & Lid
• Plant Base (net pots)
• Cover Segments (optional)
• Mini Water Tank (available)
• Mini Water Tank Lid (available)
• Mini Technical Foot (available)

🧩 Required Parts / Print List

GrowTower

• Main Segment – quantity flexible (I’ve used up to 10)
• Base Segment – 1×
• Technical Foot 1 – 1×
• Technical Foot 2 – 1×
• Shower – 1×
• Shower Segment & Lid – 1×
• Plant Base – 3× per Main Segment
• Cover Segments – optional

Small GrowTower

• Water Tank – 1×
• Lid Part 1 – 1×
• Lid Part 2 – 1×
• Mini Technical Foot – 1×

A1-Optimized

• Water Tank – 1×
• Lid Part 1 – 1×
• Lid Part 2 – 1×

🖨️ Material & Printing (IMPORTANT)

⚠️ Use PETG only

PETG is:

• water-resistant
• durable
• food-safe

Other materials (e.g. PLA) are not recommended for permanent water exposure.

🌍 Why GrowTower?

• 🌱 Sustainable & eco-friendly
• 💧 Extremely water-efficient
• 🧱 Modular & expandable
• 🖨️ Fully 3D-printable
• 🏡 Indoor & outdoor use

📸 Project Videos

• Small Water Tank Update:
  https://www.instagram.com/reel/DTVaD-ZDGO3/
• Model Inside:
  https://www.instagram.com/reel/DOY4FXhDKDM/
• Model with Plants:
  https://www.instagram.com/reel/DObPyPPjH2N/

🔗 Links

The links below are affiliate links.
I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.

🇺🇸 USA (Amazon.com):

• Water pump → https://amzn.to/4qvWdtP 
   
• Silicon tubing → https://amzn.to/4qyHHS9 
   
• Interval Repeat Cycle TimerInterval Repeat Cycle Timer (Waterproof) → https://amzn.to/4qsKQTq 
   

• Fertilizer hydroponic liquid → https://amzn.to/4qyHIFH  

   

• Watertank → https://amzn.to/44SrvTs 

   

• Hydroponic Sponges for Planting → https://amzn.to/44WtFkZ 

   

• 1Quart / 950ml 85% Food Grade Phosphoric Acid→ https://amzn.to/4qngiDj 

   

• PH and EC Meter → https://amzn.to/3YmhMBm 

   

💧 My Personal Experience

Water Quality

I achieve the best results with:

• 4 parts distilled water
• 1 part tap water

This keeps the pH level very stable over time.

Key Parameters

🔹 pH Level
Adjusted through water composition and best corrected using food-grade phosphoric acid

🔹 EC Level
Controlled entirely by nutrient concentration

If you have questions, feel free to ask — I’m happy to help and share my experience.

🌱 Final Words

Have fun printing and growing!
Feel free to share your builds, photos, and ideas — together we can keep improving the GrowTower.

🇩🇪 DACH Version

🔔 Community Update

👉 A simple assembly guide is now available

⚠️ Important Note – Small Water Tank

Due to the nature of FDM 3D printing, the tank is not completely watertight by default
A thin food-grade epoxy resin coating on the inside is recommended and can be implemented with minimal effort

🌱 What is the GrowTower?

The GrowTower is a fully 3D-printable, modular hydroponic system for efficient and sustainable plant cultivation — completely without soil

Suitable for:

• kitchens
• balconies
• patios
• gardens
• indoor and outdoor areas

🌱 How It Works

• A small, energy-efficient water pump transports the nutrient solution from the water tank upwards
• A shower head distributes the water evenly
• The nutrient solution flows back into the tank by gravity
• The plant roots are optimally supplied with water, oxygen, and nutrients

👉 Recommended pump interval (starting value):
15 minutes ON / 15 minutes OFF
(can be adjusted depending on plant type)

🧪 Nutrients & Operation

• Commercial hydroponic fertilizer required
• No soil, no repotting
• Fewer pests
• Extremely water-saving

Suitable for:

• herbs
• lettuces
• leafy vegetables
• many other compact plants

🧩 Modular System

The GrowTower is based on a modular plug-in system and can be expanded or customized at any time
All components are printed separately

Included Print Parts

• Main Segment (3 plant inserts)
• Base Segment
• Technical Foot 1 (for Ikea Tank)
• Technical Foot 2 (for Ikea Tank)
• Shower Head
• Shower Segment & Lid
• Plant Base (net pots)
• Cover Segments (optional)
• Mini Water Tank (available)
• Mini Water Tank Lid (available)
• Mini Technical Foot (available)

🧩 Required Parts / Print List

GrowTower

• Main Segment – quantity freely selectable (used by me with up to 10 segments)
• Base Segment – 1×
• Technical Foot 1 – 1×
• Technical Foot 2 – 1×
• Shower Head – 1×
• Shower Segment & Lid – 1×
• Plant Base – 3× per Main Segment
• Cover Segments – optional

Small GrowTower

• Water Tank – 1×
• Lid Part 1 – 1×
• Lid Part 2 – 1×
• Mini Technical Foot – 1×

A1-Optimized

• Water Tank – 1×
• Lid Part 1 – 1×
• Lid Part 2 – 1×

🖨️ Material & Printing Note (IMPORTANT)

⚠️ Please use PETG exclusively

PETG is:

• water resistant
• durable
• food safe

Other materials (e.g. PLA) are not suitable for permanent water contact

🌍 Why GrowTower?

• 🌱 Sustainable & environmentally friendly plant cultivation
• 💧 Extremely water-saving
• 🧱 Modular & expandable
• 🖨️ Completely 3D-printable
• 🏡 Suitable for indoor and outdoor areas

📸 Project Videos

• Mini Water Tank Update:
  https://www.instagram.com/reel/DTVaD-ZDGO3/
• Model – Interior View:
  https://www.instagram.com/reel/DOY4FXhDKDM/
• Model with Plants:
  https://www.instagram.com/reel/DObPyPPjH2N/

🔗 Links

The links below are affiliate links
I receive a small commission when you purchase through these links – you incur no additional costs

🇩🇪 Germany (Amazon.de):

• Water pump → https://amzn.to/4sRqA02 
   
• Hose → https://amzn.to/49jCSqg 
   
• Timer (Waterproof) → https://amzn.to/49VNiLV 
   

• Nutrient Solution → https://amzn.to/4sDjPP5

   

• Water Tank → https://amzn.to/4qNnaJJ 

   

• Sponge inserts for plants → https://amzn.to/49i1QpR 

   

• 1 Liter Phosphoric Acid 85% Food Grade → https://amzn.to/49hHugx 

   

• PH & EC Meter → https://amzn.to/3MaV1xK 

   

💧 My Personal Experience

Water Quality

I achieve the best results with:

• 4 parts distilled water
• 1 part tap water

This mixture keeps the pH value very stable over a longer period

Important Parameters

🔹 pH Value
Is adjusted via the water composition and most reliably corrected with food-grade phosphoric acid

🔹 EC Value
Is regulated exclusively by the fertilizer concentration

If you have questions, I'm happy to help and share my experiences

🌱 In Conclusion

Have fun printing and using the GrowTower!
Feel free to share your builds, photos, and ideas – together we can further develop the system

Boost Me (for free)

🇺🇸 Englisch
If you enjoy the GrowTower and find it useful, a Boost is always appreciated 🌱
Thank you for supporting the project!
🇩🇪 DACH
If you like the GrowTower and it helps you, I'd appreciate a Boost 🌱
Thank you for your support!