Balcony Strawberry Tower with IKEA Persillade Modular Hydroponic

Features

• Modular structure, easily scalable, put modules together, twist & lock, done
• Filling module with cap
• 3-way planting modules (hollow version recommended)
• Internal/external water dispenser modules
• Lid
• Custom net pot for Jiffy-7 41 mm grow medium (dry pressed dimensions: diameter 37 mm, thickness: 7.5 mm)
• Custom net pot with 48 mm internal diameter for other grow medium (rockwool + clay pebbles)
• M3 screw points on planting modules for plant tagging and general fixture purposes
• Any kind of water pump works with this system

Dimensions

• Outer diameter of planting modules: 115 mm
• Inner diameter of planting modules: 107 mm
• Planting module height: 120 mm
• Wall thickness: 4 mm
• Clear inner diameter of pot trays: 53.5 mm
• Outer diameter of pot trays: 65 mm
• Compatible silicone hose: ID 10 mm fixed, OD 18 mm (max),

Printing recommendations

• Best print the plant pots in a dark color like black
• A gray is good for the tower parts since it hides color changes better than white
• 20% infill
• No support
• Big Print area required 250x215 mm printing area required (works perfect on MK3)
• PETG for long-term comparison works great, ASA not needed
• Use wide brims whenever the surface touching the bed is small, i used it but PETG should work without it well! 
  (filling module, hollow planting modules)

Printer modifications

• Raspberry Zero W with PrusaPrint
  https://help.prusa3d.com/de/article/prusaprint-rpi-zero-und-octoprint_2180
   
• Raspberry Pi Camera Holder with standard pi camera and extension
  https://www.prusaprinters.org/prints/3407-articulating-raspberry-pi-camera-mount-for-prusa-m
   
• Easy LED lights
  https://www.prusaprinters.org/prints/18921-yapl-yet-another-prusa-light
   
• Encloser v1
  https://blog.prusaprinters.org/cheap-simple-3d-printer-enclosure_7785/

Recommended parts (based on Germany/EU)

powerful water pump: (19 €, for 1.8 meter hight, lower = cheaper)
inlc. adapter for 3/8 Zoll(9,5mm), 1/2 Zoll(13mm), 3/4 Zoll(19mm) outlet: https://smile.amazon.de/EXLECO-Aquarium-Submersible-Fountain-Filter/dp/B07MYT5T7J/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?dchild=1&keywords=exleco+aquarium+pumpe&qid=1622290922&sr=8-1-spons&psc=1&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUEzNE5HQlI3OTJJT1I4JmVuY3J5cHRlZElkPUEwNjU3Mzk1Q0JMTkdZQVdZNFpCJmVuY3J5cHRlZEFkSWQ9QTAxOTQ4MTIxUzVGQ1IzREhJTDJZJndpZGdldE5hbWU9c3BfYXRmJmFjdGlvbj1jbGlja1JlZGlyZWN0JmRvTm90TG9nQ2xpY2s9dHJ1ZQ==
(using this amazon smile link to order will support an NGO for health hacking in Germany) https://www.healthhackers.de/unterstuetzen/

ID=10 mm / OD=13 mm silicone tube for the internal dispenser module: (2-4 €)
https://www.obi.de/gartenschlaeuche/glasklarschlauch-pvc-10-mm-3-8-meterware/p/8395949

4x M4 - 20 mm Screw with washer and nuts. (0,10 €)
https://www.amazon.de/gp/product/B08XYTRTZ5/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_image_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Update: Sadly 2021 the substrate with rocks did not work at all. In 2022 i used normal dirt and there was no relevant wash out. Therefore, go with plant starters and just put them into the pots. Saves you the 5 € as well for stones that don't work as the should have…

Nutrient water reservoir: (10 €)
For the start good but once your plants get big (see first picture) you got to refill it every 2-3 days. Soon i will release a adjusted version to use any kind of big pod with your system once its needed or vacation is coming.

It is the size with 19 cm from IKEA. See the picture below for the dimensions if you don't have access to IKEA. You need only the outside dimensions of the pot with not thicker walls than the IKEA Pod.
https://www.ikea.com/de/de/p/persillade-uebertopf-dunkelgrau-90346766/

Alternative use the new pod design and increase water storage significantly to enjoy your vacation and get great yields when you are back.

Ikea Citronmeliss 32 cm:
https://www.ikea.com/de/de/p/citronmeliss-uebertopf-drinnen-draussen-anthrazit-40562512/#content

Plus some wheels:
https://www.ikea.com/de/de/p/olivblad-pflanzenrollwagen-drinnen-draussen-hellgrau-60561314/

Watering schedule & specific fertilizer

I started with 15 minutes on and 45 minutes off with a mechanical power saving timer.

Update 2022: 
This was far too much. Now with normal dirt you can give it a 4x day schedule with about 1-2 mins each. Everything else seems to be too much water.

You can further shorten the on-time and lengthen the off-time if power saving is a requirement. The dirt will save some of the water. 

Let the roots of the plants be completely wet (should take a few minutes at least) and start the water pump again when they start to dry out (3-6 hour).

If you don't have a timer then continuous water circulation is also a possibility but really not good for your plants.

For the fertilizer I started now with all-in-one liquid that is not official recommended for hydroplanic systems. (about 9 €, GREEN24 Erdbeer-Dünger HIGH-TECH)

Updade 2022: It works also great with the dirt and there for i will stay with it. Great yields! :)

https://smile.amazon.de/GREEN24-Erdbeer-D%C3%BCnger-HIGH-TECH-Erdbeer-Pflanzen-Fragaria/dp/B00K7GM1A4/ref=sr_1_5?__mk_de_DE=%C3%85M%C3%85%C5%BD%C3%95%C3%91&dchild=1&keywords=GREEN24+Erdbeer-D%C3%BCnger+HIGH-TECH&qid=1622528336&sr=8-5

For german speakers i found a nice homepage that gives a lot of insights for the first start.
https://www.pflanzenfabrik.de/hydroponik-erdbeeren/

Time-Laps:

Change log:

17.07.2021:  Minor Text adjustments
Added news for dirt instead of rocks, plant food and watering cycle.

21.11.2021: Update for Strawberries
Additional Holders for Strawberries.

31.05.2021: Minor Text adjustments
Added screws into list of recommended parts.

31.03.2023: Bunch of changes in 3D Files

Fixed first layer in main unit. 

Also changed all files to PETG, it is far better to handle and last as good as ASA outside for this use-case.

Changed the top lid to no holes to reduce the spills that I saw happening, I think there is no downside that impact the plants health. Lets see how this year works out.

17.03.2024: Big new year Update for the next season with new parts!

Lets fix the water tank issue with the bottom part once and for all - including the power plug issue and wrong first layer!

Added a new design to replace the pod with a bigger size and still printable on MK3 Printers!!
 Issue so far: If you go on vacation for two weeks your tank is out of water and your plants die. New design allows up to a month of secured water supply with a diameter of up to 32-40 cm plant pods or barrels. Bigger is always better.
Ikea Citronmeliss 32 cm:
https://www.ikea.com/de/de/p/citronmeliss-uebertopf-drinnen-draussen-anthrazit-40562512/#content
Plus some wheels:
https://www.ikea.com/de/de/p/olivblad-pflanzenrollwagen-drinnen-draussen-hellgrau-60561314/

Lets move the plants inside in winter with LED Light Holders

Added a nice adjusted LED Solution to move the plants inside for some greens in winter. For starters you can use what you have as stripes. If you want to up your game buy some of the standard lights that are on the market now.
https://www.amazon.de/gp/product/B08K7H8T9Z/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_image?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Next adjustments:

It would be great to develop this setup further to enjoy strawberries during summer and then move it into the inside to continue.

Please feel free to comment and give me suggestions based on your experience with the design. 

• Connector for second area to use pump for second tower

Original Remix:

https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:3405964