Plant holder

The idea
the basic idea is to support my small tomato plants from wind and the weight of their fruits. so I created some supports that can be printed.

The models
the model has been designed in Fusion360 and you can find the “all-in-one” and the same model divided in 3 pieces. In the first case you need a quite big printer to print it, in the second case you can use whatever printer you like.

I printed it using both options.

I printed it in GOLD PLA simply because it was the only filament left … but at the ent it is not that bad. I know for outdoor it would have been better PETG which I suggest you to use.

Option 1
If you decide to to print the single big model you need a quite large printer (I have a creality CR-10 300x300x400) and the printing time it will be quite long because of the supports needed, but at east you can start it and the day after you can get it without any worry…

I suggest you to use a flexible bed so to make easier to detach it without breaking it, at the same time you need very light supports.

Option 2
You can print the 3 models (L1, L2, L3) and then glue them together, in this case you do not need any support, but just a very good glue.

The plant
better to use it when the plant is still small otherwise you risk to run the plant branches when you put it around.

Files

you find many files:

the f3d file in fusion that you can use to modify it at you will
the plant-holder-full in case you want to print it in one step
the 3 files (L1, L2, L3) in case you have a smaller printer, but you need to glue them at the end.
… I did not

Suggestions

In both cases the glue is your best friend, you likely are going to break something, but nothing that cannot be solved and repaired.
more than pushing infill just use 4+ walls it is better
to increase layer bonding just increase the normal printing temperature of at least 5°C.

Side note (personal)

At the end I painted it with a light layer of transparent resin, made for 3d prints, I just wanted to last it for at least 6 months outside in the sun.