Gardening can be a wonderful hobby. It’s creative and exciting, while also providing stress-relieving benefits. Anyone who has a backyard, balcony, or really space of any kind can start a garden. Whether it’s inside or out, we’re sure you have a spot that could be home to at least a plant or two.
Whether you want to start a garden or are a seasoned pro looking for cool new tools and accessories, read on to see our list of 3D printed garden essentials. To help you through the selections, we’ve grouped them into five different categories: Watering, Gardening Accessories, Decorations, Planters & Pots, and Indoor Solutions.
If you see something that you’d like printed but aren’t sure how or don’t have the time, head over to Craftcloud. You’ll get an exceptional final product and access to great customer service, every step of the way.
And now, let’s get to the green!
Watering
Even the most organized gardener will have misplaced a few of their tools or left a couple of hoses lying around. We’ve found the best prints to help you keep your garden healthy and watered.
Watering Stake
Watering plants is a repetitive but necessary process, and it’s difficult to keep your plants alive when you’re not there to water them! This design is a three-part garden stake with a hollow container that will gradually water your plant.
Although the watering system isn’t technically automated because there’s no way to control the flow, it’s still a great way to keep your plants hydrated as the water is directed straight to the roots. This also means there’s less water lost to evaporation and run-off.
The model’s made of three parts, two of which have to be glued together. You can easily refill the container due to the removable lid, so you don’t even have to take the stake out of the soil!
- Who designed it? milesnash_
- How popular/printable is it? This watering stake has over 870 downloads and more than 10,000 views.
- Where to find it? MyMiniFactory
Y-Splitter
This helpful model is sure to reduce the number of hoses you have lying around your garden. Especially if you’re setting up a complex sprinkler system or a hydroponic garden, this print is super useful.
The designer recommends the following print settings: a 0.2-mm layer height, 2 shells, and a 10% infill. Just be careful when calculating the scaling for differently-sized hoses, as this seems to have caused a few makers some trouble. One user used supports but the other didn’t need them; in any case, rafts weren’t necessary.
- Who designed it? 3dponics
- How popular/printable is it? This print has two makes and one remix so far.
- Where to find it? Thingiverse
Watering Can
This “fancy office watering can” is a nice and elegant way to water your plants. It holds about 150 mL and, in our opinion, doesn’t have to be limited to just watering plants in your office.
Although one or two people reported small leaks or problems slicing, most makers said the print came out perfectly. Vase mode, if you’re using Cura, is recommended.
- Who designed it? shmeeed
- How popular/printable is it? This model has a whopping 79 makes with all sorts of materials and rescalings.
- Where to find it? Thingiverse
Drop by Drop Water Rationer
Having plants is like having a kid. Forget to water it for a week while you’re away, and…Well, it won’t be great. However, this project allows you to solve this issue and be a good plant parent.
It’s a water dispenser, meaning you don’t need to fill it with water all the time. It’s also rations water, so it won’t be constantly watering the plants. Another interesting point is that if the soil is saturated, water won’t come out and cause overwatering. Finally, you can adjust the dosage of water it delivers, meaning it’s suitable for different plants with different moisture requirements.
The bottle diameter should fit any standard bottleneck. The creator has also included a GIF that shows the assembly of the parts.
Now all your plants need is a good patch of sun!
- Who designed it? InterRaptor
- How popular/printable is it? This project has over 21,100 views, 1,200 downloads, and more than 80 likes.
- Where to find it? Cults
Screw-On Adapter for Bottles
In the theme of reusing water bottles, you can add a spout to one, and bam! It becomes a watering can or a shower head, depending on what you want. This spout is made to fit standard 2L water bottles.
Additionally, people have made remixes adapting it to some special bottle brands or other appliances such as hoses or milk jugs. Some have even added a handle, so there are plenty of options for you to choose from.
Due to the incremental angle, it won’t require supports. You can just print it face-down.
- Who designed it? mdedm
- How popular/printable is it? This model has 21 makes and 13 remixes so far.
- Where to find it? Thingiverse
Gardening Accessories
Now for some tools and accessories to help you get seeds in the ground! These can also provide cost-effective alternatives to store-bought options.
Seed Dryer
Seed drying is an important process to complete before putting seeds in storage because moisture in an unplanted seed can cause mold and other damage. This project consists of stackable drawer units with a fan underneath, which pushes air up through the drawers to dry the seeds in each layer. As the drawers are stackable, you can add as many units to the stack as you want.
To make this seed dryer easier to build, the creator listed the bill of materials for the project, including some M3 screws, a 60 x 60 x 10 mm fan, a power jack, and a power supply. The designer also recommends printing the different components with a 0.2-0.3-mm layer height, a 0-10% infill density, and 2-7 perimeters, depending on what part you’re printing.
- Who designed it? Alex Ward
- How popular/printable is it? This seed dryer design has 137 downloads and 44 likes.
- Where to find it? Printables
Snail & Slug Trap
If you have a bit of a green thumb, you probably know that slugs and snails aren’t always your friends. You can get rid of them humanely using this garden trap to effectively attract and contain the critters without adding anything toxic to your garden. The designer suggests assembling the three-part trap, adding a net, and then pouring a solution of beer and sugar into the trap to lure in any garden intruders.
The creator of this design recommends printing the parts for this snail and slug garden trap in either ABS, ASA, or PETG due to the sun exposure the components may face. The designer also states that a 0.3-mm layer height and a 10% infill density work great for this print.
- Who designed it? Rokyson
- How popular/printable is it? This garden trap design has three makes and many caught slugs.
- Where to find it? Printables
Cord Spool & Stakes
Especially when plants are just starting to grow, you don’t want anyone to accidentally step over them! Using stakes connected by some garden twine or cord is a great way to clearly mark off your garden plot.
This model is not only great for keeping others aware but is also a useful tool for aligning your planting rows. The design contains a hand-held spooling tool and a stake with a piece to tie the twine around.
The maker of this handy garden set listed that they printed the pieces with a 0.3-mm layer height. They also listed that they used both a raft and supports to print the models.
Plant Labels
Did you forget which pot the peas were in again? This print is a simple and practical solution that’ll guarantee you can keep track of what plants are where.
The labels can be stuck into the soil with bamboo skewers, and there are three options for the hole diameter to suit the skewers you plan to use. No supports are required on this straightforward print. Since the model is so planar, watch out for warping.
- Who designed it? aegidius
- How popular/printable is it? This model has over 300 downloads and 3,000 views.
- Where to find it? MyMiniFactory
Shovel
Instead of getting your hands dirty, why not use this small spade? You’ll be glad to have it when working with smaller plants.
The designer recommends printing it upside down with supports and eight perimeters. It’s also a good idea to use a higher infill on the handle if you’re working with tougher soil.
- Who designed it? hungerpirat
- How popular/printable is it? This model has eight confirmed makes in a variety of colors and materials, including wood PLA!
- Where to find it? Thingiverse
Hand Rake
The creator of this rake went for a simplistic and elegant design while still maintaining utility. If the soil in your garden needs to be turned, this print is sure to do it.
It’s a relatively small rake at 22 cm (~8.6 in), but you’re welcome to scale it up a bit. The designer recommends using a higher infill (60-80%) and to choose a more durable material than PLA, such as ASA or ABS. Thanks to its ingenious design, it prints without supports.
- Who designed it? Devstroyer
- How popular/printable is it? This hand rake has over 310 downloads and more than 2,700 views.
- Where to find it? MyMiniFactory
Decorations
Gardens are seldom just about the plants. Here are some of the best prints around to brighten up your backyard or green space.
Bird Feeder
If you’d like to make the backyard a little more welcoming for your natural neighbors, you could print this simple yet elegant bird feeder. We’re sure that if you fill it with seeds, you’ll be hearing more bird songs every morning.
At a 0.4-mm layer height, this print should take about 18 hours. Depending on what size birds you want visiting your feeder, you could consider resizing.
- Who designed it? perroncorriveau
- How popular/printable is it? 48 users have printed this model and shared their makes. There are also 19 remixes. According to users who have made it, it doesn’t need supports and can be printed at a resolution of 0.25 mm.
- Where to find it? Thingiverse
Gnome
A garden isn’t complete (or safe) without a gnome to guard it. It’s hard to tell how this funny tradition came about, but there are depictions of ancient gnomes guarding crops as far back as the Roman Empire, and, well, we’re still here so they must be doing their job. There are many gnome designs out there, but we like this one because it has the classic long beard and pointy hat look. Besides, Gus looks like a pretty chill guy.
This fella, who the author has named Gus, is 17 cm tall, but you can scale him down, for example, to keep guard of a flower pot, or up, if you want him standing out in your lawn. It won’t need supports, and the creator recommends not using PLA if you’re going to leave him out in the hot sun.
- Who designed it? BirdBott
- How popular/printable is it? Gus the Garden Gnome has 23 makes across Thingiverse and Cults.
- Where to find it? Thingiverse, Cults
Turtles
Don’t have many animals near you? By printing a variety of these in different sizes and colors, you could create a family just like the picture.
If you have a dual extrusion printer, you could even decorate the turtles’ shells with different patterns. The model was designed to not need supports.
- Who designed it? pmoews
- How popular/printable is it? This model has 38 makes and 6 remixes. Many users have used silk PLA to make it shine, with infill ranging from 20% to 30%.
- Where to find it? Thingiverse
Japanese Water Fountain
One of the best things about having a garden is just sitting there and listening to the wind and chirping birds, surrounded by nature. This print will add to the beautiful melody of your garden. It’s like listening to the sound of a waterfall in the comfort of your backyard.
This is a bit more of an involved project, so be prepared for some commitment. You’ll need a small pump, some tubing, and a power supply. It isn’t too hard, but it’s not as simple as print and go.
- Who designed it? jelson
- How popular/printable is it? This fountain has 21 makes and 6 remixes. Some people have changed the shape of the pool to make it more traditional, while others have added fun components, like an Archimedes screw.
- Where to find it? Thingiverse
Planters & Pots
No matter what you’re planting in your garden, these cool pots and planters will make sure you do it in style. From practical solutions, like a self-watering pot, to more decorative options, there’s a pot for everyone here.
Moss Pole
This moss pole is a great way to help plants grow. This design has a fun hexagonal pattern that will look good whether you stuff it with moss or leave it as is! The pole consists of multiple parts, and the designer included a few options for the base and the top pieces that you can choose from, depending on how tall you need it to be.
The designer listed a few printing tips that they used to successfully make this moss pole, including a 20% infill density. The maker also listed that they didn’t use a raft or supports to print this model in PLA. Just BYO moss!
- Who designed it? Wivry
- How popular/printable is it? This moss pole has two makes and two remixes. A brim may be a good idea to make sure it doesn’t detach from the bed, since it’s so tall.
- Where to find it? Thingiverse
Wall Pots
If you’ve got blank walls or a boring fence, then this is the print for you. These hanging wall pots print one at a time and then fit together so you can print as many as you like. Hang them as a single pot or in a set.
The maker recommends using supports so that the hollow part of the pot prints correctly.
- Who designed it? redooit
- How popular/printable is it? Two makes have been shared from users who printed this model. The author recommends a shell thickness of 0.8 mm.
- Where to find it? Thingiverse
Stepped Planter
If you’re bored of having regular plant pots everywhere, this may be the perfect solution.
This staircase of plant pots will add a clean and modern feel to your garden or countertop. Since the whole system is modular, you could print each pot in a different color to spice up the design or rearrange the steps to your liking.
Don’t forget to print all the dowels to hold the pieces together (63 in total). No supports are needed for this print and it’s a fairly straightforward model to recreate, but watch out for warping; a brim may help with this.
- Who designed it? Fatelinha
- How popular/printable is it? This model has more than 580 downloads and over 7,300 views.
- Where to find it? MyMiniFactory
Plantygons
This creative design is more than just a great name: It allows you to stack the “pots” on top of each other! It’s another flexible, modular design that can grow with your plant collection.
Some users have used these in their fish tanks to create systems of caves for their pets, while others have scaled them up to hold much larger plants.
Depending on your printer’s bridging ability, the creator says that supports may be necessary.
- Who designed it? Printfutura
- How popular/printable is it? There are 96 makes and 13 remixes, with many users complimenting the creativity behind this design.
- Where to find it? Thingiverse
Self-Watering Pot
While there are many self-watering plant pot options out there, this pretty pot is shaped like a knitted acorn, and, thanks to the pattern, you can barely tell it’s two separate parts after it’s assembled.
People who have printed it remark that the result is beautiful and easy to print. However, they also note that the size is quite small, so you may want to scale the model up. Despite its intricate texture, it doesn’t require supports. Just make sure to print the top part upside down.
- Who designed it? Shine3D
- How popular/printable is it? This pot has 29 makes, and plenty of makers have shared their pot in different colors.
- Where to find it? Thingiverse
Indoor Solutions
We all know what it’s like to want to bring more green into your indoor living spaces. If you don’t have an outdoor space, don’t worry. We haven’t forgotten about you!
Check out the best models for growing greenery (or food) inside. If you’re really serious, you could even get a grow lamp to help your plants along.
Office Garden
Whether you’re an avid recycler or just someone looking to add a new accessory to your desk, you might want to check out this cool “garden”.
By connecting soda cans in various shapes, numbers, and sizes, you can create infinite variations of “sculptures” containing plants, pencil pots, and other cool decorations.
This model is fairly simple, but you’ll need some M5 screws to hold the whole thing together, and you can add even more flash to your setup by printing the parts in different colors of PLA.
- Who designed it? makit
- How popular/printable is it? This model has over 380 downloads and over 12,500 views.
- Where to find it? MyMiniFactory
Hydroponic
Whether you’re a beginner or an advanced gardener, hydroponics is a great way to grow your plants without having loads of pots or getting dirt everywhere. This organized hydroponic garden is perfect for plants that are starting out before moving to their more permanent and larger homes.
The designer recommends printing in Cura’s vase mode, but if that not your slicer or you don’t want to go through the trouble, use the alternative option, the “thicker-vase.stl” file. It doesn’t require rafts or supports.
- Who designed it? AntoDelG
- How popular/printable is it? This model has six makes and one remix.
- Where to find it? Thingiverse
Vertical Garden
If you’ve run out of space to store your greenery, this may be the print you need. Instead of spreading out, go vertical with this model to stack your pots using 3D printed parts and metal or wooden rods (from any hardware store). In another practical move, the designer just used zip ties to attach the 3D printed holders to the vertical poles.
If you’ve got a spare room, you could set up a bunch of these with a grow lamp, and you wouldn’t have to wait long before eating your own vegetables!
The creator of this design recommends at least a 30% infill so that the holder is strong enough.
- Who designed it? lumo
- How popular/printable is it? This model has over 160 downloads and more than 3,700 views. It holds a 70-mm plant pot and fits a 10-mm tube.
- Where to find it? MyMiniFactory
Hydroponic Tower
Here’s a modular hydroponic garden where you can stack plants without using any soil. This isn’t the only gardening model this user has created. According to the maker’s bio, they’re creating various designs to encourage 3D printer owners to grow their own food at home and reduce the environmental impact.
All comments confirm this model printed without any problems. You’ll want to print all parts at 20% infill except the vase lid, which should be at 100%. Note that you’ll need a drill for creating drainage holes.
- Who designed it? archipelagourbanfarms
- How popular/printable is it? There are 2 community prints so far, with over 1,700 downloads.
- Where to find it? MyMiniFactory
Bonsai Garden
If you’re looking to start a new hobby, try growing a bonsai. There’s a reason bonsai growing is considered a lifestyle, and it will take a lot of work to see results. If you start from scratch, you’ll need to get a sapling from a seed, then let it grow into a baby tree. This alone will take years of work.
Finally, once you have a baby tree, you can start shaping it into a bonsai. Once you’re at this stage, or if you’re in it now, this planter will come in handy. Not only is the picket fence pattern cute, but square-shaped planters can help limit root growth.
Additionally, there’s a water drain at the bottom that helps avoid root rot.
- Who designed it? Pierrolalune63
- How popular/printable is it? This model has over 8,400 views, 550 downloads, and more than 60 likes.
- Where to find it? Cults
License: The text of "The Best 3D Printed Garden Tools & Accessories" by All3DP is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.