Who Needs a Green Thumb?
The connection might be unintuitive, but 3D printing can indeed be used to bring a natural feeling to a space. Of course, even the most realistic creations will still be no better than fake plants, but the potential for functionality and customization is huge!
The prints in this article represent a range of options. On one side of the spectrum are plant-themed versions of common items, like earrings and clothes pins. On the other side, you have realistic-looking plants, like grass and flowers.
If you see something you like but aren’t able to print yourself, check out Craftcloud by All3DP. Thanks to our many partners, you’ll have a vast array of colors and finishes available to you.
Now then, let’s check out some of these awesome designs.
Miniatures
Who doesn’t love a miniature? These fun, smaller versions of popular plants are small in size but big on enjoyment!
Realistic Palm Trees
This cool palm tree figurine prints in several pieces, which you can put together in different ways to create your own custom tree!
The leaves require the use of near boiling water to achieve their bent look, which didn’t work for a couple of people using PLA. That said, heating them with a hair dryer or microwave apparently did the trick.
Who designed it? Curufin
Who printed it? 10 Thingiverse users posted Makes, and all of them look beautifully unique!
Where to find it? Cults, Thingiverse
EZ Christmas Tree
A whimsical Christmas decoration sized just right for a mantle or table centerpiece. This design uses a draping technique to give the tree its soft, pillowy branches.
A few people found this one difficult, but the designer has come to the rescue with some detailed instructions. We highly recommend that you read through them!
Who designed it? SynJa
Who printed it? 61 Thingiverse users have posted Makes, with most people having had success. However, judging by a few of the 151 comments, there were some bumps along the way.
Where to find it? Thingiverse
Tropical Leaf Earrings
Perfect for your next luau! These leaf earrings are the super cute miniature versions of the large tropical leaves you picture when you dream about your next vacation!
Some assembly is required to add the earring hooks, which you can find at almost any craft store.
Who designed it? CallieCrossroads
Who printed it? Only one Make was shared, but they look like they came out great!
Where to find it? Thingiverse, MyMiniFactory
Apple Tree Jigsaw Puzzle
A cute jigsaw puzzle for the little apple lover in your life.
There are five files in total to print all the interlocking pieces. One user reported some issues, including needing to do a lot of sanding and one of the models going outside his print bed, but the end result looks fantastic!
Who designed it? TheSeend
Who printed it? Almost 2,000 YouMagine users have downloaded the files, with three Makes shared on Thingiverse.
Where to find it? Thingiverse, YouMagine
Toy Vegetable Garden
This is a super cute, play-sized vegetable garden with little toy vegetables that fit perfectly into their spaces in the garden bed. It’s scaled to go with the Sylvanian Families animal figurines.
Seven files are used to print all the different elements. You can also print extra vegetables for your budding gardener to harvest!
Who designed it? Enely
Who printed it? One Thingiverse user said that, after experimenting with colors to perfect the soil, it turned out perfect using PLA.
Where to find it? Thingiverse
Realistic Models
Hoping to decorate your space with some beautiful plants without having to remember to water them? Try some of these life-like prints, and watch your friends touch them to find out if they’re real.
Beautiful Calla Lilies
Here’s another addition to your 3D printed bouquet!
There are three separate files for the petals, stamen, and stem. The designer mentions using a heat gun or blow torch to shape the leaves after printing to get a more realistic look.
Who designed it? BRUXXUS
Who printed it? Only one Make has been posted, but the user said it turned out great!
Where to find it? Thingiverse
Detailed Leaf Skeleton
A flat design with very fine details, even the designer acknowledges that this could be a tough print. Nevertheless, this would look beautiful as a table decoration, or even as a piece of wall art!
Who designed it? Gaellafond
Who printed it? Two users posted Makes that look just as intricate as the original.
Where to find it? Thingiverse
"Hairy" Grass
Do you ever want to print something just to see how it works? This incredible grass would look great in an Easter basket without all the mess of store-bought fake grass.
This 3D printed grass uses a stranding method, where you print sideways and the extruder pulls the filament horizontally between two plates. Once it’s done, you simply cut away one of the plates and turn the design to get what looks like blades of grass!
There are nine files to choose from for different-sized tiles. There were some comments about the print time taking longer than what the designer reported, which was about seven hours.
Who designed it? Superbeasti
Who printed it? Three Thingiverse users have posted their Makes, reporting good results using PLA.
Where to find it? Thingiverse, Cults, MyMiniFactory
Single-Stemmed Rose
What better way to show your undying love than a bouquet of undying roses? Stick to traditional red or experiment with your sweetheart’s favorite colors!
This print comes in four files. One user had difficulty with the stem lifting from the build plate.
Who designed it? SpragClutch
Who printed it? Three Thingiverse users have posted their Makes using PLA filament.
Where to find it? Thingiverse
Elegant Lotus Flower
Perfect for a water feature or a table centerpiece, this 3D printed lotus flower comes in three files. Printing in three colors makes this model beautifully realistic.
One user commented that the base was fragile and difficult to get off the build plate while others had issues with the file itself. The designer was successful in Cura, but others had trouble with other slicers. For these reasons, it might be worthwhile to read the comments before getting started.
Who designed it? shepler007
Who printed it? Six Thingiverse users have posted their successful Makes using PLA.
Where to find it? Thingiverse
Functional Parts
3D printing brings a new world of problem-solving gadgets right to your fingertips! These plant-themed household items make everyday items beautiful. From elegant jewelry stands to quirky laundry clips, these 3D printed plants are as functional as they are fun!
Tree Fruit Holder
This design is a functional modular tree stand for your fruit! The sky is literally the limit, as you can print as many modules as you like. The designer even came through with an animation to show you how it works.
With 23 files, some assembly is definitely required. However, these can be customized depending on the look you want. ABS is recommended so that the pieces connect better, but users posted that they successfully used PLA for the leaves.
Who designed it? Davision3d
Who printed it? 12 Thingiverse users have posted their Makes with the branches arranged in all different ways – plenty of inspiration before you get started.
Where to find it? Thingiverse
Cactus Key Stand
Another cool modular stand, this model looks like a cactus! It’s a lot simpler than the previous design, but it still has options to customize the height and turn the hooks, so you can hang whatever you want to organize.
PLA works great for this design, and the assembly is quick and easy when the files are sliced well.
Who designed it? muzz64
Who printed it? There are 12 Makes of this design on Thingiverse, with many having experimented with different color schemes.
Where to find it? Thingiverse, MyMiniFactory
Cactus Clips
These super cute cactus clips are perfect for hanging laundry or keeping cables and cords under control. (The designer calls them hooks, but we think they look more like handy clips.)
One maker experimented with 0.2- and 0.3-mm layer heights and said 0.3 mm came out better. This model is nice and simple, with no supports or rafts needed.
Who designed it? Jay_em
Who printed it? Nearly 800 Thingiverse users have downloaded the files, with one having shared a Make.
Where to find it? Thingiverse
Leaf Napkin Holder
Don’t let the fanciness of this napkin holder fool you, this design is actually pretty easy to print and assemble.
The three files print flat and then come together with a little super glue. The designer offers specifications in the details, and most users reported that they didn’t use supports or rafts.
Who designed it? Gyorg
Who printed it? Five Makes have been shared in a variety of beautiful color combinations.
Where to find it? Thingiverse
Tree Jewelry Holder
An elegant and functional tree-shaped jewelry holder fit for any vanity!
This one is best printed in three parts, where the base and two halves of the tree piece together. This separation of model ensures that all three parts can be printed flat. As such, no supports are need, but you will need a print bed at least 20 x 20 cm in size.
The designer then used an acetone bath to smooth the print before painting it. This gives it such a shiny, elegant look!
Who designed it? AlexNZ
Who printed it? 34 Thingiverse users have posted their Makes, so there’s lots of cool inspiration on how to finish this piece.
Where to find it? Thingiverse, Cults
Lead image source: shepler007 via Thingiverse
License: The text of "15 DIY 3D Printed Plants: Amazing 3D Models & Projects" by All3DP is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.