Indoor lettuce growing in 3D printed pots

Comments

• lowspeedchase@lemmy.dbzer0.com ⁨2⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago

  Is this PLA or ABS? Not to be ‘that guy’ ^TM^ but I would be worried about microplastics and leaching if you are eating that lettuce!

  source

  • unexposedhazard@discuss.tchncs.de ⁨2⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago

    Idk about ABS, but PLA definitely leeches unhealthy chemicals and will break down into microplastics in soil. It doesnt decompose.

    source

    • lowspeedchase@lemmy.dbzer0.com ⁨2⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago

      Yup and the constant UV/moisture exposure will expedite the process, that’s why I was asking!

      source
  • Marafon@sh.itjust.works ⁨2⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago

    It’s PLA. I honestly hadn’t considered the microplastics when using this material as a growing container. Though I do know not to use it to make cups and bowls and stuff that you eat out of.

    I think my printer can print ABS, although I’ve never tried. Would that material be safer to grow in?

    source

    • lowspeedchase@lemmy.dbzer0.com ⁨2⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago

      Certified food-grade PETG + food safe resin seal is the best from what I have read (I researched a bunch as I am building a greenhouse)

      source

      • -> View More Comments
  • brathoven@feddit.org ⁨2⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago

    I just looked for a study I remembered. One has to be careful as the study is commissioned, not peer-reviewed and they clearly have an agenda with this. However there is a compelling case that PLA will break down without leaving microplastics over time. Ingestion might still not be better than PETG or ABS, but that’s not really clear to me. In the long run PLA seems to be the lest bad though.

    hollandbioplastics.nl/…/new-meta-study-highlights…

    source

    • lowspeedchase@lemmy.dbzer0.com ⁨2⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago

      Interesting, thanks for sharing - taking this with a grain as you mentioned though.

      source
• Grass@sh.itjust.works ⁨2⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago

  looks nice but that is a great way to get microplastic infused lettuce

  source

  • Marafon@sh.itjust.works ⁨2⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago

    But it tastes way better than the micro plastic infused lettuce at the grocery store.

    source
  • Imgonnatrythis@sh.itjust.works ⁨2⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago

    Is it? Can you source this fact?

    source
• hobbsc@lemmy.sdf.org ⁨2⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago

  these look really cool!

  I’m new to 3D printing so this might be a dumb question but does the water or moisture degrade the plastic? I’ve read a lot of posts about keeping your spools out of the humidity.

  source

  • frezik@lemmy.blahaj.zone ⁨2⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago

    Depends on the filament type. Stuff like PLA and PETG have issues like that. ABS and ASA generally don’t. Outdoor stuff should generally be done in ABS or ASA (though I prefer to avoid them otherwise).

    source

    • Natanox@discuss.tchncs.de ⁨2⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago

      Depends on the usecase though. If it’s something you could reasonably lose in nature (like markers you put in the ground, small signs and such) I’d rather use pure PHA. It will degrade of course, but that’s a good thing after all. I’d rather reprint some small utilities occasionally than damaging the very nature I’m trying to foster after all.

      source
  • AmazingAwesomator@lemmy.world ⁨2⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago

    it can make them more brittle (eapecially alongside prolonged time in the elements outside), but in a controlled environment like this it should be fine for a while :)

    source
• Zoot@reddthat.com ⁨2⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago

  I love all the comments about people being worried about microplastics, as if it’s not already impossible to avoid them. Don’t get me wrong, adding more and going out of your way to eat plastic ain’t great, but this is such a small scale fun little hobby!

  You must have a massive printer to make those huge tubs though and that’s what I’m intrigued by

  source

  • Geometrinen_Gepardi@sopuli.xyz ⁨2⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago

    This, the amount of potential plastic ingestion from using these pots is nothing.

    source
  • Marafon@sh.itjust.works ⁨2⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago

    It’s a decent size for sure but I am constantly finding bigger stuff that I want to print that doesn’t fit lol.

    Elegoo Neptune 4 Pro by the way. It has been a great first printer but my next one will have a truly monster build plate.

    source

    • Zoot@reddthat.com ⁨2⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago

      What’s even crazier to me is those don’t even look like large walls! I don’t suppose you could transport them like that?

      I used to make (considerably smaller) hanging plant pots and boy were they thick. I really didn’t want to have dirty rained down on me while watching TV haha. How well have yours held up?

      source

      • -> View More Comments
  • GreenKnight23@lemmy.world ⁨2⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago

    have I got some almond flavored cookies for you! careful though. eat too many and you might have early organ failure, one or two should be fine though 😉

    source
• Multiplexer@discuss.tchncs.de ⁨2⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago

  Sure… a typical setup strictly for growing “lettuce”. Nothing else to see here…!

  source

  • Marafon@sh.itjust.works ⁨2⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago

    🤫

    source
  • Rolive@discuss.tchncs.de ⁨2⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago

    The devils lettuce is also lettuce, right?

    source
• ftbd@feddit.org ⁨2⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago

  Not to hate on your hobby, but why would you grow lettuce using artificial light? Doesn’t seem very economical given that lettuce is typically not very expensive

  source

  • Marafon@sh.itjust.works ⁨2⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago

    I’m not sure where you live, but where I’m at it feels like everything is expensive. Want a head of lettuce? That’s $5. You want that same head to still be good and fresh 2 weeks later? Ha! That’ll be another $5.

    Whereas my 60 watt Mars Hydro (the big one) only uses $3 in electricity per month. Now the fan and the smaller supplementary light use power too. Idk how much, but it couldn’t be more than the purpose made grow light. So let’s call it $6 per month for fresh lettuce whenever I want it. Can’t beat that with a stick, bud.

    source

    • ftbd@feddit.org ⁨2⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago

      I’ll have to check lettuce prices next time I’m at the grocery store, but there’s no way I’m paying $5 for a head of lettuce. And for reference, those 60W running 24/7 would be close to 12€ in electricity per month for me. Growing with artificial light seems like something worth doing for e.g. super spicy chilis or cannabis (if you’re into either), but I never would’ve thought of lettuce.

      source

      • -> View More Comments
• DarkCloud@lemmy.world ⁨2⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago

  Looking forward to when we can print the lettuce directly.

  source
• stoly@lemmy.world ⁨2⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago

  Now THAT’s a good solution, so much better than trying to do it in one of those silly pod setups that don’t give enough room for growth.

  source
• ElcaineVolta@kbin.melroy.org ⁨2⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago

  what a beautiful image!

  source
• Rolive@discuss.tchncs.de ⁨2⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago

  I’ve used milk jugs as plant pots before. It’s food safe material and you can easily design a build around it. Better not have anything 3D printed come into contact with food.

  source