DIY Piranha Plant

This is a simple DIY project for making your own Piranha Plant.

The "pipe" is printed with 3D printer.

This is a really simple and quick project to do!

Step 1: Desing

I made the Pipe with Tinkercad.

Just attach a tube on a larger tube and make a hole inside. Id you are interested in 3D design this is a must for you to test out.

*EDIT*

Taller version of the pipe uploaded.

Step 2: Pipe Is Done

The pipe is printed with Pritrbot Simple Maker's kit.

This is a full PLA print. No support or anything. Flip the print that way the larger part is down. The bottom part is thick enough not to need any support in printing.

Print settings.:

0.4 mm nozzle

0.2 mm layer height

60 mm/s print speed

15% fill in hollow part

Print time was about 2 hours.

Step 3: !!Warning!!

Before you start to dig out the flytrap make sure you don't touch these spikes inside the plant's leaves aka"mouth".

If two of these spikes is touched at the same time the "mouth" will close.

It is not venomous or anything it's just that the flytrap has limited quantity of reopening's on the "mouth".

It may be fun to try out with finger. Use a fly or Super Mario instead if you must test it out.

The mouth can re-open about 7 time's on its lifetime per leave. More leave's will grow out if the plant is healthy.

If there is a insect inside the mouth it can take for few days to even moths to reopen again. This depends on how big the insect was and how long it takes to digest it fully.

Step 4: Repotting

Loosen up the plant carefully. Use a spoon to help out in need.

Put the plant on a table and use the spoon to dig up some soil from the original pot to the bottom of the pipe.

Insert the plant in to the pot and put some more soil around the plant and make sure it is damped well.

Step 5: Done

Clean up the mess and admire your piranha plant.

Read the instructions how to take care your new plant.

Thanks for reading. More project's coming soon! :)

If you see a vote button somewhere, Remember to press it. You know... Just for fun :)

Comments

[papergeek]

very smart #lovemario

[ezeisel]

Might also be good to add some holes to the bottom of the pipe pot so it can sit in a dish filled with water to keep the high desired moisture.

[mkarvonen]

Good thinking! I made few holes to the bottom.

[ezeisel]

Okay, now I just have to find someone I know with a 3D printer to make this for my fly traps. It is a brilliant idea! (Especially since my fiancee is a big mario bros. fan.)

[mkarvonen]

Where do you live? If it is not too far away i could print you one and send it to you.

For something like 5$ + shipping. I'm not sure how much she shipping will cost from Finland.

[ezeisel]

I'm in the States, might be a wee bit expensive for shipping. All good. I'm in NYC, there has got to be someone I know who has a 3D printer. Thank you for the offer!

[mkarvonen]

Check out this page https://www.3dhubs.com/ there might be a 3D printer even on the next door.

I think that there will be several people offering 3D print services. The population in NYC alone is much bigger than the population of whole Finland :D

[ezeisel]

500m away!

Any chance you can post a second file that has a slightly taller pipe? I have enough plants to make 2 holders worth and having different level pipes would be awesome to match those worlds.

[mkarvonen]

Sure. I'l upload it to the project. :) Use PLA plastic for the pipes. The ABS plastic could "leak" chemicals (oil) to the soil. PLA plastic is based on organic materials such as corn and potato so if it would leak it won't be hazardous to the plant.

[ashleyjlong]

All the plant keeping suggestions users have made below are important to keep a fly trap alive: Holes in the bottom so it can soak water from a dish, moss as the bedding, NO tap water. Also, these plants thrive in humidity. Left uncovered as you have pictured, they can dry out pretty quickly.

[ezeisel]

I have had great success with them uncovered, they just need to be in a dish of distilled water at all times. Also, do NOT cut off the stalks that are turning black, the plant takes back the nutrition from those stalks as they brown/darken. Also, cut flower stalks off before they grow too much -- uses a lot of plant energy and can make the whole plant fight to survive if not in ideal conditions.

[ashleyjlong]

This Ible has more info on carnivorous plant care and some great tips from pros in the comments. Not trying to step on your Ible. It is cute, but people need the right info to help keep these finicky plants alive.

https://www.instructables.com/id/Chic-and-Simple-Carnivorous-Plant-Terrariums/

[mkarvonen]

As i have written on the step 5 to read the instructions how to take care of your plant. Good thing that you found good site where to find proper instructions about it and posted it in here.

It is my first fly trap and i surely want to keep it alive :D

Thing that just came to my mind...What effects could be if a had a piece of sponge or somehting like that in the bottom? It keeps the soil moisture for a long time.

[ashleyjlong]

Moss will act in the same way that a moisture retaining sponge does. The advantage is that moss is natural and your plant can root in it. Sponges can vary in terms of what they are made of, and may contain chemicals or artificial substances that could leech into your plant and kill it over time (just like the tap water).

[mkarvonen]

Maybe a organic sponge could work. The rooting part is something that you can find out only by testing. Those roots can go pretty much anywhere..

I just inspected the soil that the plant came with and it is some kind of moss and soil combination and it holds moisture really well.

Thanks for the tips! :)

[gravityisweak]

I always used to wonder why mine would die so fast as a kid. Now I remember sticking my finger into them to watch them close. I had no idea they had a limit. They also didn't seem to like ants.

[ashleyjlong]

I wondered the same thing. They like a lot of humidity, since they're swamp plants. I have the best success when I keep mine enclosed in terrariums. If you put this set up inside a bell jar to lock in moisture, it would last a lot longer than if exposed.

[mkarvonen]

:D

[skepticaljay]

Like!

[mkarvonen]

Thanks!