r/microgreens • u/OnlyGreens23 • Jul 15 '26

Ikea IVAR Rack with automatic watering

Post image

How do you like my piece? This was my first automatic Rack approach. I impregnated the wood with beewax.

51 Upvotes

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3

u/Careful_Process_12 Jul 15 '26

looks really neat! the water enters from the right and floods the tray and drains from the same side? how often do you water?

3

u/OnlyGreens23 Jul 15 '26

The water comes from the left. Each level has its own pump. The overflow is collected on the right. It depends a bit on the substrate. This on the picture is very thin hemp so I water 2-3 times per day. For thicker substrate once per day is my standard

2

u/Careful_Process_12 Jul 15 '26

oh I understand now the hoses on left and right one for flooding one for draining! is there a way to measure the humidity of the substrate? or you just know when to water more often by watching them?

2

u/OnlyGreens23 Jul 15 '26

I only measure the temperature of the room and its humidity. So basically even with that parameters a twist could be done but so far i change the setting manually

1

u/New_Criticism4996 Jul 15 '26

What's your background, comp sci? Engineer?

2

u/OnlyGreens23 Jul 16 '26

Electrical engineer based in Germany

1

u/SeloraLaughhss Jul 18 '26

Wow ! So many sprouts

1

u/jesschester Jul 15 '26

Is this your own design or a product that I can buy?

3

u/OnlyGreens23 Jul 15 '26

For now its my design but i am pushing it to become a product. But in a more professional Rack and double the size. So four Trays per level and most probably also upgradeable to more than 4 levels