UPDATE on my Leca pole for pothos
So i decided to build a automated leca pole for a pothos and this is how far i am at the moment.
I've cut 2 vines and put that on the starting piece of the pole so they can develop roots, it is standing un an old pickle jar😅 filled with tap water(its good in my area)and an airpump.
Regarding the pole: i bought some cheap full plastic mosspole sets( not the one to fold, just full hard plastic) and i have put some 6mm mesh inside so the leca which is 8 to 16mm wont fall out.
Into the pot i put a small 12V pump with 3m max pump-height to later water the pole and a mesh filter on the input end of the pump. Because i have let the pump run dry for 15min for a test, it is now audible and i will replace it. Furthermore i am going to put a mesh container into the pot so i can place a waterlevel sensor into it ( just a swimming one to prevent the pump from running dry). Then i will make a little circuit so the sensor can directly cut off the pump (obly 2 to 3 parts neccesary) and everything goes on a smart plug so it can be automatically controlled with the smart home system.
Im planning on even put a tds sensor in there.
So the pot will have:
Water pump + safety sensor
Airstone
Tds sensor
Temp sensor
And for the max level of water i will still use the cheap indicators (those white tubes).
Am i missing something or do you guys have any ideas to make the system even better?🤔
P.S: the different compartments are 25cm long and the mesh goes unter the leca so it wont fall out on the bottom. Maybe i will add water distributer in the bottom hole so the water gets evenly distributed throughout the pole