Make your own modern grow station for stem cuttings

Attach the Zamo to the end of the rectangular board and measure lengths of 7.5 cm using the tape measure adapter (image 1). You can also use a standard pocket rule. Mark the lengths you have measured with a pencil. Then draw straight lines on the rectangular board using a framing square (image 2). The framing square ensures that the lines are at right angles to the edge of the board. These lines are used as a guide in the next step when sawing the pieces of wood to size.

After you have measured the lengths on the rectangular board, you’re ready to start sawing. To do so, first clamp the board to your work surface using two G-clamps. It will help you saw more precisely and safely. You can now begin: Saw the board into the twelve 75 mm lengths you marked in pencil. Carefully remove the rough parts of the wood and sand down the edges smoothly using sandpaper and a sanding block.

Place the protractor in the centre of the cut face of one of the pieces of wood. Our piece of wood is 40 mm wide, which means we place the protractor at 2 cm. Now measure a distance of 2.5 cm down from the edge. Use a pencil to mark the measured spot. By the way, you can also just use the Zamo and the measuring tape adapter for this step.

The drill hole for the wood hanger screws is prepared in this step. To do so, draw two diagonal lines on one cut face of each piece of wood using a framing square. The two lines meet in the middle of the surface and serve as your mark for the drill hole.

Now it’s time to drill holes for the test tubes. Place the pieces of wood on a work surface – preferably using a second piece of discarded wood underneath. Secure the first piece of wood to the table with a G-clamp and then drill a hole using the Forstner drill bit (image 1). Be careful not to apply too much pressure to the cordless rotary hammer when drilling; otherwise, the wood will splinter easily. Repeat this step with the eleven other pieces of wood. Now sand off sharp or uneven edges on the pieces of wood.

Are you done? Now you can work on drilling the holes for the wood hanger screws. You will need these to attach the test tube holders to the wall later on. Place the piece of wood on its cut face with the mark pointing upward. Place the bradawl where the two diagonal lines intersect and tap a small hole into the wood (image 2). It will prevent the drill bit from slipping when placing it onto the spot. First use the 8 mm wood drill bit to pre-drill a hole, and then drill the final hole with the 9.5 mm wood drill bit (image 3). Tip: Place a piece of adhesive tape on each bit to use as a drilling guide based on the length of one of the threaded sleeves. This is to ensure that you do not drill too deeply.

Now screw the threaded sleeves into the pre-drilled holes for the wood hanger screws. Make sure that the screwdriver has the right width for the threaded sleeves.

You can now start positioning the grow station on the wall. Choose a spot on the wall for the upper left position of the first test tube holder. Attach an Atino line level to that spot on the wall, align it until the LED lights up green and mark the first drill hole in the centre of the Atino (image 1). Pull out the tape measure horizontally and use a pencil to mark the three other drill holes at a distance of 18 cm each (image 2). Then, rotate the Atino 90 degrees clockwise until the LED lights up green again. Now, mark two more Xs on the wall at a distance of 25 cm each (image 3). The second and third rows of test tube holders will be placed at this height. Now move the Atino to the mark of the next row and repeat the procedure horizontally until you have marked all drill holes for the twelve holders (image 4).

Now, drill holes in the wall at the marked spots using the cordless rotary hammer. Then, sink a wall plug into each hole. Now you can screw the wood hanger screws into the wall using the appropriate bit. Tip: If you used the impact feature for drilling the holes into the wall, you need to change the operating mode to enable impact-free precision drilling before screwing in the wood hanger screws.

You’re nearly done! Now take the pieces of wood and screw them onto the wood hanger screws one by one. Make sure that the holders are correctly positioned horizontally. If one of the pieces of wood is not correct, remove it and adjust the wood hanger screw a little more depending on the direction.

Finally, all you have to do is place the test tubes in the holes, fill them with water and place your stem cuttings inside. Now it’s time to have fun growing plants and enjoying your new, green wall design.