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A motorized plant winch can lower a hanging plant to a reachable height for watering, then raise it back into place. Make:’s 2015 project by Jason Poel Smith outlines a DIY approach using a DC gearmotor, a custom winch, and a polarity-reversing switch. It is a build concept—not a load-rated ceiling-lift design—so the plant’s wet weight, every mechanical component, and the building attachment need to be assessed before installation.
How the plant-lifting system works
The motor turns a shaft that winds or releases a cord. A plant hangs from the cord, so winding raises it and releasing cord lowers it. A DPDT switch reverses the DC motor’s polarity to select direction. The project adds a momentary switch when the direction control does not have a center-off position.
Make: labels the project “moderate” and estimates 38 hours. Those are the publisher’s 2015 project metadata, not verified build-time or performance results. The design is useful as a starting point for understanding the mechanism, but it does not establish a safe capacity for a particular plant or ceiling.
Plan around the wet load and lift geometry
Weigh the plant after watering
Use the weight of the complete plant, pot, and soil when wet, not its dry weight. Make: recommends this as the load input for estimating the motor’s minimum torque. The project does not publish an exact motor model, rated load, or tested torque requirement.
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Measure the winch shaft radius
The author’s basic estimate multiplies the wet plant weight by the shaft radius to estimate minimum motor torque. Keep the units consistent. This is a preliminary selection method from the project, not a certified engineering calculation: the finished system’s requirements also depend on its geometry, friction, motor characteristics, and intended operating conditions.
Choose a motor and supply as a matched set
Make: recommends a gearhead motor because its gearbox increases torque and makes the shaft harder to turn manually, helping resist the plant pulling itself down when the motor is off. The source does not specify voltage, speed, duty cycle, brake, or rated load. Check those characteristics against the actual lift, and match the DC power supply to the chosen motor; do not infer that an unspecified motor or supply will work for a particular installation.
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Parts and tools in the project
Make:’s list is a component starting point, not a rated bill of materials. Dimensions and specifications must be selected for the motor and intended installation.
- Plant and string or cord
- DC motor and matching power supply
- Aluminum tubing to extend the motor shaft
- Machine screws and nuts
- Two small boxes or enclosures
- DPDT switch; a momentary on/off switch is also used in the two-position-switch arrangement
- Insulated copper wire and heat-shrink tubing
- Wood screws
- Skateboard bearing
- 7/8-inch hole saw
The listed tools are a screwdriver, wire cutters and strippers, soldering iron and solder, and a drill with bits.
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Build outline
The project’s sequence shows how its custom winch is assembled. It does not provide installation-specific load ratings or validate the design for a given building.
- Select the motor and plan the winch. Estimate torque from the wet plant weight and shaft radius, then choose a motor with more capacity than the estimated minimum to reduce the chance of stalling. Confirm the motor’s actual specifications and dimensions.
- Make or obtain an enclosure. Drill mounting and shaft openings to fit the selected motor. The project describes a small enclosure but does not provide a universal enclosure size or strength rating.
- Extend and support the shaft. The instructions extend a short motor shaft with aluminum tubing, joined with a machine screw and nut where possible. The other end passes through a skateboard bearing glued into the enclosure. The tubing, joint, bearing, and enclosure all need to suit the intended load and geometry.
- Add a cord opening. Cut an opening in the enclosure for the cord to enter and leave the winch. The project does not rate the cord or detail a load-holding device.
- Wire the direction control. Connect the DC motor to a DPDT switch wired to reverse polarity. Make: prefers a three-position switch with an off center position. If using a two-position switch, the instructions add a momentary on/off button.
- Mount the winch and control panel. The project describes ceiling mounting with drywall screws, but gives no fastener capacity, structural assessment, or ceiling-specific attachment detail. That example is not evidence that drywall screws—or any particular attachment—are suitable for your ceiling.
- Test operation cautiously. Confirm that the controls raise and lower the plant as intended before relying on the system. The source does not describe travel-limit switches, redundant suspension, or a brake, and does not establish a safe test load.
Assess the ceiling attachment and failure risks
A suspended plant puts a sustained load into the cord, winch, enclosure, fasteners, and supporting structure. The project does not state allowable capacities for any of these parts or determine whether a particular ceiling can support the installation. The load path must be assessed as a system; the motor’s torque estimate alone cannot establish the safety of the suspension or attachment.
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Before installing a lift overhead, establish appropriate ratings and attachment details for the cord, fasteners, shaft, bearing, enclosure, and ceiling support. Consider how the load will be held when power is off and how overtravel will be prevented. Make: does not document a brake, redundant suspension, or independent travel limits, so their suitability and necessity for a given installation are not resolved by the project. For a building-specific structural question, seek a qualified assessment rather than treating the example screw choice as a recommendation.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What the 2015 project does—and does not—establish
The project provides a practical concept, a component list, and an assembly outline for raising a plant with a motorized winch. It does not identify a tested motor, provide rated capacities for the lift components, or verify an installation for a specific ceiling and load. Because the article dates to 2015, check current component availability and specifications when sourcing parts.
Quick Recap
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