Most of us have a stash of empty plastic water bottles building up at home, and a balcony garden that could always use a few more pots. Instead of sending those bottles straight to the recycling bin, you can put them to work. With a little cutting, poking and tying, one humble bottle can turn into a planter, a watering system or even a mini greenhouse. They’re light, free and perfectly sized for small balconies, which makes them a great fit for apartment gardeners. Here are five easy ideas to try.
Cut a bottle in half and use the bottom as a seedling pot, poking a few drainage holes first. Fill it with soil, sow your seeds and keep it damp. The top half becomes a little dome to fit over the pot, trapping warmth and moisture to help seeds sprout. Take the cap off on sunny days so the seedlings don’t overheat, and put it back on at night. It’s a cheap, fast way to raise plants before they go into bigger pots. Balconies can only take so much weight, and big pots full of wet soil are heavy. A simple fix is to put empty capped bottles in the bottom of large planters, before adding soil. They take up space that would otherwise be filled with heavy soil, which cuts the weight, and they help with drainage too. It works especially well for shallow-rooted plants like succulents, so it’s a smart way to save soil as well. This article is intended for general informational purposes only. Use scissors, knives and nails carefully when cutting or poking holes in plastic, and keep them away from children. Standing water in bottle reservoirs can attract mosquitoes, so refill regularly and keep openings covered. Plastic can become brittle in strong sun, so replace worn bottles, and check your balcony’s weight limit before adding heavy planters.
This is the clever one, and it’s easier than it sounds. Cut a bottle in half, then flip the top half upside down so the neck points down into the bottom half, which acts as a water reservoir. Thread a piece of cotton rope or cloth through the cap hole to act as a wick, so it dips into the water and reaches the soil above. Fill the top with soil and a plant, and the wick pulls up moisture as needed. It’s great for basil, mint and other herbs. If you travel or tend to forget watering, this one helps. Poke a few tiny holes in the cap of a filled bottle, then turn it upside down and push the neck into the soil near the plant’s roots. Water seeps out slowly, keeping the soil moist for days. It works nicely for bigger pots of tomatoes, chillies and roses. Fill the bottle again when it’s empty, and don’t make the holes too big; otherwise, all the water will run out at once. When floor space is short, grow up instead. Cut a rectangular opening in the side of a bottle, poke a few drainage holes in the base, and fill it with soil. Thread strong string or wire through holes near the neck and bottom to hang it, or tie several bottles together in a column. Hang them from the balcony railing or a wall hook, and plant small herbs, succulents or trailing flowers. A row of colourful bottles can make a balcony look like a green wall.
