We’re all about starting seeds at home, you can even make your own DIY bottle planter for seed starting with this simple project made from recycled soda bottles!
Easy DIY Bottle Planter – Perfect For Seed Starting
This blissful spring is giving me life!!! A perfect day to get some seeds started for my summer harvest. Since I do not have many containers for this year’s garden, I am recycling a ginger ale bottle that I have on hand. This is very simple to make and only requires items found around the house.
What You'll Need:
- Washed soda bottle (any size)
- Seam-ripper or Nail (something sharp for initial hole)
- Medium-sized screw
- Phillips Head screwdriver (any rounded head)
- Scissors
- Soil
- Seeds, seedling or plant
- Water
How To Make A DIY Bottle Planter:
Step 1: Make Evenly Spaced Holes
Take your bottle and turn it upside down. Make evenly spaced holes at the bottom with the seam-ripper or nail (whatever you have that will make a small hole). My bottle has five raised areas I will use to make my holes. I used a seam-ripper to make one hole in the center of each raised area.
Then, take your screw and push/twist the screw in each hole to make it slightly wider. Sometimes I’m able to push it through, but this time I had to twist it in. I prefer to pull the screw out in order to make a wider hole.
Step 2: Make The Holes Wider
Push the screw driver through each hole and move it side-to-side, front-and-back, to make the hole even wider. This will also allow the bottle to reshape if the bottle was dented in while performing the previous step.
You should have nice sized holes in the bottom for drainage. Bottle Planters are the perfect shape for this!
Step 3: Cut Off The Top Of The Bottle
Use the top of bottle wrapper as a guide to cut off the top of the bottle. Cutting this high up will give a deeper container size. You can cut the bottle lower down for the size you prefer.
Continue cutting until the top is removed. Once the top is removed, I like to clean up the cut for a smoother finish. To do this I cut around the section a second time by going in the opposite direction of the initial cut.
Yay! Now you have your own DIY Bottle Planter! I’m going to plant some seeds, so continue below to see my finished item.
Have you started prepping your tomato garden for this season? Click the link if you haven't! 🍅🍅🍅 https://t.co/K4FX8OXNMA pic.twitter.com/8v6hWWISGU
— Homesteading (@HomesteadingUSA) April 12, 2017
Step 4: Fill The Container With Soil
Fill your container with soil. I filled mine to about 2″ from the top with a layer of garden soil and seed starting potting soil.
Make sure you have your seeds ready and water. At the last minute I decided to not plant carrots in this container and chose these spinach seeds instead. I’m also using a recycled milk jug as my watering container.
Step 5: Lightly Water The Soil Mixture And Make Some Holes
Lightly water your soil mixture. Make evenly spaced holes for your seeds. Since this container is smaller than the requirements listed on the seed packet, I am only making five holes. Once the seedlings grow I intend to move them to a larger container.
Step 6: Plant The Seeds
Drop a seed in each of the holes. Gently cover the holes with surrounding soil and give it a good drenching of water.
Want another garden DIY for your plastic bottles? Check out this video from Fringe Garden Channel:
Your planter is now ready! Place the planter in a good spot and watch your seeds sprout. I use a plastic knife as the plant marker so that I could identify it later. I have several of these on my patio and love the display of color! Happy Planting!
Will you create this DIY bottle planter for your homestead garden? We want to know how it goes! Let us know in the comments section below what you thought of this article about making a planter out of recyclables and starting seeds.
Want another DIY project for your homestead garden? Check out here DIY Compost Bins To Make For Your Homestead!
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This post was originally published in May 2015 and has been updated for quality and relevancy.
soda bottle recycle: I use them for scoops, I cut off part of the bottom and use the neck for a handle. Good for bulk food items. make sure they are clean. Also cut them wide enough to fit in your gutters. They make great gutter scoops Also laundry liquid soap bottles make goof watering devises. Empty and let the scents dissipate for a few days. Next drill some small holes in 1/2 side of the bottle lid. Depending on your patience you can make the holes a 32nd. 16th or larger so you can slowly water your plants and have a comfortable handle to hold on to. These liquid empty soap bottles make good litter waste baskets. Cut off most of the bottom leaving one side with the handle. Great on my work bench for small wood shavings etc.
Riley, please forgive me if I have the protocol wrong on sending these ideas to the news letter. I am a newbie and if you let me know the right way I’ll follow the rules.
I will re-use the 6 & 9 pack containers you get from the nursery for some of my plants. My wife eats yogurt so I use the containers from that and other similar sized containers such as pudding cups etc. We rarely drink bottled soda so there are not that many of those bottles available for us to use. I do like the idea though for it would let me have larger plants to set out if I started them early enough. If one visited fast food places such as McDonalds, subway, Wendy’s etc. their drink cups would work well as one time use plant starters.
Very very good ideas! Best to upcycle with whatever materials you already have available.
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I run a dog grooming shop and end up with several 1 gallon bottles.
I wash them out but can’t get rid of them. Any ideas?
As for the 2 liter bottles don’t cut the top all the way off.
Leave part intact for a hinge and then you have a green house of sorts for new plants.
When the plant no longer needs the green house cut the top all the way off and then use it for your self watering piece.