When you hear the term “greenhouse,” you probably imagine one of the large, clear buildings where multiple rows of plants are grown at once. But the truth is, a greenhouse can be any structure used to trap heat and keep plants safe as they grow, hence these DIY greenhouses that you can make using large, empty Tupperware containers. Just line the bins with whatever you’re using for seedlings (Styrofoam cups, citrus peels, etc.,) and place them in an area where they’ll get enough light.
This same effect can be achieved using any plastic container. You can use smaller bins, like those that rotisserie chicken and fruit come home from the store in, to fill with dirt and seedlings as well. Those containers are often perfect for seedlings due to the slits in them that allow them to properly aerate
The Water in the Pot
Next time you boil vegetables, or eggs, don’t just get rid of the water right away when you’re done. Instead, let the water cool and let your plants drink it. The nutrients leftover in the water will give your plants an extra boost, and they’ll love you for it.
This hack helps you to cut back on waste while delivering essential vitamins to your garden. It’s best to keep up the fertilization process in your garden for the first 45 days after you’ve planted veggies and herbs since it’s when they need the nutrients most. Of course, you can keep it up if you wish, since it isn’t like the vegetable water can hurt them.
2-Liter Greenhouse
Well, when we said this can be achieved with any plastic container, we weren’t exaggerating. The same effect can be reached using any old 2-liter bottle that has been properly rinsed out. This one works a bit differently but still works to create a barrier that protects your seedlings from harsh winds and weather. Cut the bottom quarter off of your 2-liters and push them down into the soil so that the neck of the bottle is facing up towards the sky.
Depending on the size of your seedlings, you can also use a 1-liter and other smaller bottles. Or, you can start off with smaller bottles and switch to 2-liters as the seedlings mature, much like you alternate your child’s shoes every few months when they’re growing up. Yes, I just compared your kid to a seedling.
Coffee Filters Help Absorb Excess Water
Anyone who’s dealt with potted plants before is all too familiar with what happens when you over water one of them – you wind up with a big puddle of the stuff in (and often around) the bottom of the pot. But fear not! Because your friend, the coffee filter, is here to help!
Simply place a regular-sized coffee filter at the very bottom of your pot prior to filling it with soil and planting your plant. Doing this should reduce the amount of excess water you have on your table by a long shot. Of course, it won’t act as a barrier, so do try to control your pour as much as possible, just to be on the safe side.
What to do with Broken Pots
If you’ve been dabbling in gardening for any length of time now, you’re probably all too familiar with the heartache that comes along with dropping one of your potted plants and watching it shatter all over the pavement, right along with your heart and all of the feels. Luckily, this hack gives us hope and lets you use reinvent the broken pieces and use them to make something pretty awesome.
Take the broken chunks of your pot and use either marker (Sharpie) or acrylic paints to write the names of your veggies and herbs on them. Then, stick them up out of the soil as labels for an authentic, cool feel. Just be careful not to put any edges straight up that are too sharp, you don’t want to accidentally cut yourself (or have anyone else do it!)