Even if you have little space available, planting dreams can still come true! People use soda bottles to make strawberry planters — and honestly, we can’t believe we didn’t think of this sooner.
How does planting in soda bottles work?
A video shared by TikTok user @spicymoustache shows a way to reuse plastic bottles to create magical strawberries. Instead of recycling the empty bottles, make a vertical planting system that will provide you with fresh strawberries all summer long.
@spicymoustache DIY vertical garden that recycles plastic bottles! #foryourpage #fyp #contentcreator #asmr #asmrsounds #asmrvideo #asmrtiktok #tiktokshortfilm #verticalgarden #verticalgardening ♬ You – Petit Biscuit
The plastic bottles function as vertical planters and the caps are pierced with small holes to create a slow watering drip system to hydrate your plants. The bottles are stacked on top of each other and mounted on a trellis to save space.
You need to cover the lower part of the plastic bottles with white paint. This is important because the plant’s root system grows in the lower part of the vertical planter and needs to be protected from direct sunlight. The color reflects the sun and prevents it from reaching the roots. This isn’t a random color choice – dark colors absorb the sunlight while light colors reflect that heat away from the roots.
Do you have a little more space? You can use a laundry basket as a strawberry planter.
How to use soda bottles as planters
This DIY works best for people with small yards at home or apartment dwellers with a sunny balcony. You will need plastic bottles as well as some basic tools and planting materials.
needed tools
- drilling machine
- 35mm drill bit
- X-Acto knife or kitchen knife with a serrated edge
- 2 clear 5 liter soda bottles
- Black marker
- nail
- hammer
- White paint and brush
- grid
- Strong stapler
- vermiculite
- compost mix
- strawberry plants
directions
Each mini vertical garden uses two bottles and holds two strawberry plants. You need to create enough vertical gardens to accommodate all the plants you have.
- Wash the bottles with warm soapy water and let them dry.
- Use the 35mm drill bit to poke a hole in the bottom of a bottle.
- Draw a square about 15 cm wide and high on the side of each bottle. Cut out and remove the square to reveal a square hole. (This is where the strawberry plants go.)
- Use a hammer and nail to punch multiple holes through the bottle caps.
- Push the top of one plastic bottle through the hole you made in the bottom of the other bottle. Then reach in to secure the cap with the punched holes.
- Put the second cap on the second bottle.
It’s time to hang up your DIY vertical gardens and plant the strawberry plants!
- Extend or attach the grid to the wall.
- Place each vertical garden on your trellis and use the square opening to reach in and pin the bottles to the trellis.
- Fill the bottom of each planter with several inches of vermiculite.
- Add a few inches of compost mixture.
- Plant the strawberries. Be careful not to overcrowd the smaller strawberry plants. Give plants enough room to grow and don’t compete for space so they’ll be happy throughout the growing season.
- Paint the bottom half of each bottle white. You want to cover the root system and the compost layer.
- Pour through the top opening of each vertical garden, allowing the water to drain through the plant below.
Juicy strawberries will soon be ready to be picked! Don’t forget to store your strawberries properly.