One of the most common trash items found in the ocean is plastic bottles.
According to a report, there are a million plastic bottles bought every minute worldwide, and only 7% of those are collected and recycled into new bottles. Just imagine how many plastic bottles go to waste.
That is why it is crucial to reduce the use of plastic in general.
But for those who can’t easily say no to using plastic bottles, recycling or upcycling is the best option.
Here’s a creative way of upcycling your plastic water bottles.
Turn them into self-watering planters! The materials are simple.
To make one planter, you will need three (3) bottles.
You’ll also need some paint, old cloth, scissors, cutter, and a solder.
First, measure the opening, trace, and cut.
Using the bottle cap, trace two circles on one side of the water bottle. Make sure to measure enough distance between circles that would fit two (2) plastic bottles on top of it. Cut using your cutter and finish off with scissors.
Alternatively, you can heat up a piece of metal until hot enough to melt the plastic. Then, just poke a hole large enough to fit the tip of your scissors through so you can make the cut more easily.
Next, get two more plastic bottles and cut up to six inches of height from the bottle opening.
You can also follow the bottle’s lines or grooves for this step, depending on the bottle’s design. Estimate the height that could fit the plant you’re planning to place in it.
If you like, you can paint the water bottles to add some color and beauty!
You can use spray paint or any latex-based paint. Use masking tape around the edges to create patterns to paint on.
Now it’s time to create the planter’s self-water system.
You can do this by melting a hole in the middle of the bottle cap using hot solder (or the hot piece of metal we mentioned earlier). Then, cut an old cloth into long strips about half a meter long. Insert this in the hole and pull.
Attach these lids back to the bottle you painted earlier.
Now, it’s time to set up your planter.
Place the first bottle to where you want to set up the planter with holes facing up. Fill the bottle about two-thirds full with water.
Then, place the other bottles on top by inserting the bottle caps through the hole. Ensure that the strip of cloth submerges in the water with the other end sticking out of the planter. This will act like a wick to pass water to the plant.
Stabilize the bottles to make sure they’re secured.
Lastly, transfer your preferred plant to your new pots!
Pull the protruding cloth strip before you place some soil. This ensures that the water coming from below goes up to the soil to nourish your plants. And when it’s ready, move the rest of the plant in.
Voila! Your upcycled self-watering planter looks perfect!
Don’t forget to fertilize your plants from time to time.
Give it ample sunlight and spray some water on its leaves and flowers when needed.
This is a fun garden project that’s both adorable and functional. And the best part? You just saved three plastic bottles from being washed away in the water.
See the full tutorial in the video below!
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