The Clever Way To Reuse Plastic Bottles In The Garden For Healthier Plants

Sometimes it might seem like you can never keep your recycling bin empty, and it's always overflowing with plastic bottles taking up space. They're good at that, so why not let them do what they do best and take up extra space in your oversized planters? Added bonus: they may help keep plant roots healthy. 

Plastic water bottles offer a great solution as planter fillers, one of many savvy ways to reuse empty plastic bottles in the garden. We all know plastic water bottles are cheap and lightweight — a selling point since planters can get cumbersome when we fill them with soil. Typically, a quart of soil weighs between 1 and 2 pounds. For an average 14" planter, you're probably going to need at least 26 quarts of potting soil, which is potentially a staggering 52 pounds of extra weight!  

And plastic bottles don't just make planters lighter, they also have the added benefit of helping keep plants healthy. Using plastic bottles at the bottom of planters will help prevent water-logged roots by breaking up dense soil and creating crevices at the bottom of your planter to help improve drainage in your pots. And as you know, plants sitting in water lead to bad outcomes, like root rot and other kinds of fungal disease. Water bottles also help improve plant health by boosting air circulation for roots, which can keep them cooler during hot days on the patio.

Let's talk about the best ways to use empty water bottles in your planter to keep plants healthier. A great example comes from @QueenofSucculents on YouTube, who shared how she utilizes empty bottles for repotting her succulents. First, you'll want enough empty water bottles to fill about a third or half of your planter. You can use water or soda bottles. Even old milk jugs work for this purpose.

Make sure the bottles are washed out and clean, as you don't want sugary residue since it can hinder your plant's ability to absorb water through its roots. Also, don't toss those caps. Keep them tightly screwed on the bottles. This will help trap air inside so they keep their shape rather than collapsing under the weight of the soil you'll pour on top. Without the caps, you might end up with sunken plants. Not ideal. The bottles help boost drainage, but if you want even better water absorption, consider adding a little pumice or compost between the bottles at the bottom. You can also give plant health a boost with hydrogen peroxide, too, the medicine cabinet staple that can help keep houseplants thriving.

If you have left over plastic bottles, you can also turn them into other helpful items like irrigation systems outside or even bird feeders. Reusing water bottles is just one way of many ingenious ways to put trash to work in your yard. If you're interested in more tips, learn how to transform these common household items from trash to garden treasure.