Fill your empty bottles... with plants!

If you are low on plant pots or cloches why not reduce your plastic waste and save yourself some money. All these are quick and easy and can be used with any size or shape of left over plastic bottles and cartons.

Firstly, for absolutely no effort, reuse plastic fruit punnets that are typically used with soft fruit for an instant propagator or plant pot. These punnets usually have drainage holes so you're ready to go. The other type of plastic punnets that house mushrooms and soft or prepared veg do not usually have holes for drainage like making them great for windowsills, but be sure to monitor the moisture levels. Wash out punnets to avoid mould contamination to your new seedlings. You could save any good mushroom scraps to regrow your own at home. This works well with oyster mushrooms - be sure to check out other content on this.

A simple way to re-purpose any plastic bottle is to cut the bottle in two, using the base as a proper gator and the top as a cloche. where the lid can to left on for colder months or removed to avoid moisture buildup and mould. The larger milk bottles/containers are perfect for larger plants such as beans, tomatoes, pumpkins and other cucurbits. About one third from the bottom I cut the front and both sides of the large plastic containers, leaving the back connected as a hinge. This allows me to have a plant pot with its own cloche for use in the greenhouse, cold frame or outside in an area slugs and snails wont get inside. If you think the cutting is a bit jagged line with electrical tape, this is good if kids are creating them.

Lastly, for an extra watering can pierce holes through a a bottle cap for a secondary watering can. This works best with the larger 2 litre (4 US points) or more bottles and containers that have a handle that typically house milk, milk substitutes or orange juice. Once you have finished using any plastic for your plant clean them up and pop in the recycling. If you don't give them a bit of a clean some councils or recycling plants may turn them away.

Three low effort, low impact and low cost ideas for your empties. You can also reuse glass bottles or food tins in a similar way. I hope this has been some use, don't forget to follow use a Facebook or subscribe on YouTube to keep up with any more helpful ideas.